You Used to Hold Me
Encyclopedia
"You Used to Hold Me" is a 2010 single release from Scottish
Electronic musician Calvin Harris
taken from his second studio album Ready for the Weekend. The song was released on February 8, 2010
along with other songs from his new album Ready for the Weekend. He also performed the song on The Big Day Out and features on his set list of his current tour.
commented on the song:-
This is a song which will probably not be the sole reason people rush out to buy 'The Greatest Hits Of Calvin Harris', whenever such a thing appears. It might not even figure in the Top 10 of reasons to rush out and buy 'The Greatest Hits Of Calvin Harris', for all that it has earned the right to be on there in the first place. In fact, it possibly isn't even among the Top 5 of reasons to rush out and buy Calvin's current album 'Ready For The Weekend', from which it is taken. And that's assuming that people still rush out to buy albums, which apparently they do not.
What it is, however, is another of Calvin's hook-heavy dance concoctions which manage to sound light and frothy, and dark and heavy at one and the same time. It has a deceptively short list of ingredients: a mournful one-finger synth refrain; some sneezy drums; some booming drums; flatulent bass; a melody line for the verse and another for the chorus. Oh, and a bit in the chorus which sounds like Calvin singing "beep beep beep", even though he is not. He sounds utterly dedicated to the emotional truth of his words at that point, as if he really needs to get across just how sad he is, that the person who used to hold him no longer wishes to. "Beep," he wails "beep beep".
And which of us, hand on heart, can truly say that we've never been there, never felt what he has felt, never wanted to point that accusing finger, never died inside a thousand times because they just could get the words out? Exactly. He's not just beeping for himself, he's beeping for ALL OF US.
at #45. The following week, on 5 February 2010, the single climbed to a new peak of #37. The single first entered the UK Singles Chart
on 31 January 2010, at #47. On 7 February 2010, it rose to #38. That same week, the single also entered the UK Dance Chart
, reaching a current peak of #4.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Electronic musician Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
taken from his second studio album Ready for the Weekend. The song was released on February 8, 2010
Release and Promotion
To Promote "You Used to Hold Me", Harris sang the song on 4Music4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
along with other songs from his new album Ready for the Weekend. He also performed the song on The Big Day Out and features on his set list of his current tour.
Track listing
Critical reception
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
commented on the song:-
This is a song which will probably not be the sole reason people rush out to buy 'The Greatest Hits Of Calvin Harris', whenever such a thing appears. It might not even figure in the Top 10 of reasons to rush out and buy 'The Greatest Hits Of Calvin Harris', for all that it has earned the right to be on there in the first place. In fact, it possibly isn't even among the Top 5 of reasons to rush out and buy Calvin's current album 'Ready For The Weekend', from which it is taken. And that's assuming that people still rush out to buy albums, which apparently they do not.
What it is, however, is another of Calvin's hook-heavy dance concoctions which manage to sound light and frothy, and dark and heavy at one and the same time. It has a deceptively short list of ingredients: a mournful one-finger synth refrain; some sneezy drums; some booming drums; flatulent bass; a melody line for the verse and another for the chorus. Oh, and a bit in the chorus which sounds like Calvin singing "beep beep beep", even though he is not. He sounds utterly dedicated to the emotional truth of his words at that point, as if he really needs to get across just how sad he is, that the person who used to hold him no longer wishes to. "Beep," he wails "beep beep".
And which of us, hand on heart, can truly say that we've never been there, never felt what he has felt, never wanted to point that accusing finger, never died inside a thousand times because they just could get the words out? Exactly. He's not just beeping for himself, he's beeping for ALL OF US.
Music video
The Music Video for You Used To Hold Me was shot in November 2009. The video shows Harris driving around in a monster truck and girls dancing in front of a wall while Harris sings the song while in the truck.Chart performance
On 29 January 2010, "You Used To Hold Me" first entered the Irish Singles ChartIrish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
at #45. The following week, on 5 February 2010, the single climbed to a new peak of #37. The single first entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on 31 January 2010, at #47. On 7 February 2010, it rose to #38. That same week, the single also entered the UK Dance Chart
UK Dance Chart
The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital...
, reaching a current peak of #4.
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
57 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
30 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
27 |
| UK Dance Chart UK Dance Chart The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital... |
4 |