Music Review: Jamie Walters "Hold On"

Jamie Walters

Hold On

Album: Jamie Walters

Year: 1994

           Jamie Walters comforts his girlfriend in the docile   “Hold On.”

           A delicate guitar opens the single, setting a perceptive tone. Her eyes well up with tears. He puts the dishcloth away and races to her. He asks her what’s wrong. He can’t stand to see her upset. He puts his arms around her and pulls her close. Through the tears, she says she doesn’t know what to do. He wonders if she’s tried talking to anyone else and they pushed her away. He tells her he’s right here. (“I don't wanna see you ever sad and everything that I've got you can have/When it's all too muchY/ou need some human touch to see it's really not so bad/Did you call on every saint you know/But still you feel like you're on your own/Can you see through your tears?/I will always be here and you're not out there baby, all alone.”)

              In the chorus, he tells her to stay in his arms for as long as she wants. He’ll take care of her. (“Hold on, 'till you feel a little stronger./Hold on to me/Hold on, everything's gonna be alright/Just hold on to me tonight.”)

            His first instinct is to go after the person who made her feel awful about herself. No one is going to make her feel like as though she’s nothing.  He tells her he will never leave her. He’s going to do all he can to help. (“Anything that hurts you hurts me too./I'm not gonna let your world turn blue/Will you take my hand and feel how close I am/There ain't nothin' I won't do for you.”)

              The chorus is sung again.

             In the bridge, he tells her she will have bad days. However, he will be with her for each one. (“I know the world can drive you to your knees/But when you need to cry,

baby, cry to me.”)

              The chorus is sung again to end the single.

             The huskiness in Walters’ vocals is attractive and sensual. However, the sappiness makes him eye candy at best. While eye candy works for televison, there has to be more to sustain the material.

           The warmhearted “Hold On” means well but can’t past its heartthrob status.