On Hold

"On Hold" is a song by English indie pop band the xx. It was released on 10 November 2016 as the lead single from their third studio album, I See You (2017). The song peaked at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart, and became one of their highest-charting singles internationally.

"On Hold"
Single by The xx
from the album I See You
Released	10 November 2016
Length	3:44
Label	Young Turks
Songwriter(s)	Romy Madley Croft Oliver Sim Jamie Smith Daryl Hall John Oates Sara Allen
Producer(s)	Jamie xx Rodaidh McDonald
The xx singles chronology
"Fiction" (2013) "On Hold" (2016) "Say Something Loving" (2017)
Music video
"On Hold" on YouTube

Composition

The song was produced by band member Jamie xx as well as frequent collaborator Rodaidh McDonald. The instrumental samples "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" by Hall & Oates.[1] Vocals are sung back-and-forth between Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim.[2]

Release

"On Hold" was released on 10 November 2016 as the lead single promoting their third studio album, I See You (2017).[3] The xx performed the song live on the 19 November 2016 episode of Saturday Night Live.[4]

Commercial performance

"On Hold" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 38 on the week of 18 November 2016,[5] and eventually peaked at number thirty-four, matching their highest-charting position with "Islands".[6] It also peaked at number three on the UK Indie Chart. In the United States, the song entered the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 at number twenty, and eventually peaked at number 2; their third and highest entry on the chart,[7] and the Hot Rock Songs chart at number seven.[8] Elsewhere, the song peaked at number 22 in Belgium's Ultratop 50 Flanders chart, number 34 in Scotland, number 45 in Australia, and number 50 in both Ireland and Spain.

Music video

The music video for "On Hold" was directed by Alasdair McLellan and filmed in Marfa, Texas.[9][10]

Track listing

Digital download / 7-inch single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"On Hold"	3:44

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2016–17) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 45 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 11 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[13] 7 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[14] 57 France (SNEP)[15] 52 Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 84 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 50 Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[18] 44 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[19] 86 Portugal (AFP)[20] 49 Scotland (OCC)[21] 25 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 77 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[23] 50 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 3 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 50 UK Singles (OCC)[6] 34 UK Indie (OCC)[26] 1 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] 7 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[28] 21 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[29] 2 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[8] 7

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[30] 89 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[31] 25 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[32] 35 US Rock Streaming Songs (Billboard)[33] 50 Chart (2019) Position Portugal (AFP)[34] 1833

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[35]	Gold	35,000
Belgium (BEA)[36]	Gold	15,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[37]	Gold	40,000
Italy (FIMI)[38]	Gold	25,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[39]	Silver	200,000
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United Kingdom	12 November 2016	Digital download	Young Turks	[40]
	9 December 2016	7-inch single		[41]

References

1. Sodomsky, Sam (10 November 2016). "The xx Share New Song "On Hold," Sample Hall and Oates: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
2. Boilen, Bob (10 November 2016). "The xx Is Back: Listen To 'On Hold' And Get Ready For A New Album". NPR. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
3. Young, Alex (10 November 2016). "The xx announce new album, I See You, share "On Hold" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
4. Crucchiola, Jordan (10 November 2016). "Kristen Wiig to Host Saturday Night Live With Musical Guest the xx". Vulture. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 : 18 November 2016 - 24 November 2016". The Official Charts Company. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
7. "The xx - Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart search". Billboard. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
8. "The xx Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
9. Kaufman, Gil (28 November 2016). "Watch The xx Go Back to High School in 'On Hold' Video". Billboard. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
10. Flynn, Paul (15 March 2017). "Out of the Shadows: An Interview with the xx". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
11. "Australian-charts.com – The xx – On Hold". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
12. "Ultratop.be – The xx – On Hold" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
13. "Ultratop.be – The xx – On Hold" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
14. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201647 into search. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
15. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 3, 2017)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
16. "Offiziellecharts.de – The xx – On Hold". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
17. "Chart Track: Week 47, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
18. "Mexico Airplay: Dec 17, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
19. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
20. "Portuguesecharts.com – The xx – On Hold". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
21. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
22. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201703 into search. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
23. "Spanishcharts.com – The xx – On Hold" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
24. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 46". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
25. "Swisscharts.com – The xx – On Hold". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
26. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
27. "The xx Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
28. "The xx Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
29. "The xx Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
30. "Jaaroverzichten 2017". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
31. "Adult Alternative Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
32. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
33. "Rock Streaming Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
34. "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
35. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2017 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
36. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2017". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
37. "Canadian single certifications – The xx – On Hold". Music Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
38. "Italian single certifications – The xx – On Hold" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 16 September 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "On Hold" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
39. "British single certifications – The xx – On Hold". British Phonographic Industry.
40. "On Hold – Single on Apple Music". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved 27 November 2016.
41. "The XX On Hold vinyl at Juno Records". Juno Records (UK). Juno Records. Retrieved 14 December 2016.