Long before TikTok dances and viral playlists, music served as both a refuge and a mirror to the human condition. Enter "People Hold On," a song first heard in April 1989. Authored by UK singer Lisa Stansfield and produced by the enigmatic Coldcut duo, this track seamlessly bobbed along the post-disco scene that enveloped a world yearning for connection and expression as the 80s faded into the 90s.
The song's chorus echoes an enduring need for resilience that seems almost carved into our DNA, telling its listeners to hang on; things will change. In a time where the Berlin Wall stood tall and the echoes of the Cold War loomed, "People Hold On" delivered more than just lyrics over rhythm. It became a more comprehensive call, urging listeners to summon resilience in an unpredictable world—something we can relate to even now.
The 80s were a hard place for many, with economic disparity carving out sharper divides between different social classes. The UK was not exempt from these hardships, with growing unemployment rates and class divides marking much of the decade's social backdrop. As communities felt these strains more acutely, music provided an accessible form of solace and solidarity.
Even with advancements, Generation Z confronts its own set of unique challenges, ranging from political unrest to environmental concerns, making the song’s message even more relevant. While almost 35 years have passed, "People Hold On" remains more than a catchy tune. The recommendations from Lisa Stansfield's uplifting voice and Coldcut's vibrant beats cross time and situations, showing their importance is universal, not just a relic of cassette-era nostalgia.
Let's talk about its impact on pop culture. The tune has been remixed several times, crossing genres and oceans. Think about what TikTok has done with "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac—suddenly, a whole new generation develops a fondness for an "oldie" felt to belong only to their parent's playlists. "People Hold On" possesses a comparable magic—not by bending time but by flexing its relevancy across time.
Getting us back to that chorus, "People Hold On" doesn't pretend to offer solutions. Instead, it acknowledges complexity and hardship, finding unity in shared human experience. It wraps that empathy in danceable beats. Unlike an inflated self-help manifesto, it’s superbly honest, and its realism makes it more relatable.
Political tension today is as distressing as ever. Extreme perspectives clash at both ends of the spectrum, magnified by social media algorithms designed to keep us scrolling. We're bombarded with issues around climate change, systemic inequality, and economic instability. Gen Z stands in a unique position, inheriting these challenges, yet emboldened with a voice amplified by technology, and options at their fingertips previous generations lacked.
For critics who might argue that a decades-old song holds no real value, it's worth considering how art often bridges generational divides. When a song carries influence, it reverberates, finding renewed importance in each listener. Stansfield’s lyrics inspired Gen X and Gen Y, and they continue to speak to Gen Z navigating through equally stormy circumstances.
For all its seeming simplicity, "People Hold On" asks us to do something radical: carry forward, resist hopelessness, and confront the chaos of the world. Not because it's easy, but because it's necessary.
The critics who label "People Hold On" as obsolete miss this human tapestry. It's music designed not for a season but for resilience. Despite a global community deeply divided, the shared beats remind us of something unbroken.
So where do we go from here? Perhaps songs like "People Hold On" can serve as cues, subtle reminders that in music, as in life, rhythm often guides where words fail. These notes fill with the essence of standing up, even when everything seems to be pulling you downwards.
When life is chaotic and futures uncertain, sometimes all you need is someone—or in this case, a song—to tell you to hold on.