Wilson Phillips - Hold On

What this video is

Released February 27, 1990, 'Hold On' arrived at a transitional moment in American pop — the hair-metal and synth-pop excesses of the late 1980s were receding, and audiences were receptive to emotionally direct, vocally led pop. Wilson Phillips — comprising Chynna Phillips (daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas) and sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson (daughters of Beach Boys' Brian Wilson) —…

Why it matters

A defining artifact of early-1990s harmony-group adult contemporary pop, 'Hold On' represents the commercial and aesthetic apex of the vocal-trio format in the post-Motown, post-Mamas & Papas lineage. It demonstrated that unadorned vocal performance — stripped of production excess — could dominate…

The director

Julien Temple (born 26 November 1953, Kensington, London) is a British film, documentary, and music video director. He launched his career documenting The Sex Pistols and directed The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980). By 1985 he was internationally…