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Broken Bells — Holding On For Life
Album: After The Disco
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1978









Released: 2014
Length: 3:55
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Girl, take a seat
Rest your weary bones
Your secret's safe
In my hands

Tell me about the years and
Let me buy an hour
Maybe help me to understand

Oh, ain't nobody calling
Ain't nobody home
What a lovely day to be lonely

You're holding on for life
Holding on for life, love
Holding on for love

You're holding on for life
Holding on for life, love
Holding on for love

Light another cigarette
Burning in the cold
Waiting on the street
For your man

You're trying not to look so
Young and miserable
You gotta get your kicks
While you can

And in the Latin quarter
Sitting on your own
What a lovely day to be lonely

You're holding on for life
Holding on for life, love
Holding on for love

You're holding on for life
Holding on for life, love
Holding on for love

Well,
you
might belong
to another time
Still you have to carry on, yeah

No
where
else to go
and you never know
what to hide and what to show, no

You're holding on for life
Holding on for life, love
Holding on for love

You're holding on for life
Holding on for life, love
Holding on for love
Comments (126)add comment
Nomen est omen? Hah, hah, hah, being alive, being alive!
 alrb1162 wrote:

I'm sorry, but all I hear when listening to this is the Bee Gees.


 Its all in the titleā€¦
 photolew wrote:

Glad Im not the only one that had to look to see if this was the Bee Gees



EVERY SINGLE TIME!!  
 awhfman wrote:
This scares the BeeGeesus out of me! 


Well played! This made me chuckle for a few minutes!
I'm going out on a limb here, but I do believe this is worthy of a +1 for having a cool band name.
For me..  No, on many levels, just no.
I'm sorry, but all I hear when listening to this is the Bee Gees.
This scares the BeeGeesus out of me! 
 adyboy94 wrote:

I Gibb it 2 thumbs up




  
BROKEN BELLS: Get back in the studio and write some more Bee Gees sounding songs!
 Lonestar wrote:
Barry Gibb


yep, i'm totally hearing bee gees!
All references to the brothers Gibb aside ...
Broken Bells are a true breath of fresh air.  This tune and Love On The Run which is heartbreaking are testament enough.  These guys are for real.
Imagination bee
I thought after the disco the Bee Gees stopped playing.... 
on my list of must-sees! these guys are really good. 
Always been an 8. Might move this to 9. 
7 to 8 .  
 timmus wrote:

Damn, the Bee Gees are recording again?  Damn that's a good song.  Oh wait, that's not them.



Almost as terribly good though!
Damn, the Bee Gees are recording again?  Damn that's a good song.  Oh wait, that's not them.
 Hogtownmike wrote:

This is Barry good...



Haha! Yes, it's very gibb.
 kbs wrote:
I misread the artist as Broken Balls, which made the song title, artist and album titles a tad risque ... The falsetto adds another dimension 

Better broken than missing.

Tho I guess your don't miss what you never had.

Oops.  Never mind.
Love this songšŸ”„
Broken Bells are fantastic and this song is excellent
 black321 wrote:

Bee Gees, or Hall and Oates


It's nowhere near good enough for Hall and Oates.
After the Disco, it always seemed I was holding on for life. 
 rdo wrote:

I would bet money that 200 years from now, people will still be listening to the Bee Gees, and will long have forgotten over-rated (by critics) bands like the Rolling Stones and the Who.  I am not one of those people who think critics matter, Mr. Hater.  Don't cast me in that light.  Disco as a cultural phenomenon is fun to mock though.


In spite of you clearly targeting my other musical tastes to get a rise, I couldn't agree more with you on your point about Bee Gees appreciation 200 years from now.  That was the original point in the OP on the "Disco Sucks" mentality.  The Bee Gees were fantastic song writers and did it in multiple genre over multiple decades.
 kbs wrote:
I misread the artist as Broken Balls, which made the song title, artist and album titles a tad risque ... The falsetto adds another dimension 



Next level.
I misread the artist as Broken Balls, which made the song title, artist and album titles a tad risque ... The falsetto adds another dimension 
This song would make for an excellent Flight of the Conchords episode.
I know better.... still think it is the Bee Gees every time this comes on.

Better than the Bee Gees.
"Hey-hey, we're the Bee Gees... And we do Bee Gee around..."
Glad Im not the only one that had to look to see if this was the Bee Gees
 xray38 wrote:


Perhaps some research on The Brothers Gibb is in order.  They had more than one life.
 
The HBO documentary "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" is required viewing. Though they gloss over some of the more delicate subjects (drug abuse, addiction, what the hell was with that Sgt. Pepper movie??), it's a very interesting watch. 
Oh, brother...

adyboy94 wrote:
I Gibb it 2 thumbs up
 

They are great live - if you get a chance - GO!
 adyboy94 wrote:
I Gibb it 2 thumbs up
 

Clever dad joke :)
 Jelani wrote:

BeeGees weren't simply/just disco. Regardless, I think it would be kind of fun to see what a resurgence in 'disco' might churn up!
 
you know, just for fun i've gone back and listened to some of their music and i think it aged pretty well.  I don't know if disco got such a negative reputation because of the associated social scene , or what, but I think a lot of the music was actually pretty good.
I Gibb it 2 thumbs up
 daniel_rusk wrote:
BeeGees? Disco coming back? God help us!
 

Perhaps some research on The Brothers Gibb is in order.  They had more than one life.
 zurcronium wrote:
Is this the B-side to How Deep is Your Love?
 
How'd y'know?
Is this the B-side to How Deep is Your Love?
"OMG!", thinks I, "Is BillG really playing the BeeGees?"
The skip button isn't enough. We need a 'put it out of it's misery' button. This song is truly awful.
 daniel_rusk wrote:
BeeGees? Disco coming back? God help us!
 
BeeGees weren't simply/just disco. Regardless, I think it would be kind of fun to see what a resurgence in 'disco' might churn up!
Bee Gees, or Hall and Oates
Heard their new track recently - very promising!
I wish that was Barry on the chorus
BeeGees? Disco coming back? God help us!
broken balls maybe?
 baddog8it wrote:
thought it was the beegees.  Ugh!
 
Thought it was the beegeesā€¦.darn!  7+1 for the 'sounds like' Long Live RP!!
{#Music}
thought it was the beegees.  Ugh!
{#Devil_pimp}zesty ! channeling his inner gibb
I like it, but also am feeling an overload of this "sound".  Between this and the new Black Keys and seems like there's another album that Danger Mouse has been involved with (but I am old and forgetful).  Like the multi-layared vocal sound of Edwin Sharpe, Monsters and Men and several others....   good, but enough is enough.

As I proof read it hits me that, Damn... I am a grumpy old man, aren't I?  Oh well, it's how I feel
The next song could be "Staying alive" (ha, ha, ha, ha)...
Yup, my first thought -- the Bee Gees -- and yuck.  This is better though.
Falsetto aside.
Broken Bells are a great band.
Like all great Lp's they need more than a couple of listens.
Thank you Bill & Co.
Some pleasures need to seep in.
(thanks for the lyrics -- now posted above -admin)
"The Angel & The Fool" is the best tune on this album by far IMHO.
The first album is absolutely brilliant, this album is just ok.
{#Bounce} 
 Jelani wrote:
Broken Bee Gee's ?

 
Ha Ha.... Too True.


Sounds like the Bee Gees, yes?  I think they were really good song writers...
This is Barry good...
disco.....dis.....go.........actually not bad for a bge's worship piece.
 Despite sounding like the Bee Gees I sorta like it.
The band is OK, but so derivative. Bowie one song, BGs next, Black Keys another. Not unpleasant but whats the point?
 WonderLizard wrote:

I have spent many a Sunday morning with Sunday Morning and expect to spend many more. A monumental work.

 
{#Cheers}
I guess that I'm one of those who can only take falsetto in tiny doses.  Every time I hear this I can't help thinking of:

 
 Something between the Bee Gees and the Beatles...interesting

When you hear stuff like this, it makes you appreciate how talented the Bee Gees actually were as songwriters.

Or at least that average-talent bands today can't just pull off what they did...


 Jelani wrote:
Broken Bee Gee's ?

  I don't mean that in a bad way. I like the BeeGee's. I like this as well. Just has a similar sound.


Liked it, didn't think of Bee Gees at all.
Sounds like some long-lost, experimental, early '80's Bee Gee's tune that never saw the light of day.
Did not like the BeeGees, dont like these guys either.
Broken Bee Gee's ?
 rdo wrote:

I totally agree, so does Wallace Stevens...

There is not any haunt of prophesy,
Nor any old chimera of the grave,
Neither the golden underground, nor isle
Melodious, where spirits gat them home,
Nor visionary south, nor cloudy palm
Remote on heaven’s hill, that has endured
As April’s green endures; or will endure
Like her remembrance of awakened birds,
Or her desire for June and evening, tipped
By the consummation of the swallow’s wings.


(this just happens to be one of my very favorite passages in all of literature, it is from the poem Sunday Morning


 
I have spent many a Sunday morning with Sunday Morning and expect to spend many more. A monumental work.
 blotto wrote:
Not at all, I quite like the tune, and think they have a lot of balls for even putting it out. I'm sure they must've expected the Bee Gees comparisons.

The Bee Gees, is one of those bands/artists I didn't like much when I was younger but grew to appreciate their talent as I got older. Like Elton John and Depeche Mode, and many other bands.

 
olivertwist wrote:


I guess you mean that in a bad way... Really, though, this isn't nearly as funky as the best Bee Gees in their dance music/disco period. Still, this is a pretty good tune.

 



 
Ah, I see. And you're probably right about them expecting that comparison.
Not at all, I quite like the tune, and think they have a lot of balls for even putting it out. I'm sure they must've expected the Bee Gees comparisons.

The Bee Gees, is one of those bands/artists I didn't like much when I was younger but grew to appreciate their talent as I got older. Like Elton John and Depeche Mode, and many other bands.

 
olivertwist wrote:


I guess you mean that in a bad way... Really, though, this isn't nearly as funky as the best Bee Gees in their dance music/disco period. Still, this is a pretty good tune.

 


 blotto wrote:
Sons of Bee Gees.

 

I guess you mean that in a bad way... Really, though, this isn't nearly as funky as the best Bee Gees in their dance music/disco period. Still, this is a pretty good tune.
Sorry. Liking it. 
Anyone else think this should be the theme song for Barry Gibb Talk Show on SNL?
Sons of Bee Gees.
Sounds like old BeeGee Disco stuff. Not for me thanks...
 Hasan wrote:

George Carlin said, "Never trust anyone whose way of thinking has a name."

That applies to music too, often enough.

 
I totally agree, so does Wallace Stevens...

There is not any haunt of prophesy,
Nor any old chimera of the grave,
Neither the golden underground, nor isle
Melodious, where spirits gat them home,
Nor visionary south, nor cloudy palm
Remote on heaven’s hill, that has endured
As April’s green endures; or will endure
Like her remembrance of awakened birds,
Or her desire for June and evening, tipped
By the consummation of the swallow’s wings.


(this just happens to be one of my very favorite passages in all of literature, it is from the poem Sunday Morning

 rdo wrote:

I would bet money that 200 years from now, people will still be listening to the Bee Gees, and will long have forgotten over-rated (by critics) bands like the Rolling Stones and the Who.  I am not one of those people who think critics matter, Mr. Hater.  Don't cast me in that light.  Disco as a cultural phenomenon is fun to mock though.

 
George Carlin said, "Never trust anyone whose way of thinking has a name."

That applies to music too, often enough.
 h8rhater wrote:

"Disco sucks" is such a tired old trope. 

The 70's ended long ago with "Disco" in flames and its stars suddenly pariahs.  Strangely though, the music has lived on in many forms over the decades and is still beloved by many.  Perhaps that whole "disco sucks" thing was just a bunch of macho posturing from pubescent Punks and retro Rockers that, aided by the media (the same folks who pumped Disco up previously), went too far. 




 
I would bet money that 200 years from now, people will still be listening to the Bee Gees, and will long have forgotten over-rated (by critics) bands like the Rolling Stones and the Who.  I am not one of those people who think critics matter, Mr. Hater.  Don't cast me in that light.  Disco as a cultural phenomenon is fun to mock though.
 BlueBerryKush wrote:
Definitely BGesque and quite likeable!

 
True enough. Considerably less cheesy than the Bee Gees, and I would hope that the BB singers don't have welcome mats and medallions on their chests.
Broken Balls would be a nice name for a group.
Definitely BGesque and quite likeable!
Can't quite figure out what to make of this song. Interesting juxtapositions, good hooks, strange BeeGee riffs. One problem is that it is getting a lot of airplay here in Boston, getting overplayed in my head
he really could have been a member of the BGs
It's catchy. The more I hear it...

Same general vein as Chromeo, Scissor  Sisters and them it seems to me. 
 pbrownyyc wrote:

No, as I recall, it really did suck. With a few exceptions.

 
Exactly. It's only current play is attributable to soccer moms and movies about the Seventies.
it does, it sounds like the BeeGees lol!
First time I heard this I thought the Bee Gees had been sampled. A really great song tho' with a nice hook. {#Sunny}
 h8rhater wrote:
...  Perhaps that whole "disco sucks" thing was just a bunch of macho posturing from pubescent Punks and retro Rockers that, aided by the media (the same folks who pumped Disco up previously), went too far. 
 
No, as I recall, it really did suck. With a few exceptions.
Their first album is brilliant, I hope this is a good follow up {#Mrgreen}
 spotcheckbilly wrote:

I didn't like disco the first time.{#Stop}

 
"Disco sucks" is such a tired old trope. 

The 70's ended long ago with "Disco" in flames and its stars suddenly pariahs.  Strangely though, the music has lived on in many forms over the decades and is still beloved by many.  Perhaps that whole "disco sucks" thing was just a bunch of macho posturing from pubescent Punks and retro Rockers that, aided by the media (the same folks who pumped Disco up previously), went too far. 



Had the volume low on my computer and thought the BeeGees had returned!  Not bad, though.
Curent..and a retro feel, both at the same time.

Nice song!!

(probably even better with incense.) 
Disco had it's run.  Done! Gone!
That is not disco.

It was falsetto voice.
Also, a great tune.

James Mercer has talent & a lot's of it.
Great stuff.
Thank you Bill, for your wonderful discerning taste.
Right, get rid of the disco chorus and it sounds a bit like M83.
Yeah, I get it. 

Stayin' Alive. Holding On For Life.

Why not sing it in a Bee Gees-style falsetto? 
 rdo wrote:

Yeah, what is up with the disco revival?   Arcade Fire and Broken Bells and the new Arctic Monkeys....

 

What's up with that?

 

{#Ask}

 



 
I didn't like disco the first time.{#Stop}
Hated the BeeGees, but I'm digging this! {#Bounce}
 rdo wrote:

Yeah, what is up with the disco revival?   Arcade Fire and Broken Bells and the new Arctic Monkeys....

 

What's up with that?

 

{#Ask}

 



 

the truth (for me) is that there were some real disco-gems in the disco era. Parliment, Earth Wind and Fire, Bee Gees,... even Gloria Gaynor and Leo Sayer all had some great stuff that has stood the test of time and deserves a place in music history.
 dsd wrote:
I tried so hard not to like disco back in the day....but couldn't do it.  This one has some interesting elements infused into the formula.

 
Yeah, what is up with the disco revival?   Arcade Fire and Broken Bells and the new Arctic Monkeys....

 

What's up with that?

 

{#Ask}

 


 GeorgeMWoods wrote:
Is disco back?
 
Did it ever leave? 

Nothing wrong with disco at the correct time and place ;) 
I tried so hard not to like disco back in the day....but couldn't do it.  This one has some interesting elements infused into the formula.
The parallels with the Bee Gees are pretty hilarious.  However, the melody is haunting and the lyrics get stuck in my head for most of the day after I hear this.  It's one of the bigger tracks currently playing on the Alt formats of Sirius XM so I have had exposure to this for some time now.  I absolutely adore it, a solid 9 and just about everything Broken Bells put out, I can get behind.  Love them.  {#Dancingbanana_2}
sounds like they've been taking pills from the last bottle:

https://youtu.be/XYaymcp2YlE
Barry Gibb
Is disco  back?
Dig it!  Such a talented, groovy new group that seems to make max use of the impeccable sonic sensibilities of these 2 musical geniuses!
Awesome...I did not know new BB was out....
 xtalman wrote:
Bee Gee's fans?

 
Works for me.
 ottojschlosser wrote:
Gah, I thought the BeeGees had invaded RP...

 
this 
Yey, new Broken Bell!!
Gah, I thought the BeeGees had invaded RP...
Such a pretty new song. {#Daisy}
Thank you, Bill, thank you, mr. Mercer.