Holding on to you is a rap pop hybrid song by Twenty One Pilots. The song uses a variety of layers and instruments that include the singer’s voice, a synthesizer, drums, and the piano. The singers voice serves a melodic function, while the drums serve a rhythmic function. Both the synthesizer and piano use the accompaniment function. The speed of the layers throughout the song is the same, and the song does not have a call and response.
In reference to the time of the song, the song is played in a duple meter. There are rhythms in each layer and the tempo is circa 90 beats per minute. There is no swing or syncopation used throughout the song. The motives, or small patterns that are repeated often, include the lyrics “now I’m holding on to you”, and “entertain my faith.”
The harmonic character of the song is a consonant major. The song is unified and has a happier sound to it. Overall, the song is loud, but it possesses a relatively quiet bridge. The rapper is the loudest part of the song.
I find it interesting how the rapper also chooses to sing. This results in the lowest part of the range being him talking while rapping, and the highest part being when he sings, “entertain my faith,” The contour of the song is smallest at the verses, higher for the choruses, and highest during the bridge. The bridges and verses have the smallest leaps in contour, while the chorus has more moderate leaps. In regards to phrasing, The choruses and verses are similar, with the bridge being unique.