3-D Review
Song/video: "Hold On" by Good Charlotte
Background/summary: "Hold On" is the latest single release from neo-punk band Good Charlotte's multi-platinum Young and the Hopeless album. The music video has been in heavy rotation on MTV, reaching the number 1 spot on MTV's top 20 videos and making the TRL top 10.
Discover: What is the message/worldview?
· This song is a comforting anti-suicide cry to "hold on."
· It provides encouragement and empathy for those going through rough times: "But we all bleed the same way as you do. And we all have the same things to go through."
· The world is first depicted as cold, lonely and broken, but the lyrics offer a message of hope that life will and can get better for those who keep searching for meaning.
· Two similar but slightly different videos accompany the song. Both emphasize the value of human life and the tragedy of human death. Hurting friends and family members of people that have been lost to suicide are shown crying, remembering, coping and comforting one another. In their grief they encourage viewers to "hold on" so they don't make the mistake of leaving people behind who truly care for them.
· One version of the video functions as a public service announcement, fading into a black screen with contact information for the National Hopeline Network, a suicide hotline.
Discern: How does it stand in light of the biblical message/worldview?
· The focus at the end of the other video version is Jesus Christ. As the music fades, the camera zooms in on one band member's neck to reveal a tattoo of Jesus. The conclusion suggests-correctly-that life is worth holding onto because of Him.
· Good
· The Bible tells us that we have a high priest who can sympathize with us in our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). Christ is the ultimate source of encouragement and provider of true love for those who feel hurt and lonely. The ending of the video points to these truths.
· Good
· The video takes place in a deteriorating building with the lyrics scrolled all over the walls. This sense of a broken home/heart depicts the reality of life without Christ. Christ offers restoration and healing to those who invite Him in.
Decide: What do I do with it?
· The video serves as a wake-up call to those who love kids-reminding us that the hurt they feel is real and deep.
· The lyrics will hit home with many teens. If you find your students/teens connecting, find out what is causing their loneliness and determine ways to address these issues. Use the video to facilitate discussions.
· One of the draws of punk is its communal aspect, providing connections with people who have gone through similar turmoil. Listening to "Hold On" is therapy for teens on the brink.
· This should serve as a challenge to be keenly aware of those who "feel like letting go." Be another voice that urges teens to hold on. Allow God to use you as a source of His love and hope to those who haven't experienced it.
· The video informs viewers that someone is lost to suicide in the
· Ask students if they feel the ending of the video is significant and why. Use the video as a way to point hurting and lost teens to Christ.
· We should applaud Good Charlotte's resolve to communicate such a timely and positive message
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