Hold Your Head Up - The Zombies SXSW 2023 Stubbs Stage (Argent)

Published 2023-03-16

At SXSW 2023, TAM (Temple of Art and Music), who is attending with Dana Gillespie, had the opportunity to discover the legendary UK band The Zombies and their lead vocalist Colin Blunstone. TAM met them at the album release and acoustic set with founder Rod Argent at Waterloo Records, thanks to Dana Gillespie's introduction. After being impressed by their performance, TAM also attended their full-band show at Stubbs on March 16th, where the packed audience enjoyed their greatest hits, including "Hold Your Head Up." During the show, Argent shared the backstory of the song, revealing that it was written after The Zombies thought they weren't writing hits and had decided to disband.

Interestingly, the Zombies' album, "Odessey and Oracle," was released in 1968 when 'live' performances were crucial for most bands' income. Unfortunately, their popularity declined in the UK, and after the album's release, the band members decided to part ways, feeling that they weren't successful enough. The first two singles from the album even failed to chart. However, fate had other plans, and "Hold Your Head Up" became one of Argent's biggest hits, written with Chris White, who lived with Argent at the time. The chorus was inspired by White's wife, and Argent clarified that it's often mistaken as 'hold your head up woa,' but it's actually 'hold your head up woman'.

For those who missed the Zombies' show at Stubbs, there's still a chance to see them during SXSW 2023. They're set to perform on Friday, March 17th, at 5:30 pm. Additionally, fans of '60s and '70s music shouldn't miss Dana Gillespie, another British music legend. Gillespie will perform a song from that era that David Bowie wrote for her. Her original "Andy Warhol" features David Bowie on backing vocals and Mick Ronson on guitar, and she'll perform it with her London Blues Band, who have flown in from the UK for her first-ever SXSW. Catch her at The Continental Club SXSW Showcase on Saturday, March 18th, at 11 pm. She will also be doing a few 2nd Play showcases on Thursday and Friday.

Lyrics

And if it's bad
Don't let it get you down, you can take it
And if it hurts
Don't let them see you cry, you can make it

Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high

And if they stare
Just let them burn their eyes on you moving
And if they shout
Don't let it change a thing that you're doing

Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high

Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up
Hold your head up

Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up,oh
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head high

And if they stare
Just let them burn their eyes on you moving
And if they shout
Don't let it change a thing that you're doing

Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Hold your head up, woman
Writer/s: C. White, R. Argent
Publisher: BMG Rights Management

#sxsw #sxsw2023 #thezombies #musiclegend #rocknroll #halloffame #danagillespie #andywarhol #davidbowie #1960s #1970s

@chrisst8922 2 days ago

God gave rock and roll to you.

@SunandSnowGardening 1 year ago

Legendary.

@fueledbylove 21 hours ago

What? Ive thought the lyric was Hold Your Head Up Whoaaa! since (forever) I first heard it on the radio. Well you learn something new everyday, right.

@michaeladams8401 1 year ago

Adding this to the Zombies description, probably The Zombies biggest hit made its breakthrough in early 1969, over a year after the band split up.

@ottodetroit 10 months ago

thx. their playing Detroit tomorrow night

@ronnyparker 2 days ago

Stop preaching, play the lovely song...................... did anyone not know the words??? back then. btw that is not the trilling piano intro....eeek, boring. damn he cant sing either.