Hold The Girl cover

Hold The Girl

Released

After her debut made a critical splash both at home in the UK and worldwide, Rina Sawayama happily went for it further with her sophomore release, 2022’s full-on ode to the joys of 21st century pop Hold The Girl. It might be best described as a one-artist salute to the Eurovision Song Contest, mostly serving up one sparkling banger after another, whether stomping such as the big “Your Age” or swaying like “Phantom.” Her strong vocal control serves each song well, ranging from the processed feedback of “This Hell” to strong ballads such as “Forgiveness.”

Ned Raggett

Recommended by

Suggestions
Charli cover

Charli

Charli XCX
The Untouchable cover

The Untouchable

Alvin Stardust
Forever Blue cover

Forever Blue

Chris Isaak
Laid cover

Laid

James
Butch cover

Butch

Geraldine Fibbers
Mysterio cover

Mysterio

Ian McCulloch
Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters cover

Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters

Marc Almond & the Willing Sinners
Scavenger cover

Scavenger

The Walkabouts
Actually cover

Actually

Pet Shop Boys
Pisces Iscariot cover

Pisces Iscariot

The Smashing Pumpkins
Wild and Lonely cover

Wild and Lonely

The Associates