The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive" [Official Video]

[TheTheGroggrog]

he sounds like woody from toy story....

[LittleShroomChild]

i saw them live at the Life Is Good Festival in Mass when i didnt know who they were. They were amazing. <3

[TheTvrulesthenation]

Explosive from the start to the end, great tune.

[cheesynounou]

Masturbation scene at 0:16

[SuperWonkyman]

Greatest alternative band ever

[GJ3200]

@SuperWonkyman close, but the pixies win your argument...

[9ooglesuxballs]

Eh, decent message but hot damn what a dull song. Not at all what I hear when I think of positive music

[razmataz13drums]

i went to a Ryan Adams gig with Jesse Malin supporting and whilst id heard of this band before Jesse mentioned them so i thought id get into them and theyre not too shabby :)

[tinkertoes1000]

I love there style its very unique.

[PspRocker101]

i wove em i wove em i wove em

[3AEMINEM]

This band makes

1. Nerdy kids look phucking epic

2. Eye Glasses awesome

3. People come together

4. Mario moustache's the shit

[TheClyttCommander]

@3AEMINEM

Amen brother!



[dk6025]

Welcome the new age, the sing-along songs will be our scripture.

[rcastee]

MY NEW FAV BAND!!

[thefancyapple]

I never would have expected that voice to come out of that man. This is terrific. :)

P.S. The guy with the moustache is amazing!

[thepunkfish109]

@thefancyapple He's not with the band anymore, but his solo stuff is awesome, too! Check him out... Franz Nicolay :)

[thefancyapple]

@thepunkfish109 The man with the moustache isn't with them anymore? Or the lead dude?

[thefancyapple]

@thepunkfish109 Oh, I just looked him up, and I see he is the moustache man. :) He's cool! Anyone who plays the accordion is automatically my hero. :D

[dinomite99]

Didn't know Mario played keyboard for them!

[fishyfish499]

I heard this guy (the lead singer) on "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" and bought some of The Hold Steady's music, I have to be in a certain mood to listen to them and enjoy it, but they still rock my world :D

[sutho1975]

why do people find it necessary to comment '35th dislike' and shit like that - if you dont like the music dont fucking listen!

[TheSTEADY68]

Dammit Franz, why did you leave?

[TheEmptyRAGE]

38 People shall never be positive.

[atownlefttrain]

@TheEmptyRAGE Please, please please stop doing that stupid shit, what the fuck happened that's forced every second person on youtube to make some stupidly inane comment about how many people don't like the video? Perhaps the greatest product of evolution is sitting between your ears and yet you have decided to be a fucking mindless, tag-along cliche. Be healed my child, seek not empty approval from the digital void, those green numbers mean nothing! Now go on and heal the others!

[MusicIsUniversal1992]

@atownlefttrain Best comment EVAH! =D

[slovibond]

@atownlefttrain I'm going to give you a little green number of approval for this :)

[ThePacobubbas]

Thirty Eighth Dislike(:

[abcdefgiorgia]

@ThePacobubbas fuck you

[JetMech72]

@abcdefgiorgia Way to stay negative.

42nd Dislike. Socialists.

[Megaphonelandlord]

he looks like bob mould and sounds like randy newman, they remind me of husker du circa candy apply

[AceTurbo1]

Any post rock / alt indie band that can write this quality of song and reference & seconds and Youth of Today at the same time is all right in my books.

[odysseyrider5]

35th dislike.

[wackytabacky44]

@odysseyrider5 35th douche bag that has no ear for good music

[odysseyrider5]

@wackytabacky44 just because you like it doesnt mean i have to. Just because you like it, it doesnt make it good. everyone has different opinions.

[wackytabacky44]

@odysseyrider5 right on brother

[Silverstreak350Z]

Eehhh, can't get down with this.

[Broshmosh]

I wonder how many people who have commented on this want to preach to people.

[thedoctor69able]

my favourite band and probably my favourie moustache

[ruska93ruso]

I love the name and lyrics, but music sux... sorry...

[tanknjoue]

that moustache is fantastic

[lsmf5]

Within seconds I loved it!

[markconnors]

fuckin awesome band

my friend mike who just passed away loved this dudes.

r.i.p mfp

[Wormtongue13]

Nice Springsteen impression.

[seafood360]

what a great song

[HelenA2115]

I saw them on Hurricane festival

-at half past twelve

-on a sunday

-with 200 other guys

-for just half an hour

-but they rocked!

They had so much fun expressing their music, it was great- and we weren`t tired anymore!

[StonerHeart]

@HelenA2115

yeah!! these guys rocks.

I saw them on southside festival and it was one of the best comcerts i saw there.

The singer was so euphoric, it was amazing.

[5606michael]

This might be my favourite video, so instead of posting on them all like I want to, I just gotta say how amazing this band is! They do a thing that's so different to most of the songs around, and they do it REALLY well! All the recurring themes and characters and stories are amazing. I miss the old keyboard player though. Stay positive!

[ferret12]

Does Craigs style of singing remind anyone else of Wesley Willis?

[juliomelvin]

One of my favorite bands,The Hold Steady.Buy their new album,'Heaven is Whenever".And go see them live.

[DarkStarHarry]

the opening organ solo is awesome - i've played this song 5 or 6 times today.

[tikky2timer]

I like the lyrics. Hate the guys voice. He sounds Marv Albert trying to fit into skinny jeans.

[omegagamr]

@tikky2timer Hey. IF you hate the comment, why are you watching the video dumbass.

[Mattmoo36]

The only stuff i really know from these guys is "Separation Sunday" but im addicted to it and i have a feeling i may be buying a bunch more of their records shortly.

[gerauda]

behindert

[sydandbarrit]

Aren't we all just "kids" in our 30s...?

[nathanhusman]

i love the "storytelling" style!

[patchouliskye]

AMEN!

[williethegoat]

I'd like to book this band! any know who their booking agent is?? help!!!

[stessaboi]

dude. It's impossible to feel bad while listening to the hold steady. this band always makes me feel good

[ssimonn1994]

southside festival :D

[maestbobo]

"But it's gonna come a time when she's gonna go with whoever gets her the highest."

Whoa, that's a reference to Separation Sunday! Damn, their lyrics are so convoluted.

[ftr2k6]

@maestbobo a lot of their lyrics reference stories, characters or lines from their previous work, it's great how it all fits together. "It's one thing to start it with a positive jam, but it's another thing to see it on through" - the first track on their first album was called "Positive Jam" :)

[Trevorr13]

yeah

[gwarsloth]

its aweseom how they use the city as the background. i recognize some of those places on the lower east side.

[XanarchoXveganX]

ive never heard this band before

but they reference 7 seconds and youth of today

and sing about positivity.

so i like this <3

[creestoff420]

@XanarchoXveganX it sounds to me like u have a crowd to follow and have been for a while now then

[krishm666]

I don't know this band... and I don't know anything about them...

But it's great song, good music and really turns me positive :)

[koenighain]

no shit craig's a storyteller. please quit pointing out the obvious, guys. most people dont know about THS, but believe me, theyre the best damn band in america. then again, i think im just pointing out the obvious, huh?

[poemsareactive]

pretty fairly rated

[yearofrolling]

underrated

[ellnorth]

overrated

[ryclea]

I saw Lifter Puller several times back in the 90's and it's fun listening to Craig Finn talking about the old scene. It's depressing, but every Minneapolis band knows you have to leave Minneapolis to get anywhere.

[illinfillin]

Actually, it sounds EXACTLY like a cross between Bob Mould and Elvis Costello.

I'm refering to Candy Apple Grey era Husker Du and early Sugar Bob Mould and Pump It Up/Radio era Elvis Costello.

Both artists have aged and now play mediocre mellow mendicant music.

[ziffels]

PERFECT COMMENT. Ten out of ten, or whatever. I don't share your view of the artists currently; I think both are staying current and moving forward creatively, but that aside, Mould/Costello is a perfect launching pad of The Hold Steady, the only American ROCK band who matters.

[tmlafrance]

sounds like a cross between Randy Newman (I Love LA) and Bruce Springsteen

[jcg40410]

Their songs (and albums as a whole) are really more stories than song lyrics. One of my favorite things about the band is the more you listen, the more you feel like you are a part of something. One of the most inspirational bands of the decade no doubt.

[mortrock]

This band is garbage, especially the "psuedo slacker - elvis costello wannabe" singer

[rodstewartlookalike]

Most of their songs reference other songs.

[sas556]

I really like the hold steady, but this track (and the album in general) was disappointing. Half the lyrics are references to other songs. Boys and Girls in America is still one of the greatest albums of the decade though.

[akane173]

i really dont like them

[HawkeyeMatt]

i love me some hold steady

still need to see them live

[YouDontKnowBill]

most definitely. i feel like they would be really good live. they were the opening act when i went to see DMB in june, but by the time we got there they were just finishing up their set.

[DickeyBarbour]

Great sound and visuals!

[mellamoaugusto]

que banda tan chingona

[raunchboy]

Every time I hear a song by these guys I like 'em even more.

[joelthescientist]

you guys, you know whaa? i dont like this shit... not the music... you peeps... lke srsly, wtf is up with this shit? by shit i dont mean muzikz, cuz dudes, weezer is fucking class yo... but you dumb dudes are not cool... not cool at school! cheers

-Mr. Klazzy

[jonfrankwho]

Why don't you try to make a less coherent statement next time

[vvord56]

eh, I think THS is mostly just about the rocking and the meanings behind the lyrics.

[seannymac33]

I would rather hear THS than anything the overplayed radio bands have produced for the past decade. This is my favorite new act since DMB, but, in my opinion, THS is better.

[rawkrXbabee]

i love this song, the chorus is so happy!! :D

[KSmoothSaxG]

what are you talking about? his singing is why most people like the band so much

[StDaddy1]

i love the hold steady but his voice turned me off at first. i think the rock got me into it then his voice grew on me and his lyrics. they rule nonetheless!

[YouDontKnowBill]

that's what makes his style of singing so cool. it's just laid back and really loose, not really even strictly singing all the time. it's actually really difficult to do without sounding stupid, but he pulls it off.

[ramselaj]

@YouDontKnowBill It's his dedication and pure belief in what he's saying (almost like he's testifying) that allows him to pull it off without sounding stupid.

[Pandapwnegee]

@YouDontKnowBill No. His style of singing is what people do when they are mic shy. People sing like this when they are scared of there own voice of a microphone so they talk instead of sing. I am a music studies major at Berklee so don't tell me I don't understand music. He is a bad imitator of Springsteen.

[TheClyttCommander]

@Pandapwnegee

Really? I think you should go back to your music school and ask for your money back. Cos clearly if the lead singer to The Hold Steady is a mic shy imitator and thats what they tell you then I imagine Justin Bieber is saving music altogether.  By the way GENIUS the correct spelling for your school is Berkley. Fuckin Loser

[withersn]

@Pandapwnegee rarely you can tell someone is such a pretentious fuck wit through such a small piece of writing

[boosh1988]

@Pandapwnegee

That's actually hilarious. Go see them live and then try to tell me Craig Finn is mic shy. Most ludicrous statement I've ever seen, and only serves to certify your ignorance I'm afraid.

[mariellb]

I'm such a huge hold steady fan but I hate this song. it disrupts the whole album, and it's all about the albums.

[oaxakitajux]

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

[TheFunkIsAardwolf]

BEST OPENING LYRICS EVER.

[BurgBoard]

Saw them last night at the Virgin Mobile Free Fest. Fucking rocked.

[gregjewett]

Mewithoutyou? whos that? I thought they were a less impressive replacements.

[led4life123]

hahaha at 0:18 hes jacking off

[munkeyruler1]

haha i caught that too

[risewiththefallen577]

saw them  on fuel tv this is like my fav song

[North0house]

I'm sorry, usually I don't say this about bands, but I just gotta say this... This band is just like a cheap and less impressive knock off of MewithoutYou.

[thenizzmeister09]

ure so so so so so so so so so soo wrong

[oxenskebop]

in no way do they sound anything like mewithoutYou.... and fuck mewithoutYou. their new album sucks... too Neutral Milky for me.

[clownfreak9000]

Not close

[drnnhvcdsde]

This is the worst song ive ever heard it sucks ass

[BrokenXForgiveness]

These guys suck ass

[DeeperTempest]

Now that's how you do rock. Craig is awesome, like he tells a story in his songs. No more pubescent teen vocals for today's rock, out with 'em. In with story telling vocals, that's the way to go. Rock on, Hold Steady...

[Drummeric1989]

amazing song! saw them at the xponential festival. best part - 2:05

[SmackoRulesOverNate]

ThIs SoNg iZ aBOut CRacK aDDiCtiOn

[DontknowUdecide]

good one

[donut67]

we gotta stay positive

[jessup4life]

watch the singer dance and try to not laugh!!!!!!

[hafizbrenda]

really nice song..the lyrics are inspirational!!

[orgonetrail]

Sounds good to me. Why don't you go off and do that?

[peetarararar]

This is a great song you douche bag; I'd say stuff like that too if my penis didn't reach the blades in the blender.

[codemonkey100]

hope you have room cause i do to , no homo

[FreakPowerParty]

No one is stopping you.

[FYSkateTeam]

have fun fucker

[ekk2a]

Whats super Mario doing in this video....? wait....or is that Luigi?

[mx5rush]

I'm 'positive' that if I had a mustache like the keyboard player, my co-workers would collectively and 'positively' kick my ass!

[LSommer]

great band! I found them accedently at Rothbury. Lots of fun live. They remind me of Cowboy Mouth a little.

[FYSkateTeam]

so sick. kinda like a punk spin on springstein. in a good way

[popprincessember]

we gotta stay positive lol

[grgagrga]

all of u r worried bout the wrong thangs

[hondadriver45]

this band is hilarious to me

[marinoblefighter]

damn, this shit fuckin sucks, im gonna go watch a tyrant video haha

[ChesterCheetoz]

this is a great song

[Markthegreat6789]

the french guy is a joke. shave the stash

[mabewa]

Who cares what he looks like.  This is music, not some kind of lame fashion show.

[Markthegreat6789]

its annoying. it makes the music even more corny sounding. Also, when they sing ooohhhhoooh in the corrus.... and he does that little fist gesture like hes some

[Markthegreat6789]

Its annoying. His style makes the music sound even more corny. In the corus, when they sing ooohhohhoohho, and he does that little fist squeeze gesture...man that is annoying and corny, he did it on fuel tv too. man its corny. lame sound and style

[MiKeS6954]

could you say corny any more times?

[joshray7]

damn sure he can

[mabewa]

I'd be very curious about what you think is an example of a good singer.

[roryrandomlyrocks]

Woa, calm down Holden Caulfield.

[sportstud7]

I get it, from "The Catcher in the Rye", clever...

[johntedrowjr]

lol i like this song i heard it on fiuel tv

[FYSkateTeam]

same here

[Iplayphone]

they have The Killers beat to them. or Modest mouse beat to them..

[teamrobot]

you mean the killers and modest mouse have a Hold Steady beat to them (or a lifter puller beat to them)

[thehousehelper]

i saw this on Fuel tv.. Pretty Good.

[OneManArmy1421]

song gives me chills when Finn drops 'Youth of Today' and '7 Seconds'

[challupa1234]

i wonder how much money the vocals in this band payed to be in the band

[DocSloth]

umm what the fuck is that supposed to mean? the lyrics and their delivery are what make this band.

[challupa1234]

i didnt say there words sucked i said this singer is a bad singer u

[mabewa]

Well, he is a vastly better singer than most pre-fab pop stars. For one thing, he can sing live without backing tapes. His voice has a lot of personality and he has great delivery. He kinda reminds me of Van Morrison, Elvis Costello or Bruce Springsteen, and those guys can all sing just fine.

[tordack]

No singer is a bad singer unless they're off key. If they aren't...Its just opinion

[ctrams52]

they opened for DMB at post gazette pavilion

[Willro91]

Someone was comparing this band to the decemberists, but I have no idea why. This band is very different.

[Go0mbah]

Saw them last night in Cincinnati as support before the Dave Matthews Band concert... They sounded way better live of course, but the piano player dances like a bull fighter for some reason while he's playing. Weird.

[dvs1572]

ha ha, i noticed that too. poor fella. you have to hand it to him though he looks as if he's having a blast.

Their Oldschool Hardcore Pride shows, i deeply respect that.

[dvs1572]

"it's mostly pretty nice yeah it feels pretty alright." - has my vote for the worst lyric of all time.

[TheAlbacor]

Well, you're going to have to consider the lyric "We got each other, and that's a lot" from Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer.

[Irish0400]

c'mon now, you cant mean that... if you truely want bad lyrics, look up anything by The Halo Friendlies... worst lyricists ever...

[dvs1572]

I saw them playing this live on fuel TV. I respect the lyrics, at first I thought they were really really cheesy, but after many listens, I realized it takes alot of guts to write these kind of lyrics, without trying to be clever or intelligent. JUst telling it the way it is.

[metalcoffin]

Ha ha, I felt the same way! Think I like them better live.

[baaman00]

Yea, his lyrics are brilliant. Some are very deep, and others topical, but it depends on the song and its intent.

[HolgerHelfert]

i have seen them today in german televisons ROCKPALAST, and look for more exciting song of them. not really bad, what they do, hehehe. but not good enough for buy a cd

[mitch7190]

these bands are a dime a dozen lol

[bunzigga]

they tried to make it like an arcade fire song.......but failed. this sucks