“Hands Held High” by Linkin Park

"Hands Held High" sits on Minutes to Midnight, Linkin Park's third album, released through Warner Bros. in 2007, and the vocal credit belongs to Mike Shinoda, who also co-produced it with Rick Rubin. The writing is shared six ways, Shinoda with Chester Bennington, Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, David Farrell and Joe Hahn. Behind him sits a 12-piece string section, eight violins, two violas and two cellos, with Oscar Hidalgo on bass.

The album was a long time coming. Work began in 2003, stalled while Shinoda ran Fort Minor and Bennington started Dead by Sunrise, and picked up again with Rubin, heading away from the band's nu metal signature; it was their first without Don Gilmore producing. Critics were split, but it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 anyway.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.