Can't Hold Us

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Can't Hold Us Down.
"Can't Hold Us"
Single by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton
from the album The Heist
B-side
Released August 16, 2011
Format
Recorded 2009-10
Genre
Length 4:18 (Album Version)
3:36 (US Radio Edit)
Label Macklemore
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Ryan Lewis
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis singles chronology

"Wings"
(2011)		 "Can't Hold Us"
(2011)		 "Same Love"
(2012)

Ray Dalton singles chronology
"Can't Hold Us"
(2011)
Music sample
"Can't Hold Us"
13 second sample from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Can't Hold Us"
Music video
"Can't Hold Us" on YouTube

"Can't Hold Us" is a song by American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis from their debut studio album The Heist (2012). Featuring singer Ray Dalton, it was released as the third single from the album on August 16, 2011. The song also features additional vocals by actress Susannah Wetzel, who sings portions of the chorus alongside Dalton.

The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their second number-one hit in the United States.[1] It is also their third consecutive number-one single in Australia.

The radio edit cuts out portions of the introduction, as well as the extended bridge section and an alternate beat during the last chorus, replacing them with an introduction from Dalton and a clapping beat. The beat is similar to their live performances of the song. The song is in the key of E minor with a tempo set at 146 beats per minute.

The music video was nominated for Best Music Video at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.[2] The song was also listed as "The Most-Streamed Song of 2013" by Spotify.[2]

Critical reception

"Can't Hold Us" was generally well received by music critics. Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the song four stars out of five, praising its "infectious, soul-soaked piano line and beats more vibrant than Rio de Janeiro's finest carnival floats".[3] Writing for The Edge, Hannah Mylrea rated the song 9/10 and complemented the duo's dynamism, deeming it "another massive summer hit".[4] Allmusic's David Jeffries also gave it four stars on five and wrote: "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis combine the handclapping, foot-stomping, and propulsive rhythms of old-fashioned gospel music with an infectious, uplifting chorus that could have been ripped straight out of will.i.am's playbook...this motivational, "this is the moment" number is identifiably and lovably Macklemore."[5]

Commercial performance

Due to the major international success of the duo's "Thrift Shop", there was a resurgence in sales of their previous singles and their album The Heist.

The song debuted in the UK Singles Chart at number 187 on March 17, 2013, climbing up to number 53 the following week. In Australia, "Can't Hold Us" became Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' third consecutive number one single, reaching the top of the chart on March 25, 2013, after "Thrift Shop" and "Same Love". In the United States, the song became a sleeper hit, and following a performance of the song on Saturday Night Live, the song cracked the top 10 at number 7, becoming the group's second top 10 hit, following the number-one single "Thrift Shop". "Can't Hold Us" reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week dated May 17, 2013. They became the first duo to place their two debut singles atop the chart.[1] They also became the fifth act to place their two debut singles atop the Billboard Hot 100, following Mariah Carey with "Vision of Love" and "Love Takes Time", Christina Aguilera with "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants", Lady Gaga with "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" and Bruno Mars with "Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade".[6] As of January 2014, the song has sold 4,383,000 downloads in the United States with 4,260,000 sold in 2013, making it the eight best-selling song of the year.[7]

Music video

Macklemore premiered the music video for "Can't Hold Us" on April 17, 2013.[8] The video was directed by Ryan Lewis, Jason Koenig & Jon Jon Augustavo , and shooting took place for three months, on 2 continents and 16 different shoots, ranging from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California to New Zealand at Cathedral Cove where scenes for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian were also shot.[9] Several prominent parts were filmed on the tall ship Lady Washington.

The video won two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Cinematography, and was nominated for Best Direction and Best Editing.

It was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2014 Grammy Awards.

Oklahoma City controversy

During the 2013 NBA Playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder were using the song "Can't Hold Us"[10] to pump up the crowd during their games. Macklemore, a Seattle native and fan of the former Seattle SuperSonics, requested that the Thunder, who moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008, not play the song. The Thunder acquiesced.[11]

Usage in the media

In early 2013, the song was re-released and featured in a U.S. television commercial for Microsoft's Outlook.com webmail service[12] and in commercials for the drink Miller. The song was also used in the background of ESPN College GameDay commercials, the March 2013 premiere episode of MTV's The Real World: Portland, in commercials for the movie R.I.P.D.[13][14] and in the trailer for the upcoming film Grudge Match. It is featured on the soundtrack for the 2013 film on Steve Jobs titled Jobs[15] and the American basketball video game NBA 2K14. On July 2, 2013, mash-up artist DJ Earworm released a summer mash-up, incorporating "Can't Hold Us" with 10 other songs that became popular in summer 2013.[16] In late 2013, the chorus from the song was used in an ad campaign for the opening of the Graton Resort & Casino in Northern California.[17] The song was also used in YouTube's annual Rewind video. The songs segment in the video features YouTube stars, The Slow Mo Guys.[18]

Track listing

  • Digital download[19]
  1. "Can't Hold Us" – 4:18
  2. "Can't Hold Us" (instrumental) – 4:18
  1. "Can't Hold Us" – 4:18
  2. "Make the Money" – 3:45
  • CD single (Germany)[21]
  1. "Can't Hold Us" – 4:18
  2. "Wings" – 3:45

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
scope=rowAustralia (ARIA)[ 1] 1
scope=rowAustria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[ 1] 3
scope=rowBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[ 1] 2
scope=rowBelgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[ 1] 2
scope=rowCanada (Canadian Hot 100)[ 1] 2
scope=rowCzech Republic (IFPI)[ 1] 4
scope=rowDenmark (Tracklisten)[ 1] 4
scope=rowEuro Digital Songs (Billboard)[ 1] 2
scope=rowFinland (Suomen virallinen lista)[ 1] 3
scope=rowFrance (SNEP)[ 1] 3
scope=rowGermany (Media Control AG)[ 1] 2
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[22] 9
scope=rowHungary (Dance Top 40)[ 1] 8
scope=rowHungary (Rádiós Top 40)[ 1] 20
scope=rowHungary (Single Top 20)[ 1] 12
Iceland (Tónlist)[23] 16
scope=rowIreland (IRMA)[ 1] 3
scope=rowIsrael (Media Forest)[ 1] 3
scope=rowItaly (FIMI)[ 1] 2
Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20)[24] 6
scope=rowLuxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard)[ 1] 2
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[25] 3
Mexico Top Anglo (Monitor Latino)[26] 12
scope=rowNetherlands (Dutch Top 40)[ 1] 4
scope=rowNew Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[ 1] 4
scope=rowNorway (VG-lista)[ 1] 4
scope=rowPoland (Polish Airplay Top 20)[ 1] 1
scope="row"Poland (Dance Top 50)[ 1] 14
Portugal (Billboard)[27] 9
scope=rowScotland (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 4
scope=rowSlovakia (IFPI)[ 1] 8
scope=rowSpain (PROMUSICAE)[ 1] 18
scope=rowSweden (Sverigetopplistan)[ 1] 1
scope=rowSwitzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[ 1] 4
scope=rowUK Singles (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 3
scope=rowUK Indie (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 1
scope=rowUK R&B (Official Charts Company)[ 1] 1
scope=rowUS Billboard Hot 100[ 1] 1
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[28] 1
scope=rowUS Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[ 1] 1
scope=rowUS Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[ 1] 1
scope=rowUS Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[ 1] 31
Venezuela Pop/Rock General (Record Report)[29] 26

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[30] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Belgium (BEA)[31] Platinum 30,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[32] 4× Platinum 320,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[33] 2× Platinum 60,000^
France (SNEP)[34] Gold 150,000*
Germany (BVMI)[35] 3× Gold 450,000^
Italy (FIMI)[36] Platinum 30,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[37] 2× Platinum 30,000*
Sweden (GLF)[38] 2× Platinum 80,000x
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[39] Platinum 30,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[41] 4× Platinum 4,383,000[7]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Australia (ARIA)[42] 9
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[43] 15
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[44] 78
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 11
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[46] 41
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[47] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[48] 5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[49] 3
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[50] 2

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Award Result
2013 Teen Choice Awards Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Song Won
MTV Video Music Awards Best Hip-Hop Video Won
Best Direction in a Video Nominated
Best Editing in a Video Nominated
Best Cinematography in a Video Won
2014 Grammy Awards Best Music Video Nominated

Release history

Country Date Format Label Catalog no.
United States[19][20] August 16, 2011 Digital download Macklemore LLC N/A
November 12, 2012 7" 789577669611
Germany[21] May 24, 2013 CD single Rykodisc Records 0825646441426

Cover versions

  • Pentatonix covered the song on their third album, PTX, Vol. II.
  • Boyband Emblem3 have covered the song, with member Drew creating his own bars for the rap section

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1560817/macklemore-ryan-lewis-cant-hold-us-tops-hot-100
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5819883/grammy-awards-2014-full-nominations-list-complete-nominees
  3. ↑ Corner, Lewis. "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: 'Can't Hold Us' – Single review". Digital Spy. Retrieved May 9, 2013. 
  4. ↑ Mylrea, Hannah. "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton – ‘Can’t Hold Us’". The Edge. Retrieved May 9, 2013. 
  5. ↑ Jeffries, David. "Can't Hold Us". Allmusic. Retrieved May 9, 2013. 
  6. ↑ Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' 'Can't Hold Us' Makes Hot 100 History
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Paul Grein (January 2, 2014). "The Top 10 Albums and Songs of 2013". Chart Watch (Yahoo). 
  8. ↑ "MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS – CAN'T HOLD US FEAT. RAY DALTON". Youtube. Retrieved April 17, 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Premiere Epic 'Can't Hold Us' Video". MTV.com. Retrieved April 17, 2013. 
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Macklemore not happy with OKC Thunder using his song". King5.com. Retrieved June 6, 2013. 
  12. ↑ Carr, Austin (February 20, 2013). "Can Macklemore Help Microsoft Fend Off Gmail?". Fast Company. Retrieved March 5, 2013. 
  13. ↑ http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/sounds/post/_/id/4123/macklemores-songs-on-college-basketball
  14. ↑ http://soundtrack.mtv.com/post/music-from-the-real-world-portland-season-premiere/>
  15. ↑ Jobs Soundtrack
  16. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (December 3, 2013). "DJ Earworm's 'United State of Pop' 2013: Producer Talks 'Darker-Themed' Mash-Up". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2013. 
  17. ↑ Hay, Jeremy (September 30, 2013). "Rohnert Park casino launches ad campaign". The Press Democrat. Retrieved December 5, 2013. 
  18. ↑ "YouTube Rewind: What Does 2013 Say?". December 11, 2013. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Can't Hold Us (Single)". Pandora Radio. Retrieved May 26, 2013. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "7' Vinyl Record". Macklemore LLC. Retrieved June 23, 2013. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Can't Hold Us (2track)". Amazon (GER). Retrieved May 26, 2013. 
  22. ↑ "Digital Singles Charts - Greece". Billboard. 
  23. ↑ "Netlistinn viku 27, 2013" (in Icelandic). Tónlist. Retrieved July 13, 2013. 
  24. ↑ "The Official Lebanese Top 20 - Charts". Retrieved June 16, 2013. 
  25. ↑ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. 
  26. ↑ "Top 20 Ingles Del 17 Al 23de Junio del 2013". Monitor Latino (in Spanish). RadioNotas. June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013. 
  27. ↑ "Portugal Digital Songs – Peak". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2013. 
  28. ↑ "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Make History On Pop Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2013. 
  29. ↑ "Pop Rock General". Record Report (in Spanish). R.R. Digital C.A. June 29, 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013. 
  30. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 
  31. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2013" (in Dutch). Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. 
  32. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Can't Hold Us". Music Canada. 
  33. ↑ http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/macklemore-ryan-lewis-feat-ray-dalton-can%C2%B4t-hold-us
  34. ↑ "French single certifications – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton – Can't Hold Us" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 15 October 2013. 
  35. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; 'Can´t hold us')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. 
  36. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Can´t hold us" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved September 20, 2013.  Select Online in the field Scegli la sezione. Select Week -- and Year ----. Enter Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in the field Artista. Click Avvia la ricerca
  37. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart > April 29, 2013". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved May 17, 2013. 
  38. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar - Vecka 25, 21 juni 2013" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. 2013-06-21. 
  39. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton; 'Can't Hold Us')". Hung Medien. 
  40. ↑ "British single certifications – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz – Cant Hold Us". British Phonographic Industry.  Enter Cant Hold Us in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Click Go
  41. ↑ "American single certifications – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton – Can't Hold Us". Recording Industry Association of America.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  42. ↑ "2013 Year End Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 2013-2-7. 
  43. ↑ "Best of 2013: Canadian Hot 100". publisher=Prometheus Gobal Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
  44. ↑ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 - radios 2013" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 22, 2014. 
  45. ↑ http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=2348
  46. ↑ "Top 50 Canciones Anual 2013". Promuiscae.es. Retrieved 2014-02-03. 
  47. ↑ Lane, Daniel (1 January 2014). "The Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles Of 2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2014. 
  48. ↑ "Best of 2013 - Hot 100 Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
  49. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
  50. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts — Rap Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
Macklemore
Studio albums
Mixtapes
Singles
Other songs
Related articles
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.