"Can't Hold Us"
Single byMacklemore & Ryan Lewis featuringRay Dalton
from the albumThe Heist
B-side	"Make the Money" (7-inch) "Wings" (CD)
Released	August 16, 2011
Genre	Pop rap experimental pop worldbeat
Length	4:18 (album version) 3:35 (US radio edit)
Label	Macklemore LLC Elektra
Songwriters	Ben Haggerty Ryan Lewis Ray Dalton
Producer	Ryan Lewis
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis singles chronology
"Wings" (2011) "Can't Hold Us" (2011) "Same Love" (2012)
Ray Dalton singles chronology
"Kingdom Come" (2010) "Can't Hold Us" (2011) "Need Your Love" (2012)
Music video
"Can't Hold Us" onYouTube
Audio sample
file help

"Can't Hold Us" is a song written and performed by Americanhip hop duoMacklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring American singerRay Dalton, originally released on August 16, 2011, as the second single from the duo's debut albumThe Heist (2012).

The song was asleeper hit, gaining more attention in 2012 and 2013. In May 2013, it reached number one on theBillboard 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 music video was nominated forBest Music Video at the56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.^[2] The song was also listed as "The Most-Streamed Song of 2013" bySpotify.^[2]

The song runs for 4 minutes and 18 seconds and is in thekey ofE minor, with a fasttempo of 146beats per minute. The song features tribal percussion, with samples from Dave Clark Five’sBits and Pieces.

"Can't Hold Us" received critical acclaim.NJ.com named it as "Song of the Week".^[3] Lewis Corner ofDigital 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".^[4] Writing forThe Edge, Hannah Mylrea rated the song 9/10 and complimented the duo's dynamism, deeming it "another massive summer hit".^[5]AllMusic's David Jeffries also gave it four stars out of 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 ofwill.i.am's playbook...this motivational, "this is the moment" number is identifiably and lovably Macklemore."^[6]

Due to the major international success of the duo's "Thrift Shop", there was a resurgence in sales of their previous singles and their albumThe Heist.^{[citation needed]}

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted in theUK Singles Chart at number 187 on March 17, 2013, climbing up to number 53 the following week. It eventually peaked at number three on the chart. In Australia, "Can't Hold Us" became Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' third consecutive number-one single after "Thrift Shop" and "Same Love", reaching the top of the chart on March 25, 2013. In the United States, the song became a sleeper hit, and following a performance of the song onSaturday Night Live, the song cracked the top 10 at number 7, becoming the duo's second top 10 hit, following the number-one single "Thrift Shop". "Can't Hold Us" reached number one on theBillboard Hot 100 during the chart issue May 18, 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 theBillboard Hot 100, followingMariah 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" andBruno Mars with "Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade".^[1] The song stayed at number one for five consecutive weeks before being surpassed byRobin Thicke's "Blurred Lines". As of December 29, 2013, the song had sold 4,383,000 downloads in the United States, with 4,260,000 sold in 2013, making it the eighth best-selling song of the year.^[7]

Macklemore premiered the music video for "Can't Hold Us" on April 17, 2013.^[8] The video was directed byRyan Lewis, Jason Koenig andJon Jon Augustavo, and shooting took place for 17 days, on 2 continents and 16 different shoots, ranging from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California toNew Zealand atCathedral Cove where scenes forThe Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian were also shot.^[9] Several prominent parts were filmed on thetall shipLady Washington.

The video won twoMTV Video Music Awards forBest Hip-Hop Video and Director of Photography Jason Koenig, and Mego Lin wonBest Cinematography, the video was nominated forBest Direction andBest Editing Nomination to Jason Koenig and Ryan Lewis. It also was placed at No. 12 on BET Notarized Top 100 in 2013. It was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2014 Grammy Awards. It reached 1 billion views in December 2022.

In May 2012, the song was re-released and featured in an International TV commercial forMiller Genuine Draft, created by the advertising agency me&lewis ideas.^[10] In early 2013, the song was used in a U.S. television commercial forMicrosoft'sOutlook.com webmail service.^[11] The song was also used in the background ofESPN'sCollege GameDay commercials, the March 2013 premiere episode ofMTV'sThe Real World: Portland, in commercials for the movieR.I.P.D.^[12][13] and in the trailer for the filmGrudge Match. It is featured on the soundtrack for the 2013 film onSteve Jobs titledJobs^[14] and the Americanbasketball video gameNBA 2K14. The song is featured on theUbisoftdance gameJust Dance 2014 asdownloadable content. On July 2, 2013, mash-up artistDJ Earworm released a summer mash-up, incorporating "Can't Hold Us" with 10 other songs that became popular in summer 2013.^[15] In late 2013, the chorus from the song was used in an ad campaign for the opening of theGraton Resort & Casino in Northern California.^[16] The song was also used inYouTube'sRewind video for 2013. The song's segment in the video featured YouTube personalities includingThe Slow Mo Guys,Smosh,KassemG, CorridorDigital,Jimmy Kimmel,Freddie Wong, and Macklemore himself accompanied by Grover fromSesame Street.^[17]

The song was also used inWWE Raw's 2012Slammy Awards for the Match of the Year nominations.^{[citation needed]}

The song was used in a 2012 video by FaZeClan titled "FaZe ILLCAMS – Episode 37".^{[citation needed]}

During the2012 Seattle Seahawks season, the song became the official touchdown song for the team thanks to big fan coachPete Carroll. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, also big supporters of the Seahawks, performed "Can't Hold Us" along with "Thrift Shop" during the NFC Championship game halftime show atCenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014.^{[citation needed]}

When theOklahoma City Thunder started to use the song during games, Macklemore took issue with the team asthey had controversially relocated from Seattle when they were formerly theSeattle SuperSonics.^{[citation needed]}

The song was used in the trailer of the 2013 filmJobs.^{[citation needed]}

On March 17, 2014 Season 2 Episode 3 of theA&E TV showBates Motel, "Can't Hold Us" was featured in a scene as music in the background.^{[citation needed]}

On December 13, 2014 Season 11 playerFleur East sang the song atThe X Factor final.^{[citation needed]}

In 2014, the song was also used in the comedy filmHorrible Bosses 2.^{[citation needed]}

The song was also used in the third trailer ofIce Age: Collision Course.^{[citation needed]}

The song was used in season 5, episode 12 of90210, when Liam was fighting in the gym.^{[citation needed]}

The song was played during the2015 UEFA Champions League Final opening ceremony.^[18]

The song is also used in the 2016 filmMiddle School: The Worst Years of My Life.^{[citation needed]}

The song was also used forCanada, Mexico and United States' Joint Bid for the2026 FIFA World Cup.^{[citation needed]}

The song is used as the theme song for theBrodozer monster truck on theMonster Jam circuit.^{[citation needed]}

Macklemore performed the song duringMLS Cup 2019, which was held atCenturyLink Field.^{[citation needed]}

Macklemore himself performed the song with the Detroit Youth Choir on the season 14 finale ofAmerica's Got Talent (The Detroit Youth Choir also performed the song in the audition and the finals. This came after performing with the Ndlovu Youth Choir andKygo performing his version of theSteve Winwood song "Higher Love" with posthumous vocals fromWhitney Houston)^{[citation needed]}

The song was formerly used by theSeattle Mariners during theseventh inning stretch atT-Mobile Park. It was previously played after every home run.^{[citation needed]}

The song was used in theroll call for Washington state at the2024 Democratic National Convention.^[19]

• Digital download^[20]
  1. "Can't Hold Us" – 4:10
  2. "Can't Hold Us" (instrumental) – 4:10
• 7-inch single^[21]
  1. "Can't Hold Us" – 4:10
  2. "Make the Money" – 3:45
• CD single (Germany)^[22]
  1. "Can't Hold Us" – 4:10
  2. "Wings" – 3:45.

• List of highest-certified singles in Australia

• 2011 songs
• 2011 singles
• 2013 singles
• Macklemore songs
• Ryan Lewis songs
• Number-one singles in Australia
• Number-one singles in Sweden
• Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
• Number-one singles in Poland
• Songs written by Macklemore
• Songs written by Ryan Lewis
• Songs written by Ray Dalton
• Elektra Records singles
• Seattle Mariners
• Seattle Seahawks
• UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles

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