Can't Hold Us

Lore & Background

The song runs in the key of E minor at a fast tempo of 146 beats per minute, featuring tribal percussion and samples from "Bits and Pieces" by English rock band The Dave Clark Five. Critical reception was positive: NJ.com named it "Song of the Week," Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave it four stars out of five, praising its "infectious, soul-soaked piano line and beats more vibrant than Rio de Janeiro's finest carnival floats." AllMusic's David Jeffries also gave it four stars out of five, noting its combination of handclapping, foot-stomping, and propulsive rhythms with an infectious, uplifting chorus.

Commercially, the song debuted in the UK Singles Chart at number 187 on March 17, 2013, eventually peaking at number three. In Australia, it became the duo's third consecutive number-one single, reaching the top on March 25, 2013. In the United States, following a performance on Saturday Night Live, the song entered the top 10 at number seven, then reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart issue May 18, 2013. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis became the fifth act to place their two debut singles atop the chart, following Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars. The song stayed at number one for five consecutive weeks before being surpassed by Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines." As of December 29, 2013, it had sold 4,383,000 downloads in the United States, making it the eighth best-selling song of the year.

Reader's Guide

"Can't Hold Us" stands as a defining track of the early 2010s, marking Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's transition from independent artists to mainstream success. Its commercial performance—reaching number one in the United States and Australia—demonstrated the duo's ability to replicate the breakthrough success of "Thrift Shop." The song's longevity as a sleeper hit, gaining momentum over two years after its initial release, illustrates the shifting landscape of music consumption in the streaming era. Spotify listed it as "The Most-Streamed Song of 2013." The music video, nominated for Best Music Video at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, won two MTV Video Music Awards and reached 1 billion views in December 2022. The song's extensive use at sporting events, particularly as the official touchdown song for the Seattle Seahawks, cemented its role as an anthem in the Pacific Northwest. Its legacy includes being a benchmark for independent hip hop acts achieving chart dominance without major label backing.

Did You Know?

• The song was listed as "The Most-Streamed Song of 2013" by Spotify.
• The music video was shot over 17 days on 2 continents and 16 different shoots, including at Cathedral Cove in New Zealand where scenes for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian were filmed.
• Macklemore objected to the Oklahoma City Thunder using the song during games because the team controversially relocated from Seattle in 2008.
• The song became the official touchdown song for the Seattle Seahawks during the 2012 season.