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Can't Hold Us Down

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"Can't Hold Us Down"
Song

"Can't Hold Us Down" is a song by American recording artist Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Lil' Kim, taken from Aguilera's fourth studio album Stripped. It was released on July 8, 2003 by RCA Records as the fourth single from the album. The song was written by Aguilera, Matt Morris, and Scott Storch, and was produced by Aguilera, Storch, and E. Dawg. It is an R&B and hip hop song that promotes feminism and attacks gender-related double standards.

Upon its release, "Can't Hold Us Down" received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who were ambivalent towards its production and songwriting. It was later nominated for the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 2004 Grammy Awards. The song peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and proved similarly successful internationally. Its accompanying music video was inspired by the Lower East Side of New York City during the 1980s. Aguilera performed "Can't Hold Us Down" in a number of venues, notably during the Stripped Live on Tour, the Justified/Stripped Tour in 2003 and the Back to Basics Tour in 2006.[4]

Background and composition

"Can't Hold Us Down" (2002)
A sample of the chorus in "Can't Hold Us Down", where Aguilera sings about the double standard where sexual behaviors are praised in men and denounced in women.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Can't Hold Us Down" was written by Aguilera, Scott Storch and Matt Morris, and was produced by Aguilera, Storch, and E. Dawg..[1] Originally, Eve was included as the featured rapper, though her portions of the song were removed after "people's minds and visions" changed.[5] She was replaced by Lil' Kim, with whom Aguilera had previously worked for the Moulin Rouge! cover of "Lady Marmalade" in 2001.[6]

"Can't Hold Us Down" is an R&B and hip hop song;[3] the end of the track incorporates elements of dancehall.[7] It is written in the key of E♭ major.[8] Aguilera's vocal in the song spans on two octaves, from F3 to F5.[8] Lyrically, "Can't Hold Us Down" criticizes the societal double standard through which men are applauded for overt sexual mannerisms, while women who behave in a similar way are looked down upon.[3] The song has also been noted for promoting feminism, encouraging Aguilera's "girls all around the world" to "shout louder" and verbalize their opinions and emotions.[9][10] It has been suggested that the lyrics are directed towards rapper Eminem,[11] who had referred to Aguilera in his song "The Real Slim Shady".[12]

"Can't Hold Us Down" was serviced as the fourth single from Aguilera's fourth studio album Stripped, preceded by the underwhelming performance of the lead single "Dirrty" and the international successes of follow-ups "Beautiful" and "Fighter". The track was first sent to US mainstream radio on July 8, 2003. It was additionally released as a CD single in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia on September 8, 22, and 30, respectively;[13][14][15] it was also released in France on October 7.[16]

Critical reception

Aguilera performing during the Stripped World Tour, 2003.

Upon its release, "Can't Hold Us Down" received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who were ambivalent towards its production and songwriting. Jacqueline Hodges of BBC Music appreciated Lil's Kim's inclusion on the track for adding "a bit of edge", but was displeased that it failed to break the "monotony" of the remainder of its parent album Stripped.[17] Betty Clarke from The Guardian recognized the song's theme of promoting feminism, but criticized its parent album for appearing "overlong, oversentimental and sadly overdressed".[9] Stylus's Todd Burns appreciated the dancehall shift nearing the end of the track, but opined that the production was overshadowed by underwhelming songwriting.[7] Similarly, Rolling Stone's Jancee Dunn called the song "curiously lifeless".[18]

Josh Kun of Spin, however, provided a favorable review, complimenting the confrontational lyrics for being more aggressive than the works of Britney Spears, previously a cast member on The Mickey Mouse Club with Aguilera, and describing the track as a "sisters-doin'-it-for-themselves duet".[11] In 2013, Nicholas Ransbottom from The Charleston Gazette placed the song on his list of the top ten songs of female empowerment, calling it a "great anthem about women sticking up for themselves in a misogynistic world".[19]

"Can't Hold Us Down" was nominated for the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 2004 Grammy Awards, but lost to "Whenever I Say Your Name" by Sting and Mary J. Blige.[20] In 2009, Nick Levine from Digital Spy and Nick Butler of Sputnikmusic shared disappointment in the record's absence from Aguilera's greatest hits album Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits.[21][22]

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Can't Hold Us Down" reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It additionally peaked at number 3 on the Pop Songs component chart.[23] The song also peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Canadian Singles Chart.[24]

In Europe, "Can't Hold Us Down" achieved similar success, reaching the top ten in several territories. It reached its highest peak in the continent on the Hungarian Singles Chart, where it positioned at number 4.[25] It additionally charted at number 5 on the Irish Singles Chart and reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.[26][27] The song positioned at numbers 7 and 15 on the Belgian Flanders and Walloon Singles Charts, respectively. On the Danish Singles Chart, "Can't Hold Us Down" peaked at number 8, while reaching number 9 on the German Media Control Charts.[26] Additionally, the single peaked at numbers 11, 12, and 13 on the Swiss, Swedish, and Austrian Singles Charts, respectively. It also reached number 14 on the Dutch and Norwegian Singles Charts. However, the song proved less successful on the Italian and French Singles Chart, where it peaked at numbers 20 and 27.[26]

"Can't Hold Us Down" charted in all major markets in Oceania. On the Australian ARIA Charts, the song reached a peak position at number 5, and was later certified gold for shipments of 35,000 copies.[26][28] Additionally, it reached number 2 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[26]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Can't Hold Us Down" was directed by David LaChapelle, who previously directed the music video for Stripped's lead single "Dirrty". It was filmed in a Los Angeles soundstage that depicted a 1980s Lower East Side neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City. LaChapelle described the video's concept as his "ode to the '80s".[29] The music video premiered in July 2003 on MTV. The clip commences as Aguilera confronts a man who had grabbed her buttocks. As she continues to sing, the nearby women in the neighborhood join her, while the male residents join the man, and form their respective sides in the street. Lil' Kim is introduced at the beginning of her verse, at which point both sides begin to dance. Upon the video's conclusion, Aguilera leaves the area with a smile on her face and sees a young boy dancing the moonwalk.[30]

Track listing

CD single[13]
  1. "Can't Hold Us Down" (Album Version)
  2. "Can't Hold Us Down" (Sharp Boys Orange Vocal Remix)
  3. "Can't Hold Us Down" (Jacknife Lee Remix)

Charts and certifications

References

  1. ^ a b Stripped (Media notes). RCA Records. 2002. {{cite AV media notes}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "R&R: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. July 8, 2003. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Christina gets 'real' on 'Stripped'". Jane. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  4. ^ "Christina Aguliera Tour Statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  5. ^ "Can't Hold Us Down by Christina Aguilera". Song Facts. Tone Media. Retrieved April 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ "Lady Marmalade: Moulin Rouge [Import, Single]". Amazon.com (US). May 8, 2001. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Todd Burns (September 1, 2003). "Christina Aguilera - Stripped - Review". Stylus Magazine. Todd Burns. Retrieved April 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  8. ^ a b "Christina Aguilera feat. Lil' Kim - Can't Hold Us Down". MusicNotes. Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  9. ^ a b Betty Clarke (October 24, 2002). "Christina Aguilera: Stripped". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  10. ^ "Christina Aguilera - Can't Hold Us Down Lyrics". MetroLyrics. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Josh Kun (July 15, 2003). "Christina Aguilera, 'Stripped'". Spin. Spin Media. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  12. ^ Steve Helling (May 12, 2009). "Eminem and His Many Feuds". People. Time Inc. Retrieved Arpil 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ a b "Can't Hold Us Down [Single, Maxi]". Amazon.com (UK). September 8, 2003. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  14. ^ "Can't Hold Us Down [Single, Maxi]". Amazon.com (DE). September 22, 2003. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  15. ^ "Can't Hold Us Down [Single, Import]". Amazon.com (AU). September 30, 2003. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  16. ^ "Can't Hold Us Down [CD Single, Import]". Amazon.com (FR). October 7, 2003. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  17. ^ Jacqueline Hodges (November 20, 2002). "Christina Aguilera Stripped Review". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved April 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  18. ^ Jancee Dunn (November 5, 2002). "Christina Aguilera: Stripped". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  19. ^ Nicholas Ransbottom (March 1, 2013). "Music for Women's History Month". The Charleston Gazette. The Daily Gazette Company. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  20. ^ "2004 Grammy Winners". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved April 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  21. ^ Nick Levine (November 10, 2008). "Christina Aguilera: 'Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade of Hits'". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved April 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ Nick Butler (December 3, 2008). "Christina Aguilera - Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits". Sputnikmusic. Jeremy Ferwerda. Retrieved April 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  23. ^ a b c d "Can't Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  24. ^ a b "Christina Aguilera - Chart history". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  25. ^ a b "Lista Es Datum Szerint - Archivum". Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Christina Aguilera feat. Lil' Kim - Can't Hold Us Down (song)". Australian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  27. ^ a b "2003 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive: 20th September 2003". Official Charts Company. September 20, 2003. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  28. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 25, 2013. Cite error: The named reference "AustraliaChristina AguileraCan't Hold Us DownsingleCertRef" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  29. ^ Corey Moss (May 16, 2003). "Christina, Lil' Kim Get Even 'Dirrtier' For 'Can't Hold Us Down' Clip". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved April 25, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  30. ^ "Can't Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera". MTV. Viacom. July 14, 2003. Retrieved April 15, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  31. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet". Media Control Charts. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  32. ^ "GFK Chart-Track". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  33. ^ "Christina Aguilera feat. Lil' Kim - Can't Hold Us Down". Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  34. ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  35. ^ "Dutch charts portal". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  36. ^ "Infinity Charts: German Top 20". Media Control Charts. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  37. ^ "Top-Selling Singles of 2003". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  38. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2003". Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  39. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 25, 2013.

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