Can't Hold Us Down
Encyclopedia
"Can't Hold Us Down" is a song written by Christina Aguilera
, Scott Storch
and Matt Morris
for Aguilera's second album, Stripped, with production by Storch. Released on August 26, 2003 as the fourth single from the album, the single (which features Lil' Kim
) peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Aguilera's 10th Top 20 hit. The single also peaked at #2 in New Zealand, #6 in the UK and #5 in Australia. The single is most known for its theme of female empowerment and for its music video, directed by David LaChapelle
. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award
in 2004 for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
and Scott Storch
, and was also produced by Storch, E. Dawk, and Aguilera. The original version of the song bring Eve instead of Lil' Kim, who came to record the verses, but was replaced in the final version. As mentioned above, the single features the rapper Lil' Kim
, who had previously worked with her on the "Lady Marmalade" cover from the Moulin Rouge!
soundtrack in 2001. Besides becoming casual friends from "Lady Marmalade", Christina reached out to Kim due to her "girl power" attitude. The song samples Diddy
's "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down
".
Once again like with many previous singles, Aguilera creates a female empowerment anthem, expressing her disgust with the double standards of society
. She feels that male stars are respected and worshipped for bragging about their wild sex lives, but when women like Aguilera try to express their sexuality, they get labeled as whores. Aguilera also lets people know that she does not appreciate being called a bitch simply because she stands up for herself and is a strong woman. Aguilera sends her personal message to those who try to "hold her down".
Despite performing well on several charts, the song was not included in her greatest hits album, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits
.
, the video was shot on a Los Angeles
soundstage that depicts a 1980s Lower East Side
neighborhood in Manhattan
, New York City
which features African-Americans and Puerto Ricans aside the whole neighborhood. In the video, Aguilera is seen walking into the street when a man grabs her bottom. She starts accusing him and singing the song while many other women join her and many neighborhood men join the man. It continues until Lil' Kim arrives and takes off her robe. They begin dancing and Aguilera leaves with a smile on her face. The video premiered on BET
's 106 & Park
on August 22, 2003, as the "New Joint" of the day. In the video you can see a tribute to Michael Jackson
and his moonwalk
.
DVD Single
CD single Holland and UK
Promotional LP
for DJ's
UK Promotional LP
CD single Europe
, Oceania
, Asia
and #7 on the Hot 100 Airplay
. Internationally, the song peaked within the top ten in the UK, Ireland and Australia and several other countries, and reached #2 in New Zealand
. The single has sold worldwide 3 million copies.
{| class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Country
!align="center"|Certification
!align="center"|Sales/shipments
|-
|align="left"|Australia
|align="center"|Gold
|align="center"|35,000
|-
|}
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, Scott Storch
Scott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
and Matt Morris
Matt Morris (musician)
Matthew Burton Morris is an American pop artist and songwriter. He is the son of country music star Gary Morris. He achieved early fame when he appeared on the Disney Channel television series The Mickey Mouse Club in the early 1990s, where he was a cast member from 1991-1995...
for Aguilera's second album, Stripped, with production by Storch. Released on August 26, 2003 as the fourth single from the album, the single (which features Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
) peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Aguilera's 10th Top 20 hit. The single also peaked at #2 in New Zealand, #6 in the UK and #5 in Australia. The single is most known for its theme of female empowerment and for its music video, directed by David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle is a photographer and director who works in the fields of fashion, advertising, and fine art photography, and is noted for his surreal, unique, sexualized, and often humorous style.-Early life:...
. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 2004 for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
Background
"Can't Hold Us Down" was penned by Aguilera, Matt MorrisMatt Morris (musician)
Matthew Burton Morris is an American pop artist and songwriter. He is the son of country music star Gary Morris. He achieved early fame when he appeared on the Disney Channel television series The Mickey Mouse Club in the early 1990s, where he was a cast member from 1991-1995...
and Scott Storch
Scott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
, and was also produced by Storch, E. Dawk, and Aguilera. The original version of the song bring Eve instead of Lil' Kim, who came to record the verses, but was replaced in the final version. As mentioned above, the single features the rapper Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
, who had previously worked with her on the "Lady Marmalade" cover from the Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 romantic jukebox musical film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. Following the Red Curtain Cinema principles, the film is based on the Orphean myth, La Traviata, and La Bohème...
soundtrack in 2001. Besides becoming casual friends from "Lady Marmalade", Christina reached out to Kim due to her "girl power" attitude. The song samples Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
's "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down
Can't Nobody Hold Me Down
"Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" is a hip-hop song by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. It appears on Combs' debut album No Way Out and it was released as the first single in 1997....
".
Once again like with many previous singles, Aguilera creates a female empowerment anthem, expressing her disgust with the double standards of society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
. She feels that male stars are respected and worshipped for bragging about their wild sex lives, but when women like Aguilera try to express their sexuality, they get labeled as whores. Aguilera also lets people know that she does not appreciate being called a bitch simply because she stands up for herself and is a strong woman. Aguilera sends her personal message to those who try to "hold her down".
Despite performing well on several charts, the song was not included in her greatest hits album, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits
Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits
Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits is the first greatest hits album from American recording artist Christina Aguilera. The album was released on November 7, 2008 with the confirmation that a lead single named "Keeps Gettin' Better was released in September 9th 2008...
.
Music video
Directed by David LaChapelleDavid LaChapelle
David LaChapelle is a photographer and director who works in the fields of fashion, advertising, and fine art photography, and is noted for his surreal, unique, sexualized, and often humorous style.-Early life:...
, the video was shot on a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
soundstage that depicts a 1980s Lower East Side
Lower East Side, Manhattan
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
neighborhood in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
which features African-Americans and Puerto Ricans aside the whole neighborhood. In the video, Aguilera is seen walking into the street when a man grabs her bottom. She starts accusing him and singing the song while many other women join her and many neighborhood men join the man. It continues until Lil' Kim arrives and takes off her robe. They begin dancing and Aguilera leaves with a smile on her face. The video premiered on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
's 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
on August 22, 2003, as the "New Joint" of the day. In the video you can see a tribute to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and his moonwalk
Moonwalk
A moonwalk is an excursion on the Moon . It may also refer to:* Moonwalk, a drink invented for the first walk on the Moon in 1969* Moonwalk, an Estonian record label...
.
Track listings and formats
CD single United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Radio Edit
- Suggested Callout Hook
DVD Single
- Can't Hold Us Down (Music Video)
- Album Version
- Beautiful (Brother Brown Divine Mix)
- Impossible (Performance Snippet)
- Get Mine, Get Yours (Performance Snippet)
CD single Holland and UK
- Album Version
- Sharp Boys Orange Vocal Mix
- Jacknife Lee Remix
Promotional LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
for DJ's
- Album Version (Side A)
- Instrumental (Side B)
- Acapella Version (Side B)
UK Promotional LP
- Sharp Boys Orange Vocal Mix
CD single Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
- Album Version
- Sharp Boys Orange Vocal Mix
- Jacknife Lee Remix
Remixes official and unreleased
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (Sharp Boys Orange Vocal Mix) (7:22)
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (Sharp Beyond Dub)
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (Jacknife Lee Mix) (4:30)
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (Jacknife Lee Dub)
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (Da Yard Riddim Mix) (4:16) - remixed by Steven Marsden (also known as Lenky); featuring Tanya Stephens
- "OranGefuzZz Tiny Purple Shorts Dub
- "OranGefuzZz Tiny Purple Shorts Club Mix
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (Medasyn Mix) (4:11) - remixed by Gabriel Olegavich
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (Medasyn Instrumental) - remixed by Gabriel Olegavich
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (Altar Unreleased Tribal Mix) (8.26)
Chart performance
"Can't Hold Us Down" proved to be successful, just peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and #7 on the Hot 100 Airplay
Hot 100 Airplay
The Hot 100 Airplay chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures radio airplay, and is one of the three component charts, along with the Hot Singles Sales and the Hot Digital Songs charts, that determine the chart positions of singles on the Billboard...
. Internationally, the song peaked within the top ten in the UK, Ireland and Australia and several other countries, and reached #2 in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The single has sold worldwide 3 million copies.
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|
{| class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Country
!align="center"|Certification
!align="center"|Sales/shipments
|-
|align="left"|Australia
|align="center"|Gold
|align="center"|35,000
|-
|}
Year-end charts
| Country | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 95 |
| Germany | 62 |
| Netherlands | 94 |
| New Zealand | 29 |
| Switzerland | 44 |
| UK | 108 |