Shackles (Praise You)

"Shackles (Praise You)"
Single by Mary Mary
from the album Thankful
ReleasedFebruary 29, 2000 (2000-02-29)
Genre
Length3:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Warryn Campbell
Mary Mary singles chronology
"Shackles (Praise You)"
(2000) 		"I Sings"
(2001)
Alternate cover
The 2000 re-release which was used for promotion of Thankful

"Shackles (Praise You)" is the debut single by American gospel singer-songwriter duo Mary Mary. Originally released February 29, 2000, as a promotional single for their album Thankful, it is considered the group's signature song[according to whom?] and one of the best-selling gospel songs of all time. Stan North of GospelFlava.com deemed it one of the pioneer songs of urban gospel music.[1]

"Shackles" became a top-10 hit in several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom, and charted well in other major music markets. Mary Mary later produced a music video for the song.

Critical reception

Like many contemporary gospel songs, "Shackles" was not without its criticism; many cited the song as being too modern and not staying true to its gospel roots. Mary Mary responded by saying, "It's definitely contemporary. It's music that everybody in any style of music can relate to. It's universal, but the lyrics are undeniably Gospel."[2]

Commercial performance

"Shackles (Praise You)" became a top-40 hit in the United States, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was also a worldwide hit, reaching number five in the United Kingdom and number 17 in Ireland. Across mainland Europe, the song was a top-10 hit in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway. It also charted strongly in France, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland, peaking within the top 20. In Australia, the song reached number two in September 2000 and was the highest-selling song of the year that did not reach the number-one spot, coming in at number 10 on Australia's year-end chart for 2000.

Usage in media

The song has been featured in RuPaul's Drag Race as a "lipsync for your life" elimination: during the first season (2009), performed by contestants Rebecca Glasscock and Shannel, as well as the thirteenth season (2021), performed by Denali and Olivia Luxx.

A sample of "Shackles" was featured on the Stormzy song "Rainfall" from his 2019 album Heavy Is the Head.

The song was featured in the fifth episode of the third season (2024) of American sitcom Abbott Elementary, performed by Sheryl Lee Ralph .[3]

Track listings

United States

International

Personnel

  • Vocals: Mary Mary
  • All instruments: Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell
  • Producer: Warryn Campbell
  • Vocal producer: Mary Mary
  • Writers: Warryn Campbell, Erica Atkins, Tina Atkins

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[63] Gold 25,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[64] Gold 5,000*
Sweden (GLF)[65] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[67] Platinum 1,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States February 29, 2000
Columbia [68][69]
March 7, 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 [70]
April 18, 2000 Contemporary hit radio [71][72]
New Zealand May 22, 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 [73]
Japan May 24, 2000 CD Sony [74]
United Kingdom May 29, 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 Columbia [75]

References

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