Shackles (Praise You)

"Shackles (Praise You)" is a song by American gospel singer-songwriter duo Mary Mary from their first album, Thankful. Released February 29, 2000, as the duo's debut single, it is 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.

"Shackles (Praise You)"
Single by Mary Mary
from the album Thankful
Released	February 29, 2000 (2000-02-29)
Genre	Urban gospel R&B
Length	3:16
Label	C2 Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Erica Atkins Trecina Atkins Warryn Campbell Franne Golde Dennis Lambert Duane Hitchings
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

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.

Track listings

United States

CD single[3] "Shackles (Praise You)" (album version) – 3:18 "What a Friend" (snippet) – 1:03 "Be Happy" (snippet) – 1:42 "Thankful" (snippet) – 1:11 "Wade in the Water" (snippet) – 1:39 Maxi-CD single[4] "Shackles (Praise You)" (single version) – 3:18 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's radio mix) – 3:45 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix) – 8:55 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix instrumental) – 8:55 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's New Year's Eve dub mix) – 7:15 "Shackles (Praise You)" (MO-apella) – 2:46

12-inch single[5] A1. "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix) – 8:55 A2. "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's New Year's Eve dub mix) – 7:15 B1. "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix instrumental) – 8:55 B2. "Shackles (Praise You)" (MO-apella) – 2:46 B3. "Shackles (Praise You)" (single version) – 3:18 Cassette single[6] A1. "Shackles (Praise You)" (album version) – 3:18 B1. "What a Friend" (snippet) – 1:03 B2. "Be Happy" (snippet) – 1:42 B3. "Thankful" (snippet) – 1:11 B4. "Wade in the Water" (snippet) – 1:39 B5. "Shackles (Praise You)" (MO-apella) – 2:46

International

Australian CD single[7] "Shackles (Praise You)" (album version) – 3:18 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's radio mix) – 3:45 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix) – 8:55 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix instrumental) – 8:55 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's New Year's Eve dub mix) – 7:15 "Shackles (Praise You)" (MO-apella) – 2:46 European CD1[8] "Shackles (Praise You)" (album version) – 3:18 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's radio mix) – 3:45 European CD2[9] "Shackles (Praise You)" (album version) – 3:18 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's radio mix) – 3:45 "I Got It" – 3:52 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix) – 8:55

UK CD1[10] "Shackles (Praise You)" – 3:18 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Hil St. Soul mix) – 3:33 "Shackles (Praise You)" (2K mix by Tariq) – 3:08 "Shackles (Praise You)" (The Top Notch remix) – 2:50 UK CD2[11] "Shackles (Praise You)" – 3:18 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's radio mix) – 3:45 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix) – 8:55 UK cassette single[12] "Shackles (Praise You)" – 3:18 "Shackles (Praise You)" (Maurice's Carnival 2000 mix) – 8:55

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

Weekly charts Chart (2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 2 Australian Dance (ARIA)[14] 2 Australian Urban (ARIA)[15] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[17] 8 Czech Republic (IFPI)[18] 24 Denmark (IFPI)[19] 4 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20] 11 France (SNEP)[21] 13 Germany (GfK)[22] 25 Hungary (Mahasz)[23] 2 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[24] 8 Ireland (IRMA)[25] 17 Italy (FIMI)[26] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[29] 8 Norway (VG-lista)[30] 5 Poland (Music & Media)[31] 2 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[32] 12 Scotland (OCC)[33] 15 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 14 UK Singles (OCC)[36] 5 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[37] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 28 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[39] 19 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[40] 9 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[41] 9 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[42] 25

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Australia (ARIA)[43] 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[44] 51 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[45] 27 Brazil (Crowley)[46] 86 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[47] 40 France (SNEP)[48] 40 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[49] 45 Ireland (IRMA)[50] 89 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[51] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[52] 24 New Zealand (RIANZ)[53] 17 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[32] 100 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[54] 51 UK Singles (OCC)[55] 48 UK Urban (Music Week)[56] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[57] 100 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[58] 32 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[59] 28 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[60] 100

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[61]	Platinum	70,000^
Belgium (BRMA)[62]	Gold	25,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63]	Gold	5,000*
Sweden (GLF)[64]	Gold	15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[65]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[66]	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	Rhythmic contemporary urban urban AC radio	Columbia	[67][68]
	March 7, 2000	CD cassette		[69]
	April 18, 2000	Contemporary hit radio		[70][71]
New Zealand	May 22, 2000	CD cassette		[72]
Japan	May 24, 2000	CD	Sony	[73]
United Kingdom	May 29, 2000	CD cassette	Columbia	[74]

Usage in media

The song was featured in the fifth episode of the third season (2024) of American sitcom Abbott Elementary, performed by Sheryl Lee Ralph .^[75]