THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

282-Mary Mary-Shackles (Praise You.)

2000-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.34. So good they named them twice.

‘Mary Mary’ are the female American duo composed of the sisters Erica Campbell, who was born Erica Monique Atkins, on April 29th, 1972, in Inglewood, California, United States, and Tina Campbell, who was born Trecina Evette Atkins, on May 1st, 1974, also in Inglewood, California, They both married men called Campbell, (who are unrelated) which is why they both have the same surname. The Atkin sisters grew up in a family of eight children, and were brought up by very religious parents, their mother, Thomasina is an Evangelist, and choir director, and their father, Eddie, who died in 2013, was a member of the ‘Church of God in Christ’. On signing their contract to ‘Columbia Records’ in 1999, the sisters decided to perform as ‘Mary Mary,’ taking their name from two famous Mary’s from the Bible, ‘Mary mother of Jesus,’ and ‘Mary Magdalene,’ a follower of Jesus.

As ‘Mary Mary’ the sisters have released six studio Albums to date, between 2000-2011, and 19 singles, between 2000-2016, they also appeared on the charity single ‘We Are the World 25 for Haiti,’ released in 2010, which made Number 2 on Billboard on the American singles chart. In both America, and the UK, ‘Shackles (Praise You’) remains their only top 40 song, peaking at Number 28 in the States, and Number 5 in the UK in 2000. Both sisters have also had solo careers, with Erica issuing two solo Albums, and eight singles, and Tina also releasing two Albums, and six singles, including ‘Love Love Love’ from 2015, which featured Stevie Wonder.
‘Shackles (Praise You’) was the debut single released by Mary Mary, from their debut studio Album ‘Thankful’ from 2000, and was co-written by the sisters, and the songs producer Warryn Campbell, who married Erica in 2001. The song samples the much sampled 1984 track ‘Don’t Look Any Further,’ by Dennis Edwards featuring Siedah Garrett, and therefore that songs writers Dennis Lambert, (see also best songs 197) Franne Golde, and Duane Hitchings also receive writing credits.

‘Shackles (Praise You’) can be considered a ‘boundary breaking’ song. It’s message is from the ‘Gospel’ genre, but it became a crossover hit because of it’s R&B melody, this genre of music is known as ‘Urban Gospel.’ The song is one of only a few that has received extensive exposure on ‘MTV,’ and significant airplay on many ‘Contemporary Christian Music’ radio stations across America. As with many other contemporary Gospel songs ‘Shackles (Praise You’) received a lot of criticism, with many citing the song as too modern, and not staying true to it’s Gospel roots. ‘Mary Mary’ have hit back by saying,’It’s music that everybody in any style of music can relate to. It’s universal, but the lyrics are undeniably Gospel.’

‘Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance, I just want to praise you. You broke the chains now I can lift my hands, and I’m gonna praise you, I’m gonna praise you.’