Defining themselves as "Violent Pop", the six-piece band Blind Channel from… Read Full Bio ↴Defining themselves as "Violent Pop", the six-piece band Blind Channel from Oulu, Finland, formed in September 2013 initially with two members - Joel Hokka and Joonas Porko before expanding to the current lineup seen today. The band’s distinctive production offers the listeners unique rock, rap, nu-metal and electronic compositions, and a feisty package of kicking guitar riffs, without forgetting tenacious pop melodies. The band officially represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 held in Rotterdam in May 2021, where they placed 6th place in the grand finale with the song ”Dark Side” and currently hold the record for the most streamed song by a Finnish artist in 2021.

Their first single, “Save Me” was released in October 2013 and reached the Finnish radio waves in only one week, because of this Blind Channel were selected to Finnish radio station Ylex’s “basement band” of the week. Iltalehti, one of Finland’s biggest newspaper media’s noticed the band’s first music video and in a couple months the views have reached over 20, 000 views. The band initially established their profile actively by performing live shows all around Finland (including the southern metropolitan areas) and later released "Antipode" on March 21st 2013 - produced by Mikko Mäkitalo. The single’s B-side “Naysayers” saw daylight one week before the actual release, and the A-side “Calling Out” premiered on a local radio station Radio City one day before the release. The premiere also included an interview with the band. The second music video came out the same day.

The following Summer they played in Finnish festivals JääliCityRock, Provinssirock, Ilosaarirock, Qstock & Nummirock where they won the Wacken Metal Battle in Finland so they also played their first gig ever abroad in the world's biggest metal festival in Wacken Open Air in Germany to over 6000 people at The Wet Stage. Upon winning this competition, Finnish record label Ranka Kustannus also signed the band and they began recording their debut album Revolutions. Their debut studio album Revolutions was released on September 29th 2016. The album includes the singles "Unforgiving", "Don't", "Darker Than Black", "Deja FU” and "Enemy for Me". The band proceeded to tour throughout Finland and surrounding countries following this release. Huge pop music fans, in March 2017 they released a cover of American hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's hit single "Can't Hold Us".

They released their second studio album Blood Brothers on April 20th 2018. The album includes the singles "Alone Against All", "Sharks Love Blood", "Wolfpack" and "Out of Town". They also embarked on several tours both as headliners and supporting acts such as Amaranthe, Royal Republic, Simple Plan, Hollywood Undead, Enter Shikari and in late 2018 completed their first UK tour supporting All That Remains and Sevendust.

The band’s third studio album,Violent Pop was released on March 6th 2020. The album includes the singles "Over My Dead Body", "Timebomb (feat. Alex Mattson)", "Snake (feat. GG6 of Amaranthe)", "Died Enough for You", "Fever" and "Gun". The band had pre-booked a tour in Autumn/Winter 2020 around Sweden/Finland and festival slots as part of a touring cycle for Violent Pop which was cancelled as the Coronavirus pandemic came into affect. In May 2020 the band performed an acoustic livestream from 45 Oulu, the oldest rock bar in Oulu, Finland which included the live debuts of Violent Pop album tracks “Feel Nothing”, “Enemies With Benefits” plus a tribute cover of Linkin Park’s “Numb” in honour of the late Chester Bennington. In July 2020, they released a studio version of Anastacia’s “Left Outside Alone" and accompanying music video to critical success.

After meeting DJ and producer Aleksi/Alex Mattson several years prior after Joel approached him to potentially remix a Blind Channel track, the band soon after discovered they had a lot of similar musical tastes and began collaborating, eventually releasing “Timebomb” together which featured as a single on the band’s third studio album Violent Pop. After a live festival show in October 2020 featuring Aleksi on sample/percussion, the band officially asked Aleksi to join Blind Channel as a full-time member and they became a six-piece.

In February 2021 the band participated in the Finnish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the modern nu-metal track "Dark Side". They won the selection with 54.3% of the vote (the highest in UMK history) and in May 2021 represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in sixth place with a total of 301 points. Blind Channel received 218 of their total points from televoting, while 83 points were received from juries. The band painted their middle fingers red for their performance of "Dark Side," after being informed that they could not lift a middle finger to the audience on the Eurovision stage due to the shows family friendly nature. On 19 May 2021 the band signed to Century Media/Sony Music.

In June 2021 the band recorded a collaboration of their song “Dark Side” with fellow Finnish artist Lauri Ylonen of The Rasmus. The band has stated that a follow-up single to “Dark Side” has been mixed and will be released late Summer 2021. On July 4th 2021 the band announced that “Dark Side” is currently the most streamed Finnish song of 2021 with over 700,000 streams to date, beating out larger Finnish bands such as The Rasmus and HIM. The band have also announced a 15-date Finnish headline tour across July-August 2021.

In early 2021 the band shared that they had already began writing new material and in June 2021 shared footage from their studio showing them recording material for a currently untitled forth studio album set for release in Spring 2022.

Can't Hold Us
Blind Channel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ay, ay, ay
Ay, ay,
Good to see you
Nananananananana
Eh eh eheh
Nananananananana

Blind Channel is back, get up!

What it is, what it does, what it is, what it isn′t
Looking for a better way to get up out of bed
Instead of getting on the Internet and checking a new hit me
Get up! Fresh out, pimp strut walking, little bit of humble, little bit of cautious
Somewhere between like Rocky and Cosby. Sweater game, nope, nope y'all can′t copy
Yup. Bad, moon walking, this here is our party, my posse's been on Broadway
And we did it our way
Grown music, I shed my skin and put my bones into everything I record to it
And yet I'm on

Let that stage light go and shine on down
Got that Bob Barker suit game and plinko in my style
Money, stay on my craft and stick around for those pounds
But I do that to pass the torch and put on for my town
Trust me. On my I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T shit hustler
Chasing dreams since I was fourteen with the four track bussing
Halfway cross that city with the backpack, fat cat, crush shit

Labels out here
Now they can′t tell me nothing
We give that to the people
Spread it across the country
Labels out here
Now they can′t tell me nothing
We give it to the people
Spread it across the country

Can we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight ′til it's over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can′t hold us
Like the ceiling can't hold us
Can we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we′ll fight 'til it's over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can′t hold us
Like the ceiling can′t hold us

Nah, can I kick it? Thank you. Yeah I'm so damn grateful
I grew up, really wanted gold fronts
But that′s what you get when Macklemore raised you
Y'all can′t stop me, go hard like I got an 808 in my heart beat
And I'm eating at the beat like you give a little speed to a great white shark on shark week
Raw. Tell me go up. Gone!
Deuces goodbye. I got a world to see, and my girl she wanna see Rome
Caesar I′ll make you a believer. Nah I never ever did it for a throne
That validation comes from giving it back to the people. Nah sing this song and it goes like
"Raise those hands, this is our party
We came here to live life like nobody was watching"
I got my city right behind me
If I fall, they got me. Learn from that failure gain humility and then we keep marching ourselves

Can we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it′s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can′t hold us
Like the ceiling can't hold us

Na na na na na na na na
Yeeeeeh
And all my people say

Na na na na na na na na
Yeeeeeeh
Good to see you
(Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)

Can we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we′ll fight 'til it′s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us
Like the ceiling can′t
Can we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it′s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can′t hold us
Like the ceiling can't hold us.

Whoah whoah whoah (so we put our hands up)
Whoah whoah whoah

Overall Meaning

Blind Channel's song "Can't Hold Us" is an anthem of perseverance and self-belief. The opening lines are energizing and indicate that the band is back and wants to inspire its listeners to get up and be active. The lyrics stress the importance of hard work, as the singer encourages the audience to stay focused on their goals, chase their dreams and not let people bring them down. Blind Channel evokes the audience's collective power by using the phrase "we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us." The song has a highly optimistic and upbeat tone.

The verses also convey a sense of glorifying the journey of the artist, as the lyrics describe the experiences and difficulties of growing up and battling one's way to fame. The song is highly expressive, and the band uses metaphorical language to showcase their struggles while working towards success. The phrase "I shed my skin and put my bones into everything I record to it and yet I'm on," is a metaphor that describes the band's journey of transforming themselves and putting in their all to create great music while never sacrificing their identity or artistic vision.

Blind Channel's "Can't Hold Us" is an ode to chasing your dreams, believing in yourself, and living life to the fullest. The lyrics and energy of the song establish it as a motivational chant that inspires and elevates its listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Ay, ay, ay
Expressing excitement and energy.

Ay, ay,
Continuation of the energy and excitement from the previous line.

Good to see you
Acknowledgment of the audience and setting a positive tone for the performance.

Nananananananana
Adding to the energetic and uplifting vibe of the song.

Eh eh eheh
Adding more excitement and energy to the performance.

Blind Channel is back, get up!
Announcing Blind Channel's return and encouraging the audience to get excited.

What it is, what it does, what it is, what it isn′t
Asking rhetorical questions about what the song represents and what it is not.

Looking for a better way to get up out of bed
Expressing the desire to find motivation to start the day on a positive note.

Instead of getting on the Internet and checking a new hit me
Avoiding the distractions of social media and focusing on creating something meaningful.

Get up! Fresh out, pimp strut walking, little bit of humble, little bit of cautious
Encouraging the listener to be confident and unique while still being humble and aware.

Somewhere between like Rocky and Cosby. Sweater game, nope, nope y'all can′t copy
Comparing the performer to iconic figures such as Rocky and Cosby, and emphasizing their unique style that cannot be imitated.

Yup. Bad, moon walking, this here is our party, my posse's been on Broadway
Boasting about the performer's talent and experience and establishing their dominance in their musical style.

And we did it our way
Emphasizing the individuality and uniqueness of the performer's music and approach.

Grown music, I shed my skin and put my bones into everything I record to it
Describing the depth and personal investment in the performer's music and artistic process.

And yet I'm on
Acknowledging the performer's success despite the challenges and obstacles they may have faced.

Let that stage light go and shine on down
Encouraging the spotlight and attention to be on the performer and their performance.

Got that Bob Barker suit game and plinko in my style
Boasting about the performer's fashion sense and unique style that stands out.

Money, stay on my craft and stick around for those pounds
Emphasizing the dedication and hard work put into the performer's craft.

But I do that to pass the torch and put on for my town
Motivation for the performer to pursue success to inspire and benefit their community.

Trust me. On my I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T shit hustler
Proudly stating their independence and self-sufficiency in their music career.

Chasing dreams since I was fourteen with the four track bussing
Highlighting the performer's ambition and drive, starting from a young age.

Halfway cross that city with the backpack, fat cat, crush shit
Describing the journey taken to pursue their dreams, and the obstacles they overcame.

Labels out here
Referring to major record labels and their role in the music industry.

Now they can′t tell me nothing
Refusing to let major labels dictate the performer's creative direction and sound.

We give that to the people
Focusing on creating music that resonates and connects with the audience.

Spread it across the country
Describing the desire to share their music and message with a wider audience.

Can we go back, this is the moment
Revisiting a particular moment in the past that holds significance.

Tonight is the night, we'll fight ′til it's over
Expressing the determination and perseverance to overcome challenges and succeed.

So we put our hands up like the ceiling can′t hold us
Showing excitement and energy by raising hands and conveying the feeling that nothing can hold them back from enjoying the moment.

Nah, can I kick it? Thank you.
Referencing a classic song by A Tribe Called Quest and seeking permission to continue with the performance.

Yeah I'm so damn grateful
Expressing gratitude for success and the opportunities they have been given.

I grew up, really wanted gold fronts
Recounting a personal desire from the past (in this case, gold teeth).

But that′s what you get when Macklemore raised you
Referencing Macklemore's influence and impact on the performer's music career.

Y'all can′t stop me, go hard like I got an 808 in my heart beat
Emphasizing the performer's unstoppable drive and energy.

And I'm eating at the beat like you give a little speed to a great white shark on shark week
Describing the performer's energy and enthusiasm for creating music.

Raw. Tell me go up. Gone!
Starting an energetic and passionate performance and declaring their dedication to their craft.

Deuces goodbye.
A goodbye statement.

I got a world to see, and my girl she wanna see Rome
Describing the performer's desire to travel and see the world, and their partner's desire to visit Rome.

Caesar I′ll make you a believer
Referencing Julius Caesar and expressing ambition and confidence.

Nah I never ever did it for a throne
Dismissing the desire for power and control, and focusing on creating meaningful music.

That validation comes from giving it back to the people.
Stating that the performer's validation and success comes from creating music that resonates with and benefits the audience.

Nah sing this song and it goes like
Introducing the chorus of the song, and encouraging the audience to participate.

"Raise those hands, this is our party
Encouraging the audience to raise their hands and enjoy the moment together.

We came here to live life like nobody was watching"
Expressing the desire to enjoy the moment freely and without judgment or criticism.

I got my city right behind me
Acknowledging the support and pride from their hometown community.

If I fall, they got me.
Feeling supported and motivated by their community in case of failure or hardship.

Learn from that failure gain humility and then we keep marching ourselves
Recognizing the importance of failure and using it as a learning opportunity, while also staying motivated to continue pursuing success.

Na na na na na na na na
Adding to the energetic and uplifting tone of the song.

Yeeeeeh
Expressing excitement and energy.

Good to see you
Repeating a positive statement from earlier in the song, and acknowledging the audience once again.

(Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Adding to the excitement and energy of the song with vocalization.

Whoah whoah whoah (so we put our hands up)
Repeating the chorus with added enthusiasm.

Whoah whoah whoah
Continuing the repetition of the chorus with added enthusiasm.

Writer(s): Ryan S Lewis, Ben Haggerty

Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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