Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have had some of the the biggest records in the world. “Thrift Shop” has been to #1 in the United States, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, the UK, New Zealand and Australia. The duo followed another #1, “Can’t Hold Us,” with a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Before their success in North America, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis had been to #1 before. “Same Love,” hit the top in Australia and New Zealand with an emotional endorsement of same sex relationships. It eventually went on to hit the Top 10 in the US and the UK, and a “Song of the Year” Grammy Award nomination. And, it’s been a big month for the Seattle duo with their song, “Wing$” serving as the theme song for this year’s NBA All-Star Game.
Now, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis join the You Can Play Team as musicians, sports fans and big, cool voices against homophobia in sports and entertainment. The platinum-selling artists filmed their You Can Play video on-stage just before this month’s sold-out “Icelantic Winter on the Rocks” show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside Denver.
In the video, Macklemore acknowledges his gay family and friends, says anti-gay language has no place in music or sports, and that heart, talent and skill should determine someone’s ability to play music or sports, not sexual orientation.
Ryan Lewis doesn’t appear in the video, but his fingerprints are all over it. “Sterile” is the word the producer-photographer-videographer-musician suggested to describe the original backstage set-up for the video. The shoot moved on-stage. And, only one guy could’ve suspended sound check and rearranged lights to allow for filming. That was Lewis, too.
Oh, and those frosty mittens aren’t from any thrift shop. The leather warmers with beads, fur and fringe are from Icelantic Boards, the Denver-based winter gear company that sponsored Macklemore’s & Ryan Lewis’s headlining gig at Red Rocks.
Everyone at You Can Play is grateful for the support of Ben, Ryan and their entire crew.