Lifesong (song)

"Lifesong"
Single by Casting Crowns
from the album Lifesong
B-side "Perfect Day"
Released July 19, 2005
Format Digital download
Recorded Various locations in the United States
Genre Christian rock, pop rock
Length 4:37 (single version)
5:16 (album version)
Label Beach Street Records
Writer(s) Mark Hall
Producer(s) Mark A. Miller
Casting Crowns singles chronology
"Voice of Truth"
(2004)		 "Lifesong"
(2005)		 "Praise You In This Storm"
(2006)

"Lifesong" is a song recorded by Christian rock band Casting Crowns. Written by Mark Hall and produced by Mark A. Miller, it was released as the lead single from the band's 2005 album Lifesong. According to Mark Hall, the lead vocalist of Casting Crowns, "Lifesong" came out of what he found himself saying to students in his church's youth ministry. Compared to the work of rock band U2, the song lyrically points believers towards honoring God in all they do.

"Lifesong" received mostly positive reviews upon its release, with some critics praising the song's musical arrangement. The song was nominated for two awards at the 37th GMA Dove Awards and has been performed by Casting Crowns in concert. It was a hit on Christian radio, topping the Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian AC charts as well as the Radio & Records Christian AC and Soft AC/Inspirational charts. It also peaked inside the top ten on the Radio & Records Christian CHR chart. It ranked at number twenty-one on the 2000s decade-end Hot Christian Songs chart and number twenty-seven on the decade-end Hot Christian AC chart.

Recording and composition
"Lifesong"
A 30-second audio sample of the second chorus of the song, which demonstrates a musical sound similar to that of U2.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Lifesong" was written by Mark Hall and produced by Mark A. Miller. The strings on the song were arranged by Bobby Huff.[1] "Lifesong" was recorded and mixed by Sam Hewitt at Zoo Studio in Franklin, Tennessee. Additional recording was done at Lifesong Studio in McDonough, Georgia. Strings were recorded at Little Big Studio by Boeho Shin and Daewoo Kim. It was mastered by Richard Dodd and engineered by Dale Oliver and John Lewis Lee III.[1]

"Lifesong" is a song with a length of four minutes and thirty-seven seconds;[2] the version of the song on Lifesong has a length of five minutes and sixteen seconds.[3] It is set in common time in the key of A major and has a tempo of 112 beats per minute. Mark Hall's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of A3 to the high note of E5.[4] "Lifesong" has been described as a power ballad[5] and "robust pop",[6] and it has been musically compared to the work of rock band U2,[7][8] Lyrically, it "points believers towards honoring God in all they do".[9] According to lead vocalist Mark Hall, the song came out of what he found himself saying and praying to the student's in his church's youth ministry.[10]

Critical reception

"Lifesong" received mostly positive reception from music critics. John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout described it as a "musical nod to U2" and felt that the opening of Lifesong with the song was responsible for the album having a "greater appeal" than Casting Crowns' debut record.[11] David McCreary of CCM Magazine called the song a "powerhouse praise number".[9] Russ Breimeier of Christianity Today, however, felt the song was one of the weakest on the album, calling it "predictable" and criticizing what he perceived as imitation of U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name" and Chris Tomlin's "Forever".[7] At the 37th GMA Dove Awards, "Lifesong" was nominated for Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. It did not win in either category.[12]

Release and chart performance

"Lifesong" became Casting Crowns' third number-one single on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart.

"Lifesong" was released as a digital single on July 19, 2005, with Josh Bates' "Perfect Day" as its B-side.[2] It was released to Christian AC, Christian CHR, and Soft AC/Inspirational radio on July 30, 2005.[13][14][15] "Lifesong" debuted at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart for the chart week of August 6, 2005.[16] It advanced to number ten in its third week[17] and to number two in its fourth week.[18] In its seventh chart week, "Lifesong" advanced to the number one position on the chart.[19] It spent a total of ten non-consecutive weeks atop the chart[20][21] and thirty-four weeks on the chart in total.[22] "Lifesong" also peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Christian AC chart,[23] the Radio & Records Christian AC chart,[24] and the Radio & Records Soft AC/Inspirational chart.[25] It peaked at number seven on the Radio & Records Christian CHR chart.[26]

"Lifesong" ranked at number twelve on the 2005 year-end Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian AC charts[27][28] and at number nineteen on the 2005 year-end Radio & Records Christian AC chart.[29] It ranked at number sixteen on the 2006 year-end Hot Christian Songs chart[30] and at number seventeen on the 2006 year-end Hot Christian AC chart.[31] It also ranked at number twenty-one on the decade-end Hot Christian Songs chart[32] and at number twenty-seven on the decade-end Hot Christian AC chart.[33] "Lifesong" was included on the compilation albums WOW Hits 2007 and Wow: Best of 2007.[34][34] A live version of the song was included on Casting Crowns' live album Lifesong Live.[35]

Live performances

Casting Crowns have performed "Lifesong" live in concert. At a concert at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Casting Crowns opened their setlist with the song, accompanied by over 100 robed choir members.[6] At a concert on November 12, 2005 at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Casting Crowns opened their setlist with the song.[36] They performed "Lifesong" as the eighteenth song on their setlist at a concert on February 5, 2010 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.[8] At a concert on February 28, 2010 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Casting Crowns closed out their concert with a performance of "Lifesong".[37] Casting Crowns performed the song as a the second of their setlist at a concert on October 29, 2011 at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois.[5]

Track listing

Digital single[2]
  1. "Lifesong" – 4:37
  2. "Perfect Day" (Josh Bates) – 4:10
Album version[3]
  1. "Lifesong" – 5:16

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the album liner notes of Lifesong.[1]

Casting Crowns
Additional musicians
  • David Angell - Violin
  • Monisa Angell - Violin
  • David Davidson - Contractor, concertmaster
  • Jack Jezioro - Bass
  • Anthony Lamarchina - Cello
  • Sarighani Reist - Cello
  • Pamela Sixfin - Violin
  • Mary Vanosdale - Violin
  • Kristin Wilkinson - Viola
Technical
  • Richard Dodd - Mastering
  • Terry Hemmings - Executive producer
  • Sam Hewitt - Recording, mixing
  • Bobby Huff - String arrangement
  • Daewoo Kim - Recording (strings)
  • John Lewis Lee III - Engineering
  • Jason McArthur - A&R Coordination
  • Dale Oliver - Engineering
  • Mark A. Miller - Producer
  • Boeho "Bobby" Shin - Recording (strings)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2005) Peak
Position
Billboard Hot Christian AC[23] 1
Billboard Hot Christian Songs[38] 1
Radio & Records Christian AC[24] 1
Radio & Records Christian CHR[26] 7
Radio & Records Soft AC/Inspirational[25] 1

Year-end

Chart (2005) Position
Billboard Hot Christian AC[28] 12
Billboard Hot Christian Songs[27] 12
Radio & Records Christian AC[29] 19
Chart (2006) Position
Billboard Hot Christian AC[31] 17
Billboard Hot Christian Songs[30] 16

Decade-end

Chart (2000s) Position
Billboard Hot Christian AC[33] 27
Billboard Hot Christian Songs[32] 21

Release and radio history

Date Format Label
July 19, 2005 Digital download[2] Beach Street Records
July 30, 2005 Christian AC radio[13]
Christian CHR radio[14]
Soft AC/Inspirational radio[15]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lifesong (Media notes). Casting Crowns. Beach Street Records. 2005. p. 9.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Lifesong: Casting Crowns: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Lifesong by Casting Crowns". iTunes. Apple Inc. August 30, 2005. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Casting Crowns – Lifesong Digital Sheet Music" (DIGITAL DOWNLOAD). Musicnotes.com EMI Christian Music Group. MN0050954.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hatch, Danielle (October 30, 2011). "Review: Casting Crowns blends music, ministry". pjstar.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Argyrakis, Andy (June 2006). "Standing Room Only" (PDF). CCM Magazine (Salem Publishing) 28 (12): 63. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Breimeier, Russ. "Lifesong". Christianity Today. The Fish. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Brownlee, Bill (February 5, 2010). "Review: Casting Crowns". Back to Rockville. The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 McCreary, David (September 2005). "Another Crowning Achievement" (PDF). CCM Magazine (Salem Publishing) 28 (3): 50–51.
  10. ↑ Riddle, Melissa (September 2005). "Real Life Conversations" (PDF). CCM Magazine (Salem Publishing) 28 (3): 38. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ DiBiase, John (September 25, 2005). "Casting Crowns, 'Lifesong' Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  12. ↑ Jones, Kim. "37th Annual GMA Dove Awards - Songs of the Year Nominees". About.com. The New York Times Company. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Going for Adds – Christian AC". Radio & Records. VNU Media. July 30, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Going for Adds – Christian CHR". Radio & Records. VNU Media. July 30, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Going for Adds – Soft AC/Inspirational". Radio & Records. VNU Media. July 30, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Christian Songs (August 6, 2005)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Christian Songs (August 20, 2005)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Christian Songs (August 27, 2005)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Christian Songs (September 17, 2005)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  20. ↑ Chart dates for the first run of "Lifesong":
  21. ↑ Chart date for the second run of "Lifesong":
  22. ↑ "Singles Charts Archive Search". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 9, 2012. Note: User must manually input the correct search information to obtain the sourced information.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Hot Christian Adult Contemporary (October 1, 2005)". Billboard. VNU Media. Archived from the original on September 24, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2005.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Peterson, Kevin. "Christian AC National Airplay". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on October 19, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Peterson, Kevin. "Inspo National Airplay". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on October 21, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2005.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Peterson, Kevin. "Radio & Records - Christian". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on October 25, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2005.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Hot Christian Songs Year-end (2005)". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. November 26, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Hot Christian AC Year-end (2005)". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. November 26, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Peterson, Kevin. "Christian AC 2005 Year-End Chart". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on December 31, 2005. Retrieved June 8, 2005.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Hot Christian Songs Year-end (2006)". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. 2006. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Hot Christian AC Year-end (2006)". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. 2006. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Hot Christian Songs Decade-end (2000s)". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Hot Christian AC Decade-end (2000s)". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Johnson, Jared. "WOW Hits 2007 - Various Artists". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  35. ↑ Johnson, Jared. "Lifesong Live - Casting Crowns". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  36. ↑ Mabee, Justin (November 16, 2005). "Casting Crowns Lifesong Tour". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  37. ↑ Davis, Kevin (March 30, 2010). "A Night With Kutless & Casting Crowns". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Casting Crowns Album & Song Chart History (Christian Songs)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 8, 2012.

External links