"For God Is with Us" is a song performed by an Australian Christian pop duo For King & Country. The song was released as the second single from their fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For? (2022), on 24 September 2021.[1] The song was written by Joel Smallbone, Jordan Reynolds, Josh Kerr, and Luke Smallbone.
| "For God Is with Us" | ||||
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| Single by For King & Country | ||||
| from the album What Are We Waiting For? | ||||
| Released | 24 September 2021 | |||
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| Length |
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| Label | Word Entertainment | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| For King & Country singles chronology | ||||
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| Version with Hillary Scott | ||||
 Version with Hillary Scott | ||||
| Hillary Scott singles chronology | ||||
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| Music videos | ||||
| "For God Is with Us" on YouTube | ||||
| "For God Is with Us" (Lyrics) on YouTube | ||||
"For God Is with Us" peaked at No. 1 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[2] The song was ranked by Billboard as the fifth biggest Christian song in 2022.[3] "For God Is with Us" was nominated for the GMA Dove Award for Short Form Video of the Year (Performance) at the 2022 GMA Dove Awards.[4] The version of the song with Hillary Scott received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 2023 Grammy Awards.[5]
Background
editOn September 21, 2021, For King & Country announced that they would be releasing "For God Is with Us" as a single on September 24, 2021.[6] "For God Is with Us" is a follow-up to the duo's single "Relate" which was released in August 2021.[7] Joel Smallbone shared the story behind the song,[6] saying:
We started writing this song from the perspective of a baby boy, and then into adulthood and the great sacrifice of Jesus and then how it impacted humanity. And somewhere along the way, we looked back and Luke and I called one another and said, 'Hey, maybe this is not just devoted to Christmas. Maybe this is a thought, an idea, that could carry with us through the whole year - through Christmas, and Easter, and beyond. Maybe this is a good reminder after so much loss, and so many questions about where God is in the midst of a pandemic, and where God is in the midst of racism or political division. It's kind of an offering and a celebration of the fact that we still believe that both religion and science points to this reality and it's continually pointing back to this reality that there is a creator, that there is creative design, and that it's not just an abstract thought, but God is actually amongst us and with us and that this earth has been endowed with life and beauty that comes from God.' We hope that it meets you where you are right now, into Christmas, and beyond.
Composition
edit"For God Is with Us" is composed in the key of G with a tempo of 75 beats per minute and a musical time signature of 4
4.[8]
Reception
editCritical response
editJonathan Andre of 365 Days of Inspiring Media gave a positive review of "For God Is with Us", saying, "For King & Country's new song is as joyous as it is poignant, as orchestral as it is resounding and compelling. Joel and Luke have crafted together a song that deeply proclaims so earnestly and fiercely that our God is with us, in the moments of yesteryear when He was born God incarnate as Jesus all those years ago, and is also with us now, even during moments when we may not 'see' or 'feel' Him also."[9]
Accolades
edit| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | GMA Dove Awards | Short Form Video of the Year (Performance) | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Grammy Awards | Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song | Nominated |
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 365 Days Of Inspiring Media | Top 50 Music Videos of 2021 | 5 | |
| Louder Than The Music | LTTM Single Awards 2021 | 10 |
Commercial performance
edit"For God Is With Us" debuted at number 43 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated 9 October 2021,[14] concurrently charting at No. 3 on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart.[15]
Music videos
editThe official music video of "For God Is with Us" was published on For King & Country's YouTube channel on 24 September 2021.[16] The video shows the duo appearing in "an array of locations, from valleys to cityscapes, driving home that God is with us no matter the time or place."[17] The official lyric video of the song was uploaded on YouTube on 29 November 2021.[18]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "For God Is with Us" |
| 3:15 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "For God Is with Us" (with Hillary Scott) | 3:19 |
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Version | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 24 September 2021 | Album | Word Entertainment | ||
| United States | 18 February 2022 | Christian radio | |||
| Various | 15 July 2022 | Version with Hillary Scott |
|
References
edit- ^ Clarks, Jessie (24 September 2021). "For KING & COUNTRY Premiere New Song & Video "For God Is With Us" - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ a b "For King Country Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ Asker, Jim (1 December 2022). "Kanye West, Katy Nichole Dominate 2022's Christian Charts – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ Longs, Herb (10 August 2022). "Watch: Nominations For 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards Announced - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Longs, Herb (15 November 2022). "Nominations For 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards Unveiled Including CCM & Gospel Categories - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ a b "for KING & COUNTRY Believe Their New Single "For God is With Us" is Timeless : News : JubileeCast". JubileeCast. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ Cluver, Ross (24 September 2021). "for KING & COUNTRY Releases 'For God Is With Us' | CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "For God Is With Us by for KING & COUNTRY". MultiTracks. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ Andre, Jonathan (24 September 2021). "For KING & COUNTRY – For God is With Us – Single | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media". 365 Days Of Inspiring Media. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "2022 Winners | The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards". GMA Dove Awards. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ Atkinson, Katie (15 November 2022). "Grammy Nominations 2023: The Full List – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ Andre, Joshua (17 January 2022). "BEST OF 2021- PART 2: TOP 50 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2021 | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media". 365 Days Of Inspiring Media. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Louder Than The Music - LTTM Single Awards 2021 - No. 10: for King & Country - For God Is With Us". Louder Than The Music. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Hot Christian Songs Chart | Billboard". Billboard. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Christian Digital Song Sales Chart | Billboard". Billboard. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "for KING & COUNTRY - For God Is With Us (Official Music Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ Young, Abby (24 September 2021). "for KING and COUNTRY Release New Song and Video "For God Is With Us" | Freeccm.com". Freeccm.com. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "for KING & COUNTRY - For God Is With Us (Official Lyric Video) | Animated By Students - YouTube". YouTube. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "For King Country Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "For King & Country Chart History (Christian AC Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Christian Airplay Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Christian AC Airplay Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ a b "For God Is With Us - Single by for KING & COUNTRY on Apple Music". Apple Music. United States. Apple Inc. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Curb-Word Promo Team on Instagram: "Happy 2022! Check out our NEW single "For God Is With Us" - Impacting 2.18💥 "Dare to imagine Dare to believe in A true love that gave us…"". Instagram. 19 January 2022. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.