Wikipedia

Joy (For King & Country song)

"Joy" (stylized as "joy."[2]) is the lead single by Christian alternative rock duo For King & Country for their third studio album, Burn the Ships (2018).[3] It was released as a single on 18 May 2018.[4][5] The song became the group's highest charting single, peaking at No. 2 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[6] It lasted 36 weeks on the overall chart, being in the top ten for its entire run.[7] It also peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, and is their second highest charting entry in their career. The song is played in a C minor key, and 120 beats per minute.[8]

"Joy"
Single by For King & Country
from the album Burn the Ships
Released18 May 2018[1]
GenreChristian pop
Length3:53
LabelWord Entertainment
Songwriter(s)
For King & Country singles chronology
"O God Forgive Us"
(2017) 		"Joy"
(2018) 		"God Only Knows"
(2019)
Music video
"Joy" on YouTube

It was nominated for the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.[9] It was also nominated for Top Christian Song at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.[10]

Background

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"Joy" was released on 18 May 2018 as the lead single for their upcoming studio album, set to be released in autumn of 2018. The song is about raising positivity and taking out the negative in life. Both members of the group had their say on the song in an interview with Billboard:[11]

"This song took six months to write, and we wrote it partly in Nashville, some in England, some in Los Angeles, and it was not a finicky song at all to write, we just have a long process. On the song itself, I think that people are so attached to their phones, screens, social media that you need to pause and see the joy, in human connection and interaction," says Joel. "Yes, we wanted to really concentrate on positivity in this song and leave out all the negativity. I feel like when people see the video, it will bring it home and make sense. There’s a real beauty in diversity and different opinions. If you can be open and free about it, that’s where the joy is," says Luke.

"Joy" contains an interpolation of the song, "Joy in My Heart" written by George William Cooke[12][13]

Critical reception

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"Joy" was described by The Christian Beat as "bursting, celebratory anthem"[14] with an "upbeat hook and infectious melody".[15] Described by Billboard as "a buoyant track backed by a 100-member choir"[16] features a refrain from the popular song "Joy in My Heart" by George William Cooke.[13]

Music video

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The music video for the single "Joy" was released on 20 May 2018.[17] Set in the 1960s, and a black and white clip follows the group as they lead the staff on a quest for joy. The production takes place during a television news broadcast. The visual features television personality Candace Cameron Bure.[18] Bure and Joel Smallbone portray news presenters charged with information about a major storm threatening the country.[19]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[32] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "for KING & COUNTY - joy". Genius.
  2. ^ "joy. / for KING & COUNTRY". Spotify. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  3. ^ "For King & Country return with "Joy" single; album set for autumn release". CrossRhythms. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  4. ^ "joy. - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  5. ^ "joy. - for KING & COUNTRY". Amazon. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  6. ^ "joy. - for KING & COUNTRY". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Hot Christian Songs February 9, 2019". Billboard. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Key & BPM for Joy by For King & Country". TuneBat. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  9. ^ Lynch, Joe (7 December 2018). "Grammys 2019 Nominees: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  10. ^ Warner, Denise. "Cardi B Leads 2019 Billboard Music Awards Nominations With 21". Billboard.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  11. ^ "For King & Country Are on a 'Passionate Pursuit of Joy' With New Music: Hear Their Lead Single 'Joy'". Billboard. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  12. ^ Berman, Robert (28 September 2018). "For King & Country: Burn the Ships - Worship Musician Magazine". Worship Musician Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  13. ^ a b Weaver, Michael (5 October 2018). "Jesusfreakhideout.com: for KING & COUNTRY, "Burn the Ships" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  14. ^ Caroline, Emily (4 October 2018). "For KING & COUNTRY Uses Personal Experience To Share God's Promises With 'Burn the Ships'". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  15. ^ Davis, Kevin (4 October 2018). "Burn the Ships by for KING & COUNTRY Christian CD Book Reviews | NRTeam Member KevinDavis_NRT | NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  16. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (8 October 2018). "For King & Country on the Struggles That Informed 'Burn the Ships,' Their 'Most Mature Record' Yet | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  17. ^ "for KING & COUNTRY – joy. (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  18. ^ "This Celebrity Just Starred in for King & Country's New Music Video". Spirit1059. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  19. ^ "For King & Country 'fight for joy' with new music". Tennessean. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  20. ^ "UK Cross Rhythms Weekly Chart". Cross Rhythms. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  21. ^ "For King Country Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  22. ^ "For King Country Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  23. ^ "For King Country Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  24. ^ "For King Country Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  25. ^ "For King Country Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  26. ^ "For King Country Chart History (Christian AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  27. ^ "For King Country Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Cross Rhythms– Year-End 2018". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  29. ^ "Christian Airplay - Year-End 2018 - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  30. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  31. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Decade-End 2010s". Billboard. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  32. ^ "American single certifications – For King & Country – Joy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
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