Count 'Em
2023 song by Brandon Lake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Count 'Em" is a song by Brandon Lake. The song was released on August 4, 2023,[1] as the second single from his fourth studio album, Coat of Many Colors (2023).[2] Lake co-wrote the song with Hank Bentley and Jacob Sooter.[3] Jacob Sooter and Hank Bentley worked on the production of the single.
| "Count 'Em" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Brandon Lake | ||||
| from the album Coat of Many Colors | ||||
| Released | August 4, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Christian rock | |||
| Length | 3:47 | |||
| Label | Provident Label Group | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Brandon Lake singles chronology | ||||
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| Music videos | ||||
| "Count 'Em" on YouTube | ||||
| "Count 'Em" (Lyrics) on YouTube | ||||
| "Count 'Em" (Live from Summer Worship Nights) on YouTube | ||||
The song peaked at number 19 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart published by Billboard.[4]
Background
Writing and development
Lake shared the story behind the song in an interview with American Songwriter, saying:[8]
"I was at Hank Bentley’s house with Jacob Sooter working on the record when we decided to take a break and head out for lunch. Jacob struck a few chords on the Wurlitzer as we’re heading out the door. I quickly was inspired and rattled off a verse idea with a fast cadence. I didn’t think much of it but as we got back from lunch I couldn’t shake the desire to want to write whatever song this would become. A few hours later we had this monster of a song that brags on who God is and all the things I’ve seen Him do. I’m grateful for those heavenly interruptions that inspire a song when you least expect it."
Composition
Reception
Critical response
Writing for Air1, Lindsay Williams opined on the song: "With dark undertones of synth-heavy pop and a rapid-fire, hip-hop inflected delivery, "Count 'Em" is a lyrically rich single that doesn't fit the typical worship mold, yet holds a high reverence for the fear of God."[11] Reviewing for Jesus Freak Hideout, Matthew Spiker said ""Count 'Em" is easily the heaviest song on the album and has one of the best hooks."[12] Lindsay Williams in her K-Love review wrote: "The fiery track is full of dark, moody production and a spitfire spoken-word delivery, swiftly proving Lake's music can't be categorized, nor can it be pegged as anything other than unpredictable. But that's precisely what makes him so compelling as an artist."[13] In a NewReleaseToday review, Jasmin Patterson said of the song: "The grit and edge in this one fit the subject matter of how powerful and victorious God is. "[9]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | GMA Dove Awards | Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept) | Nominated | |||
Commercial performance
"Count 'Em" debuted at number 27 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated August 19, 2023,[15] concurrently charting at number six on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart,[16] and number 21 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[17] The song peaked at number 19 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated December 16, 2023,[18]
Music videos
Brandon Lake released the official music video of "Count 'Em" through their YouTube channel on August 4, 2023.[19] Lake also released the lyric video for the song via YouTube on the same day.[20] On January 19, 2024, Lake released the live performance video of the song recorded during the Summer Worship Nights Tour on YouTube.[21][22]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Count 'Em" |
|
| 3:47 |
| 2. | "Praise You Anywhere" |
|
| 3:35 |
| Total length: | 7:23 | |||
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[27] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
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‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | August 4, 2023 | Provident Label Group | [28] |