Count 'Em

"Count 'Em"
Single by Brandon Lake
from the album Coat of Many Colors
ReleasedAugust 4, 2023 (2023-08-04)
GenreChristian rock
Length3:47
LabelProvident Label Group
Songwriter(s)
  • Brandon Lake
  • Jacob Sooter
  • Hank Bentley
Producer(s)
  • Jacob Sooter
  • Hank Bentley
Brandon Lake singles chronology
"People of Heaven"
(2023) 		"Count 'Em"
(2023) 		"Nothing New (I Do)"
(2024)
Music videos
"Count 'Em" on YouTube
"Count 'Em" (Lyrics) on YouTube
"Count 'Em" (Live from Summer Worship Nights) on YouTube

"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.

The song peaked at number 19 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart published by Billboard.[4]

Background

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On July 31, 2023, Lake announced that he will embark on the Coat of Many Colors Tour in the fall of 2023, and that "Count 'Em" will be released on August 4, 2023.[5][6] "Count 'Em" was released as the second single from the album, along with its accompanying music video, on August 4, 2023.[7]

Writing and development

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Lake shared the story behind the song in an interview with American Songwriter, saying:[8]

"I was at Hank Bently’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

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"Count 'Em" is a rock song containing hip-hop influence and gospel choir background vocals.[9] The song is composed in the key of C[10] or C minor[3] with a tempo of 70 beats per minute and a musical time signature of 4
4.[10]

Reception

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Critical response

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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

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Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref
2024 GMA Dove Awards Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
[14]
Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept) Nominated

Commercial performance

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"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

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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

[edit]
Count 'Em
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Count 'Em"
  • Hank Bentley
  • Brandon Lake
  • Jacob Sooter
  • Jacob Sooter
  • Hank Bentley
3:47
2."Praise You Anywhere"
  • Jacob Sooter
  • Hank Bentley
3:35
Total length:7:23

Charts

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Release history

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Release history for "Count 'Em"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various August 4, 2023
Provident Label Group [27]

References

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  1. ^ Longs, Herb (August 4, 2023). "Brandon Lake Drops "Count 'Em" Single & Video - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Longs, Herb (June 10, 2023). "Brandon Lake Announces 'Coat Of Many Colors' Album Coming October 20 - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Count Em | Official Song Resources on SongSelect®". SongSelect. CCLI. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Brandon Lake Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Longs, Herb (July 31, 2023). "Brandon Lake Announces 'Coat Of Many Colors Tour' - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Yap, Timothy (August 1, 2023). "Brandon Lake Announces New Tour with Special Guest Benjamin William Hastings : News : JubileeCast". JubileeCast. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Yap, Timothy (August 4, 2023). "Here Are the Lyrics to Brandon Lake's "Count 'Em" : News : JubileeCast". JubileeCast. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Hopper, Alex (November 2, 2023). "Track by Track: Brandon Lake Talks 'COAT OF MANY COLORS' - American Songwriter". American Songwriter. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Patterson, Jasmin (February 6, 2024). "Coat of Many Colors by Brandon Christian CD Book Reviews | NRTeam Member JasminPatterson_NRT | NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Count 'Em by Brandon Lake | MultiTracks.com". MultiTracks. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Williams, Lindsay (November 9, 2023). "Album Spotlight: Brandon Lake, 'Coat of Many Colors' | Positive Encouraging K-LOVE". Air1. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Spiker, Matthew (November 4, 2023). "Brandon Lake, "Coat Of Many Colors" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Williams, Lindsay (October 20, 2024). "Album Spotlight: Brandon Lake, 'Coat of Many Colors' | Positive Encouraging K-LOVE". K-Love. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "2024 Nominees". GMA Dove Awards. July 22, 2024. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  15. ^ "Hot Christian Songs Chart - Billboard". Billboard. August 15, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Christian Digital Song Sales Chart | Billboard". Billboard. August 15, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "Rock Digital Song Sales Chart | Billboard". Billboard. August 15, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  18. ^ "Hot Christian Songs Chart - Billboard". Billboard. December 12, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Brandon Lake - Count 'Em (Official Music Video) - YouTube". YouTube. August 4, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "Brandon Lake - Count 'Em (Lyric Video) - YouTube". YouTube. August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Brandon Lake - COUNT EM - Live From Summer Worship Nights". YouTube. January 19, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Longs, Herb (January 20, 2024). "Brandon Lake "COUNT EM" Live From Summer Worship Nights Video - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "Brandon Lake Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  24. ^ "Brandon Lake Chart History (Christian AC Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  25. ^ "Brandon Lake Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  26. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  27. ^ "Count 'Em - Single - Album by Brandon Lake - Apple Music". August 4, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024 – via Apple Music.
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