Talking to Jesus

"Talking to Jesus"
Promotional single by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music featuring Brandon Lake
from the album Old Church Basement
ReleasedApril 9, 2021 (2021-04-09)
Recorded2021
GenreContemporary worship music
Length8:29
LabelElevation Worship
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Chris Brown
  • Steven Furtick
  • Jason Ingram
  • Tony Brown
  • Jonathan Jay
Music video
"Talking to Jesus" on YouTube
"Talking to Jesus" (Lyrics) on YouTube

"Talking to Jesus" is a song performed by American contemporary worship bands Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, which features vocals from Brandon Lake. The song was released on April 9, 2021, as a promotional single from their collaborative live album, Old Church Basement (2021).[1] The song was written by Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, and Steven Furtick.[2]

"Talking to Jesus" debuted at No. 9 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart,[3] and at No. 1 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.[4]

Brandon Lake and Thomas Rhett released a live rendition of "Talking to Jesus" as a standalone single on May 12, 2023.[5] Their rendition peaked at No. 26 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[6]

Background

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On April 9, 2021, Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music released "Talking to Jesus" featuring Brandon Lake as the second promotional single from their collaborative album, Old Church Basement (2021).[1] "Talking to Jesus" is the follow-up to the first promotional single from the album, "Jireh". The song also marks Brandon Lake's second appearance on an Elevation Worship project, having co-written and featured on the hit single "Graves into Gardens".[1]

Writing and development

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Chris Brown of Elevation Worship shared the story about how the song came about,[7] saying

That morning Brandon and I were hacking away at a really fast song idea on a $200 bass and a Gretsch guitar when pastor [Steven Furtick] walked in on a mission to share the lyric idea that had come to him in the car on the way over.

Brown further added that he had difficulty explaining how they fell into a two chord trance that lasted several hours, with Furtick telling stories on the microphone, but that is how the song came about.[7]

Composition

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"Talking to Jesus" is composed in the key of B with a tempo of 59 beats per minute, and a musical time signature of 4
4.[8]

Commercial performance

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"Talking to Jesus" debuted at No. 9 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart and at No. 1 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart, both dated April 22, 2021.[9] "Talking to Jesus" attracted 2 million streams and 4,000 downloads in the United States in its first week.[9] "Talking to Jesus" is the second Hot Gospel Songs chart-topper for Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, while being Brandon Lake's first No. 1 entry on the chart. On Hot Christian Songs, it is the eighth top ten entry for Elevation Worship, and the second for Maverick City Music and Lake.[9]

Music videos

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On April 9, 2021, Elevation Worship released the official music video of "Talking to Jesus" on their YouTube channel.[10] The video shows Brandon Lake leading the song.

On April 30, 2021, Elevation Worship published the lyric video of the song on YouTube.[11]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release history for "Talking to Jesus"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various April 24, 2021
Elevation Worship Records [17]

Brandon Lake and Thomas Rhett version

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"Talking to Jesus"
"Talking To Jesus (Live from The Ryman)" Single Cover
Single by Brandon Lake and Thomas Rhett
ReleasedMay 12, 2023 (2023-05-12)
RecordedApril 16, 2023
VenueRyman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenreContemporary worship music
Length7:30
LabelProvident Label Group
Brandon Lake singles chronology
"Plead the Blood"
(2023) 		"Talking to Jesus"
(2023) 		"Praise You Anywhere"
(2023)
Thomas Rhett singles chronology
"Angels (Don't Always Have Wings)"
(2023) 		"Talking to Jesus"
(2023) 		"Mamaw's House"
(2023)
Music video
"Talking to Jesus" (Live from The Ryman) on YouTube

Brandon Lake and Thomas Rhett released a live version of "Talking to Jesus" as a standalone single on May 12, 2023.[18] The track was recorded during the Lake's headlining Miracle Nights Tour on April 16, 2023, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.[19]

Commercial performance

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"Talking to Jesus" debuted at No. 26 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated May 27, 2023,[20] concurrently charting at No. 8 on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart.[21]

Music videos

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On May 11, 2023, the audio video of "Too Good to Not Believe" was published on Brandon Lake's YouTube channel,[22] as well as the live performance video of the song alongside Thomas Rhett a day later.[23]

Track listing

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"Talking To Jesus (Live from The Ryman)"[24]
No.TitleLength
1."Talking To Jesus" (Live from The Ryman)7:30
2."Intro + Talking To Jesus" (Live from The Ryman)9:26

Charts

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Chart performance for "Talking to Jesus"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[6] 26

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various May 12, 2023
Provident Label Group
[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Longs, Herb (April 9, 2021). "Elevation Worship & Maverick City Team Up For 'Talking To Jesus' – TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  2. ^ "Talking To Jesus | Chords, Lyrics and Sheet Music | SongSelect®". SongSelect. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Elevation Worship Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Elevation Worship Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Hot Gospel Songs. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Longs, Herb (May 12, 2023). "Thomas Rhett Joins Brandon Lake For Live Version of 'Talking To Jesus' [WATCH] - Everything Nash". Everything Nash. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Brandon Lake Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Yap, Timothy (April 13, 2021). "Elevation Worship and Maverick City Reveal How Grandma was the Inspiration Behind "Talking to Jesus" : News : JubileeCast". JubileeCast. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "Talking to Jesus by Elevation Worship". MultiTracks. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Asker, Jim (April 22, 2021). "'Talking To Jesus' Tops Hot Gospel Songs Chart |} Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  10. ^ "Talking To Jesus | Elevation Worship & Maverick City - YouTube". YouTube. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Talking To Jesus | Official Lyric Video | Elevation Worship & Maverick City - YouTube". YouTube. April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  12. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  13. ^ "Elevation Worship Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  15. ^ "Hot Gospel Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – Elevation Worship – Talking To Jesus". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  17. ^ "Talking To Jesus (feat. Brandon Lake) - Single by Elevation Worship, Maverick City Music | Spotify". Spotify. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  18. ^ Clarks, Jessie (May 12, 2023). "Brandon Lake & Thomas Rhett Team Up For Powerful Rendition Of "Talking To Jesus" - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  19. ^ Woolum, Brandon (May 12, 2023). "Brandon Lake & Thomas Rhett Team Up For 'Talking To Jesus (Live From Ryman Auditorium)' | CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  20. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Billboard". Billboard. May 23, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  21. ^ "Christian Digital Song Sales Chart | Billboard". Billboard. May 23, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Talking To Jesus (Live From The Ryman) - Brandon Lake x Thomas Rhett (Official Audio) - YouTube". YouTube. May 11, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  23. ^ "Brandon Lake, Thomas Rhett - Talking To Jesus (Live from The Ryman) - YouTube". YouTube. May 12, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Talking To Jesus (Live from The Ryman) - Single - Album by Brandon Lake & Thomas Rhett - Apple Music". Apple Music. May 12, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
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