Be My Escape

Last updated

"Be My Escape"
Bemyescape.jpg
Single by Relient K
from the album Mmhmm
ReleasedNovember 2, 2004 (2004-11-02)
Genre
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s) Matthew Thiessen
Producer(s) Mark Lee Townsend
Relient K singles chronology
"Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry"
(2003)		"Be My Escape"
(2004)		"Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"
(2005)
Music video
"Be My Escape" on YouTube

"Be My Escape" is a song by American Christian rock band Relient K. It was released in November 2004 as the lead single from their fourth full-length album, Mmhmm (2004). The song was their first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 82 and is usually referred to as Relient K's most popular mainstream song, other than "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been". The song is Relient K's fourth most popular song on iTunes. The song was certified gold in the US on October 5, 2005.

Contents

"Be My Escape" was featured in the 2006 Men's U.S. Open Tennis Championship, with the song's opening guitar solo playing as the event headed into a commercial.

Song

The song is the singer's plea for "escape" from his past mistakes. Although the lyrics avoid directly mentioning God, given the band's Christian background and some of the themes in the song, it is usually taken to refer to Him. "Be My Escape" uses guitars, drums, and keyboards, and the pace is varied effectively to give a sense of longing and desperation. The last forty seconds or so are a slow epilogue, with no instruments other than the drums, vibraphone and piano.

The song's lyrics at the beginning of the verses are often mistaken. Many have thought the first lines of the two verses to be "I'm giving up, I'm giving up slowly" and "I'm giving up, I'm doing this alone now". The actual lines from the beginning of the first two verses are "I've given up on givin' up slowly" and "I've given up on doing this alone now".

An acoustic version of the song was released in November 2005 on the Apathetic EP . It included the addition of a mandolin.

The song has more or less been in every position of Relient K's set list since the band started performing it. From the release of Mmhmm until October 2005, the song was mainly played a little past the halfway point of the band's set. For the Panic With A K Tour in October 2005, it and "I So Hate Consequences" were the encore songs in that order. From the Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour in February 2006 through the 06 festival season, it was the opening song. The band moved it to the second song for the 2006 Nintendo Fusion Tour. For basically all of 2007, it was included in a three-song encore of "Sadie Hawkins Dance", "Be My Escape", and "I So Hate Consequences". In 2008, it once again become the band's opening song, with a slightly modified opening to include a little more guitar and drums before the song really begins. The song was moved to second in the set list for the November and December 2008 Winter Wonder Slam Tour with TobyMac. For some 2009 shows so far, it has been near the end of the set.

Music video

Relient K in the shrinking room from the music video. BeMyEscapeVideo.png
Relient K in the shrinking room from the music video.

The music video shows the band playing in a room where the walls are slowly closing in on them. At the end, a burst of light appears and the walls of the room fall down, but away from the band. The band then plays in an open field with the album cover's sunflowers in it, with the background shot on a blue screen. Lead singer Matt Thiessen has been quoted as being a little unhappy with it, claiming that the band wanted more animation other than clouds. The moving walls were simply stagehands pushing them inwards. Still, they did not complain about the video other than Thiessen's one mention of those details. Some fans wondered about the inclusion of a girl in this video when the song has Christian themes, but others have pointed out that it still works as it could be asking Jesus for escape from a problem with the girl in the video. This video was the first Relient K music video to feature bassist John Warne and guitarist Jon Schneck.

In addition, the piano solo at the end of the song was removed in the video, and an extra vocal line was added during the second and third refrains to add to the harmony. The opening guitar riff was also shorter, repeated only once instead of thrice unlike the original song. Exclusions visually include Dave Douglas singing background vocals, and Matt Thiessen playing the piano. The music video was directed by Charles Jensen and produced by Rachel Curl.

Awards

The song was nominated for two Dove Awards at the 37th GMA Dove Awards: Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year and Short Form Music Video of the Year. [3]

Track listing

US promo CD [4]

  1. "Be My Escape" (radio edit) – 3:12

Credits

Charts

Chart (2004–2005)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [5] 82
US Christian Songs ( Billboard ) [6] 16

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [7] Gold500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United StatesNovember 2, 2004Digital download [7]
February 22, 2005 [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek</i> 2001 studio album by Relient K

The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek is the second full-length album released by the Christian rock band Relient K. It was released on August 28, 2001, and peaked at No. 158 on the Billboard 200. On June 26, 2006, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units in the United States. The cover of the original release is similar to that of the 1999 Ramones release Hey Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology.

<i>Two Lefts Dont Make a Right...but Three Do</i> 2003 studio album by Relient K

Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do is the third full-length album released by Christian rock band Relient K. The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album, but the award that year ended up being won by Worldwide by Audio Adrenaline. This album was initially released with four different covers, each one depicting a separate car wreck. In November 2003, a fifth cover was released, which showed all four cars in a junkyard. That is now the only version of the CD still in print, although a very small amount the four original covers can still be found. It was also released as a combo pack with Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand for a few years around Christmas time. The album peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand</i> 2003 studio album by Relient K

Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand is the first Christmas album released by Christian rock band Relient K. It was released in many stores as a combo pack with later copies of their previous full-length album, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do.

<i>Mmhmm</i> 2004 studio album by Relient K

Mmhmm is the fourth full-length studio album by American Christian rock band Relient K, released on November 2, 2004, by Gotee and Capitol Records. This album includes their breakthrough singles "Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" and also earned the group a Canadian Juno Award nomination for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year in 2006. It was certified Gold in 2005 by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units in the United States and has sold over 800,000 copies in the US. It won the 2006 Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 37th GMA Dove Awards.

<i>The Vinyl Countdown</i> 2003 EP by Relient K

The Vinyl Countdown is the fourth EP by Christian rock band Relient K, released exclusively on a clear red 7" vinyl record on Mono Vs Stereo Records. It was released in 2003, a few months after the band's third full-length album, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do was released. The Vinyl Countdown was followed a few months later by the band's Christmas CD, Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand, giving the band three releases in one year, and also the second recording on MVS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Thiessen</span> Canadian-American singer-songwriter

Matthew Arnold Thiessen is a Canadian-American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer known for being co-founder, lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter for the Christian rock band Relient K. With Relient K, he has released eight full-length albums, including three that were certified Gold, and three that peaked in the top twenty on the Billboard 200. Outside of his work with Relient K, Thiessen leads a side project called Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes, which released its debut album Wind Up Bird on August 31, 2018. In 2009, he co-produced and collaborated on Owl City's album Ocean Eyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Warne</span> American musician

John Warne is an American musician who has been active since 1996. He is best known for being the bassist for the Christian rock band Relient K as well as being a founding member of the Christian punk band Ace Troubleshooter. His hometown is Minneapolis, Minnesota and lives in Golden, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Relient K</span> American alternative rock band

Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio, by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during their third year in high school and time at Malone University. The band is named after guitarist Hoopes' automobile, a Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name. The group is known for its Christian rock, alternative Christian rock, and contemporary Christian music.

Brian Lee Pittman is an American musician most notable as the former bassist for the Christian rock band Relient K, of which he was a founding member. He has also played bass for the Christian metal band Inhale Exhale, and owns a landscaping company called Aura Concrete & Landscaping. Pittman married on August 30, 2008 and currently resides in Canal Fulton, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who I Am Hates Who I've Been</span> 2005 single by Relient K

"Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" is a song by American Christian rock band Relient K. It was released in June 2005 as the second single from their 2004 album Mmhmm. An acoustic version, originally recorded for Apathetic EP, is included on the B-side, was included on the 2008 The Bird and the Bee Sides album. The music video entered TRL's top 10 in 2005, reaching as high as eight on the countdown. "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" was released to radio on August 23, 2005. The song reached No. 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it their most successful single to date. The song has been certified gold in the US for sales surpassing 500,000 units.

<i>Apathetic EP</i> 2005 EP by Relient K

Apathetic EP is the fifth EP released by Relient K. It was released on November 8, 2005, and was initially packaged with copies of Mmhmm, but is also available separately. The EP reached no. 94 on the Billboard 200. The song "In Like a Lion " was originally intended to be included on the album Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but was later excluded.

David Alan Douglas is an American musician, most widely known for being the drummer of the American rock band Relient K. Douglas joined the band after their former drummer, Stephen Cushman, departed in late 2000. Douglas had initially played the drums and provided background vocals for the band for seven years. In 2014, he returned to playing in the band in a touring capacity, and became a full member again in 2022.

"My Girlfriend" is the debut single by the Christian rock band Relient K, released on their self-titled first album. The song originally appeared as "Marilyn Manson Ate My Girlfriend" on the band's demo album, All Work and No Play. The song is about Marilyn Manson eating Matt Thiessen's girlfriend. Thiessen wrote this song when he was 15 years old. Thiessen has said that he wrote it because of a female friend, who lived eight hours away in Pennsylvania, who he would talk to about many things including spiritual matters such as where God was taking them in the future. His friend would later turn from Christian music to Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. In an interview with CCM Magazine Thiessen stated "through this she changed her lifestyle [and] what she believed in." His friend would later be expelled from school and would be kicked out of her house and sent to a youth detention center. Thiessen would later state "She felt that Christianity was stupid and just this big hypocrisy. Being young and impressionable, I just wrote this little, stupid song, but that was the way I dealt with it—writing this song about how she got so consumed by Marilyn Manson."

<i>Five Score and Seven Years Ago</i> 2007 studio album by Relient K

Five Score and Seven Years Ago is the fifth studio album by Christian rock band Relient K. It was released on March 6, 2007, and is the first full-length album by the band to feature bassist John Warne and guitarist Jon Schneck. Furthermore, it would serve as drummer Dave Douglas' last album with the band until Air for Free (2016). Future drummer Ethan Luck makes his debut on the track "Deathbed".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Best Thing (Relient K song)</span> 2007 single by Relient K

"The Best Thing" is the second single off Relient K's fifth studio album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago. The band's manager announced it on their messageboard on March 17, 2007, along with Capitol Records announcing it on several websites. The song was performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 12, 2007. It was released to Top 40 and Hot AC stations on April 10. Matt Thiessen, the lead singer, has described the song as, "The anti-Daniel Powter 'Bad Day' song, it's straight up positive." The song peaked at No. 47 on the Top 40 charts.

<i>Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer</i> 2007 studio album by Relient K

Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer is the second Christmas album by Christian rock band Relient K.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Appetite for Construction Tour</span> 2007 concert tour by Switchfoot and Relient K

The Appetite for Construction Tour was a three-month 2007 concert tour that was co-headlined by rock bands Switchfoot and Relient K, with special guests Ruth.

<i>The Bird and the Bee Sides</i> 2008 EP by Relient K

The Bird and the Bee Sides is a double EP by the American band Relient K. In the United States it was released on July 1, 2008.

<i>Forget and Not Slow Down</i> 2009 studio album by Relient K

Forget and Not Slow Down is the sixth studio album by American rock band Relient K, released on October 6, 2009. It is the band's first album to feature Ethan Luck on drums, replacing longtime drummer Dave Douglas. The album is also the first Relient K album with Mono Vs Stereo and their first on Jive Records. The album was produced by Mark Lee Townsend and mixed by Andy Wallace.

References

  1. ↑ Rose, Ethan. "Best Early 2000s Pop Punk Songs". Rant Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. ↑ "various artists, "GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection" Review" . Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ 37th Annual GMA Dove Awards Nominations & Winners Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine on About.com; Jones, Kim
  4. ↑ Be My Escape (US promo CD liner notes). Relient K. Capitol Records. 2004. DPRO708761903126.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ↑ "Relient K Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Relient K Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "American single certifications – Relient K – Be My Escape". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1594. February 18, 2005. p. 23.
  9. ↑ "FMQB: CHR". FMQB . Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.