How He Loves

Last updated

"How He Loves"
John Mark McMillan How He Loves Cover.jpg
Single by John Mark McMillan
from the album The Song Inside the Sounds of Breaking Down
ReleasedNovember 28, 2005
Genre Contemporary worship music, Christian alternative rock
Length7:58
Songwriter(s) John Mark McMillan

"How He Loves" is a song by independent artist John Mark McMillan for his second studio album, The Song Inside the Sounds of Breaking Down. The song was successful despite the album's independent release, and has been covered by several well-known artists within the Christian music industry (David Crowder Band, Kim Walker, Todd Agnew, New Breed, Flyleaf, The Glorious Unseen) and Anthony Evans from the popular singing TV Show: The Voice. It has also been covered in Spanish by Christine D'Clario and Seth Condrey.

Contents

Background

McMillan wrote "How He Loves" following the death of his best friend, Stephen Coffey. [1] Coffey was a youth minister for MorningStar Ministries. On November 1, 2002, during a church prayer meeting, Coffey prayed out loud "I'd give my life today if it would shake the youth of the nation"; [2] the same night, he was in a multi-car accident and died of serious injuries. [3]

Meanwhile, McMillan was recording in a studio in Jacksonville, Florida when he received a call that two of his friends had been critically injured in a car accident. Later that evening, he received another call from his father who informed McMillan that Coffey had died. [4] The next day, McMillan wrote "How He Loves" as a tribute to Coffey and out of a need "to have some sort of conversation with God" where he could speak to his frustrations and emotions over his best friend's death. [5]

According to McMillan, the love that he sings about in "How He Loves" is not a pretty, "Hollywood hot-pink" love. It is a kind of love that is willing to love even when things are difficult and messy. He says, "This song isn't a celebration of weakness and anger. It's a celebration of a God who would want to hang with us through those things, who would want to be a part of our lives through those things, and, despite who we are, He would want to be a part of us, our community, and our family." [6]

David Crowder Band version

"How He Loves"
Single by David Crowder Band
from the album Church Music
Released2009
Genre Worship, Christian rock
Label Sixsteps
Songwriter(s) John Mark McMillan
David Crowder Band singles chronology
"Never Let Go"
(2007)
"How He Loves"
(2009)
"Alleluia, Sing"
(2009)

Christian rock band David Crowder Band recorded How He Loves for their ninth studio album, Church Music. It was released as the album's lead single in 2009. For the band's version, Crowder received permission from McMillan to change the lyrics from "sloppy wet kiss" to "unforeseen kiss". [7] DCB's cover helped propel the already popular song to greater rotation on Christian radio, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart in 2009. [8]

"How He Loves" was also by the compilation album WOW Hits 2010 with the radio version.

Awards

In 2010, this version of the song was nominated for a Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Crowder Band</span> American Christian rock and worship band

David Crowder Band was a six-piece Christian rock and modern worship band from Waco, Texas. Their final album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts. They disbanded in 2012, with David Crowder pursuing a solo career under the name Crowder and the rest of the band, except for Mike Hogan, forming The Digital Age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planetshakers</span> Australian contemporary worship music band

Planetshakers is a contemporary worship music band, a central part of Planetshakers Church in Melbourne, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I Get Where I'm Going</span> 2005 single by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton

"When I Get Where I'm Going'" is a song written by George Teren and Rivers Rutherford, and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in October 2005 as second single from his album Time Well Wasted and is his 14th career single. The song features harmony vocals from Dolly Parton. The song was Parton's 25th Billboard No. 1, and Paisley's fifth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Maher</span> Musical artist

Matthew Guion Maher is a Canadian contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist, songwriter, and worship leader from Newfoundland, Canada, who lives in the United States. Three of his nine albums have reached the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart and four of his singles have reached the Top 25 Christian Songs chart. His notable writing credits include "Your Grace Is Enough", "I Will Rise", "Because He Lives (Amen)", "Christ Is Risen", and "Lord I Need You". Maher has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards in his career and was awarded the Songwriter of the Year at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards. He is a practicing Catholic.

The 37th Annual GMA Dove Awards, also called the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards, were held on April 5, 2006 recognizing accomplishments of Christian musicians for the year 2005. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Rebecca St. James and Kirk Franklin. This was the last year in which the awards were called the "GMA Music Awards", since they will change their names to "GMA Dove Awards".

<i>Amazing Grace</i> (soundtrack) 2007 soundtrack album by Various Artists

Amazing Grace: Music Inspired By the Motion Picture is a soundtrack for the movie Amazing Grace starring Ioan Gruffudd. The album features new versions of old hymns recorded by some of Christian music's more prominent artists as well as one of the most popular country artists around today.

<i>Remedy</i> (David Crowder Band album) 2007 studio album by David Crowder Band

Remedy is the fourth full-length studio album and seventh overall by David Crowder Band, released on September 25, 2007 through sixstepsrecords. A limited edition of the album including a bonus DVD of live performances was released on April 29, 2008.

"American Dream" is a song recorded by Christian rock band Casting Crowns. Written by Mark Hall and produced by Mark A. Miller and Steven Curtis Chapman, the song was included on the band's 2003 self-titled debut album. A rock song, "American Dream" features loud electric guitars similar to those on Chapman's 2001 album Declaration. Lyrically, the song discusses how fathers caught up in advancing their career can neglect their family responsibilities. It received mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised its lyrics; several critics felt the song's instrumentation was average or mediocre, however.

Jason David Ingram is an American Christian music producer and songwriter. He has been a songwriter for many Christian artists, including Bebo Norman and Point of Grace.

<i>Church Music</i> (album) 2009 studio album by David Crowder Band

Church Music is the fifth full-length studio album and ninth overall by David Crowder Band, released September 22, 2009 through sixstepsrecords. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, and debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Until the Whole World Hears</i> 2009 studio album by Casting Crowns

Until the Whole World Hears is the fourth studio album by American Christian rock band Casting Crowns. Released on November 17, 2009, the album was produced by Mark A. Miller and features a sound that has been described as 'pure American rock', 'soft adult contemporary', and 'CCM'. Lyrically, the album discusses Christian subjects such as God, Jesus, and salvation, with several songs being reinventions of classic hymns. Until the Whole World Hears sold over 167,000 copies in its first week, Casting Crowns' highest sales week to date, and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart. In the United States, the album ranked as the 37th best-selling album of 2010 and the 137th best-selling album of 2011; it ranked as the first and third best-selling Christian album in those years, respectively. It has sold over 1.1 million copies and been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Mark McMillan</span> Musical artist

John Mark McMillan is an American singer, songwriter and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidewalk Prophets</span>

Sidewalk Prophets is an American contemporary Christian music band from Nashville. Their album These Simple Truths contained the single "The Words I Would Say" which is also featured on WOW Hits 2010 and WOW Hits 2011. The group won the 2010 GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Cash</span> American musician

Edmond Martin Cash is a producer, songwriter, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was named the "Producer of the Year" at the Gospel Music Awards for four consecutive years (2004–2007) and gains recognition for his work with Christian singer Chris Tomlin. In addition to several Grammy Nominations and countless BMI Citations of Achievement, Cash has produced or written with artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Colin Bernard, Amy Grant, Bebo Norman, David Crowder Band, Bethany Dillon, Kari Jobe, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, Caedmon's Call, Casting Crowns, Annette Lee. Since 2018, he has been a member of the band We the Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">42nd GMA Dove Awards</span>

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 20, 2011, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was broadcast on GMC on April 24, 2011, hosted by Sherri Shepherd from The Newlywed Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">43rd GMA Dove Awards</span>

The 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 7:30 P.M. EST at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2011. The ceremony was produced by the Gospel Music Association and was hosted by actor David Mann and comedian Chonda Pierce. The awards show was broadcast on the Gospel Music Channel on April 24, 2012.

The 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at the Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2014. The ceremony was produced by the Trinity Broadcasting Network and was hosted by musician Erica Campbell and television star Sadie Robertson. The awards show was broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on October 18, 2015.

Brian Mark Johnson is an American contemporary worship musician and worship pastor. He is the president and co-founder of Bethel Music, as well as a member of its Artist Collective and is one-half of the husband-and-wife worship duo, Brian & Jenn Johnson. He is also a senior worship pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, California, and a Senior Overseer of WorshipU, an online school of worship under Bethel Music which he co-founded with Jenn Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">49th GMA Dove Awards</span>

The 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony were held on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at the Allen Arena located in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2018. The ceremony was produced by the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The awards show aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 8 p.m. CT.

We the Kingdom is an American contemporary Christian music band signed to the Capitol Christian Music Group. The band consists of multiple generations of relatives: Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Rae Cash, Martin Cash, and Scott Cash. The band's name comes after the idea that "the kingdom of God is here among us".

References

  1. Kevin Selders. "The Heart of John Mark McMillan". RELEVANT Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  2. "The story behind How He Loves". Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  3. Elmer, Anne. "UPDATE ON MORNINGSTAR STAFF MEMBERS ACCIDENT: Steve Coffey goes home to be with the Lord". Elijahlist.com. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  4. "John Mark McMillan Artist Profile | Biography And Discography". NewReleaseTuesday.com. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  5. (marker 1:13) Archived September 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. (marker 4:18) Archived September 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "How He Loves, David Crowder, and Sloppy Wet Kisses… « johnmarkmcmillan". Johnmarkmcmillan.wordpress.com. September 14, 2009. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  8. "Christian Songs". Billboard.com. December 19, 2009. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  9. 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards nominees announced on The Tennessean (February 18, 2010)