I Saw God Today

Last updated
"I Saw God Today"
George Strait - I saw god today.jpg
Single by George Strait
from the album Troubadour
ReleasedFebruary 4, 2008 (2008-02-04) [1]
Genre
Length3:22
Label MCA Nashville
Songwriter(s) Rodney Clawson
Monty Criswell
Wade Kirby
Producer(s) Tony Brown
George Strait [2]
George Strait singles chronology
"Shiftwork"
(2007)
"I Saw God Today"
(2008)
"Troubadour"
(2008)

"I Saw God Today" is a song written by Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in February 2008 as the lead single from his album Troubadour . The song debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, giving Strait the highest chart debut of his career, as well as his 43rd Billboard Number One.

Contents

"I Saw God Today" won Single of the Year at the 2008 CMA Awards.

Content

The song is a ballad in which the lead character is walking down the sidewalk after his wife has just had a baby, meanwhile noticing such things as a flower growing out of a crack in the sidewalk, a couple who are expecting a baby and the colors of a sunset. Finally, the song ends with the central character in the nursery of a hospital, looking at his own newborn baby girl. He cites each thing that he sees along the way — the flower, the couple, the sunset and his newborn daughter — as examples of how he saw God that day.

According to Clawson, the idea for the song came from Criswell, who said that after unsuccessful hunting trips, he would often say that he "caught a glimpse of God today" despite not seeing any animals. [3]

Critical reception

Matt C., a critic for Engine 145, gave "I Saw God Today" a thumbs-up rating. He said that although it was "similar to the [songs] that countless failed nineties hat acts used to 'launch' their short careers", that Strait's vocal performance nonetheless "makes the song listenable and the country pop lyric's contrast to the country-western material that comprises much of Strait's catalog actually makes this single more memorable than some stronger songs in his hits catalog." [4]

Chart performance

Having reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week of May 3, 2008, "I Saw God Today" is Strait's 43rd Billboard Number One hit. Counting the Number Ones that he has had on other U.S. trade charts ( Mediabase , Radio & Records before its merger with Billboard, and Gavin Report ), "I Saw God Today" is Strait's 56th overall Number One hit, succeeding a record previously held by Conway Twitty for the most Number Ones by any country music artist. [5]

Chart (2008)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [6] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] 33
US Billboard Pop 100 65
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [8] 60

Year-end charts

End of year chart (2008)Position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs [9] 2
Canada Country (Billboard) [10] 8

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [11] Platinum1,000,000Double-dagger-14-plain.png

Double-dagger-14-plain.png Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Awards

The song was nominated for a Dove Award for Country Recorded Song of the Year at the 40th GMA Dove Awards. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Strait</span> American country music singer (born 1952)

George Harvey Strait Sr. is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. In the 1980s, he was credited for igniting the neotraditional country movement, famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by country pop crossover acts. His influential and record-breaking legacy of his pioneering neotraditionalist country style has garnered him as the "King of Country Music."

Paul Lester Overstreet is an American country music singer and songwriter. He recorded 10 studio albums between 1982 and 2005, and charted 16 singles on the Billboard country charts, including two No. 1 hits. He has also written singles for several other country acts, including No. 1 hits for Randy Travis, Blake Shelton, and Keith Whitley, as well as hits for The Judds and Kenny Chesney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Wickham</span> Contemporary Christian musician, singer and songwriter

Philip David Wickham is a Contemporary Christian musician, singer and songwriter from San Diego, California. Wickham has released nine albums: Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in 2006, Cannons in 2007, Singalong in 2008, Heaven & Earth in 2009, Response in 2011, Singalong 2 in 2012, The Ascension in 2013, Sing-A-Long 3 in 2015, Children of God in 2016, Living Hope in 2018, and Hymn Of Heaven in 2021. He has also led worship at Soul Survivor. His critically acclaimed single "This is Amazing Grace" became RIAA certified Platinum and topped the 2014 year-end Christian Airplay chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Wiseman</span> American songwriter

Craig Michael Wiseman is an American Country music songwriter and producer, and the owner/founder of the Big Loud enterprise. He has been writing since the late 1980s, and his songs have been recorded by Lorrie Morgan, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, and numerous other acts. He has written twenty-six No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs music charts, and has won a number of industry awards. In 2009, he was named "Songwriter of the Decade" by the Nashville Songwriters Association International, and in 2015, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anyway (Martina McBride song)</span> 2006 single by Martina McBride

"Anyway" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in November 2006 as the first single from her album Waking Up Laughing. McBride wrote this song with Brad and Brett Warren of The Warren Brothers.

"East to West" is a song recorded by contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns. Written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms and produced by Mark A Miller, it was released as the lead single from the band's 2007 album The Altar and the Door. Lyrically, the song deals with the concept of forgiveness. The song met with a positive to mixed reception from music critics and won two awards at the 39th GMA Dove Awards: Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards.

<i>Troubadour</i> (George Strait album) 2008 studio album by George Strait

Troubadour is the twenty-fifth studio album by American country music singer George Strait. It was released on April 1, 2008 on MCA Nashville Records. The album comprises twelve tracks, including two duets. The lead-off single, "I Saw God Today", was the highest-debuting single of Strait's career, and his forty-third Number One on the Billboard country charts. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA. At the 51st Grammy Awards, Troubadour earned the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, the first Grammy win of Strait's career. The album was intended to include the song "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven", but after Strait decided not to include it on the album, it was later recorded by Kenny Chesney, and was released as the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun. "It Was Me" was originally recorded by Jamey Johnson on his 2006 album, The Dollar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troubadour (song)</span> 2008 single by George Strait

"Troubadour" is a song written by Leslie Satcher and Monty Holmes, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in June 2008 as the second single and title track from his album Troubadour. The song was the 86th chart single of his career. It has become his 79th Top Ten single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "Troubadour" was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 2009 Grammy Awards. Vince Gill sings background vocals on the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven</span> 2008 single by Kenny Chesney with The Wailers

"Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" is a country music song co-written by American songwriters Jim Collins and Marty Dodson. The song was initially to have been recorded by George Strait for his 2008 album Troubadour, but after Strait decided not to include the song on this album, it was recorded by Kenny Chesney instead. Released in August 2008, Chesney's rendition is his thirty-eighth Top 40 country hit and his fifteenth Number One hit. Chesney's version is the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun, which was released on his own Blue Chair label in association with BNA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River of Love</span> 2008 single by George Strait

"River of Love" is a song written by Billy Burnette, Shawn Camp and Dennis Morgan, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in November 2008 as the third single from the album Troubadour. The 87th single of his career, it is also his 80th Top Ten on the Billboard country charts, as well as his 44th and final Number One hit to date.

<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">Drinkin' Man</span> 2012 single by George Strait

"Drinkin' Man" is a song co-written and recorded by the American country music singer George Strait. The song was written by Strait with his son, Bubba and Dean Dillon. It was released on 30 April 2012, as the third single from his album Here for a Good Time.

Rodney Dale Clawson is an American country music songwriter. Clawson has written singles recorded by Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Faith Hill, George Strait and Luke Bryan, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodness of God</span> 2019 song by Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson

"Goodness of God" is a song by Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson, which was released as the third single from Bethel Music's eleventh live album, Victory (2019), on November 1, 2019. The song was written by Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson and Jenn Johnson. Ed Cash handled the production of the single.

Jennifer Louise Rock Johnson is an American Christian worship singer, songwriter and worship pastor. She is a co-founding member of Bethel Music, and is one-half of the husband-and-wife worship duo, Brian & Jenn Johnson. She 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 she co-founded with Brian Johnson.

Michael Brandon Lake is an American Christian worship singer, songwriter and worship pastor. Lake is a member of the Maverick City Music collective, and serves as a worship pastor at Seacoast Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Lake began his recording career with a successful crowdfunding campaign to produce an album in 2015, which resulted in the independent release of his debut studio album, Closer, in 2016.

Maverick City Music is an American contemporary worship music collective founded by Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay originating from Atlanta. The collective made its debut in 2019 with the release of two extended plays, Maverick City, Vol. 1 and Maverick City, Vol. 2. In 2020, Maverick City Music released two live albums: Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 and Maverick City, Vol. 3 Pt. 2, with the former featuring the singles, "Man of Your Word" and "Promises". The collective later released their first collaborative EP with Upperroom, You Hold It All Together (2020) which was followed by the holiday-themed EP, Maverick City Christmas (2020). In 2021, Maverick City Music released several projects, the most notable being their second collaborative EP with Upperroom, Move Your Heart; a collaborative album with Elevation Worship titled Old Church Basement which contained the hit songs "Jireh", "Talking to Jesus" and "Wait on You"; and Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition, which attained commercial success and garnered widespread critical acclaim. Maverick City Music's accolades include 5 Grammy Awards, 4 GMA Dove Awards, 1 Billboard Music Award, and 1 Soul Train Music Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dante Bowe</span> American Christian musician

Dante Bowe is an American Christian worship singer, and songwriter. He is known as a former member of the Bethel Music collective and Maverick City Music.

<i>Milk & Honey</i> (Crowder album) 2021 studio album by Crowder

Milk & Honey is the fourth studio album by American contemporary Christian musician Crowder. The album was released on June 11, 2021, via Sixsteps and Sparrow Records. A deluxe edition of the album was released on March 4, 2022. The album features guest appearances by Hulvey, Maverick City Music, and Dante Bowe. The album was produced by Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka, Hank Bentley, Jeff Pardo, Zach Paradis, Solomon Olds, and Tommee Profitt.

<i>Believe for It</i> (album) 2021 live album by CeCe Winans

Believe for It is the first live album by American gospel singer CeCe Winans. It was released on March 12, 2021, via Puresprings Gospel and Fair Trade Services. The deluxe edition of the album was released on April 1, 2022. The album was produced by Kyle Lee.

References

  1. "George Strait's Record-Setting Debut". Great American Country . 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  2. Troubadour (CD booklet). George Strait. MCA Records Nashville. 2008. B0010826-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. "ROW WRITERS: Rodney Clawson". May 2009.
  4. C., Matt (2008-02-13). "George Strait - "I Saw God Today"". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 2014-08-22. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  5. "George Strait Celebrates His 56th Chart-Topper, "I Saw God Today"". Universal Music Group Nashville . 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  6. "George Strait Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  7. "George Strait Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. "George Strait Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. "Billboard Year-End chart for Hot Country Songs, 2008". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. "Top Canada Country Songs". R&R . December 12, 2008. p. 62.
  11. "American album certifications – George Strait – I Saw God Today". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  12. Nominations Announced for 40th GMA Dove Awards at CBN.com