When I Pray for You

Last updated
"When I Pray for You"
Promotional single by Dan + Shay
from the album The Shack: Music From and Inspired by the Original Motion Picture
ReleasedFebruary 3, 2017 (2017-02-03)
Genre Christian country
Length3:29
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
  • Shay Mooney
  • Dan Smyers
  • Justin Ebach
  • Jon Nite
Producer(s)

"When I Pray for You" is a song recorded by American country music duo Dan + Shay for the soundtrack to the 2017 drama film, The Shack . Written by group members Shay Mooney and Dan Smyers with Justin Ebach and Jon Nite, the song is told from the perspective of a father-to-be and describes the unconditional love a parent feels for their child. Smyers also co-produced the track with Scott Hendricks and Scott Johnson. It was released February 3, 2017 through Atlantic Records as the soundtrack's third promotional single. [1] It was expected to impact country radio in late February 2017, [2] however this release did not materialize.

Contents

Upon its release, the song was the highest-selling track in the Christian music genre for the week and debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart in the group's first appearance. [3] It also entered in the top 40 of the Hot Country Songs chart.

Background and recording

In October 2016, Shay Mooney announced that he and his then-fiancée, Hannah Billingsley, were expecting their first child. [4] Inspired by the emotions revolving around his pending fatherhood, Mooney set out to write a song about his experience with group mate Dan Smyers and two of their songwriter friends, Justin Ebach and Jon Nite. [5] Smyers described "When I Pray for You", the result of this writing session, as "one of the most special songs we've ever written," in a press statement. [5] The song's inclusion on the soundtrack for The Shack was called "an honor" by Smyers. [6] "When I Pray for You" is written from the perspective of a soon-to-be-father, who expresses his desire to emulate his father and be a good parent. [7] [5] Mooney and Billingsley welcomed their son, Asher James Mooney, on January 24, 2017, ten days before the song's release. [8]

Commercial performance

"When I Pray for You" debuted at number 39 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated February 25, 2017. [9] It concurrently debuted at number 7 on the Country Digital Song Sales component chart with 13,000 first-week sales. [10] [3] The song also entered both the Christian Digital Song Sales and Christian/Gospel Digital Song Sales charts at number one, marking the group's first appearance on either chart. [11] [12] "When I Pray for You" debuted at number three on the Christian Songs chart dated February 25, 2017. [13] The song also charted on the Christian Airplay component chart due to unsolicited airplay and reached a peak position of 26. [14]

Music video

An official music video premiered on February 3, 2017 accompanying the song's digital release. [6] Filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, the video blends performance shots of the group on a riverbank with clips of the film, which stars Sam Worthington, Tim McGraw, and Octavia Spencer. [7] People described the song and its video as a "tear-jerker." [6]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic. [15]

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
US Christian Airplay ( Billboard ) [16] 26
US Christian Songs ( Billboard ) [17] 3
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 39

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References

  1. ↑ "When I Pray for You - Dan + Shay | Release Info". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  2. ↑ "DAN + SHAY UNVEIL NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO "WHEN I PRAY FOR YOU" FROM "THE SHACK: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE"". Warner Music Canada. February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.[ dead link ]
  3. 1 2 "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. February 13, 2017. p. 15. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  4. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling (October 8, 2016). "Dan + Shay Singer Shay Mooney, Fiancee Expecting First Child". Taste of Country . Townsquare Media . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Reuter, Annie (February 9, 2017). "Dan + Shay Release Poignant Video for 'When I Pray for You' [Watch]". Taste of Country . Townsquare Media . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Nelson, Jeff (February 3, 2017). "Dan + Shay Release Tear-Jerking New Music Video for Fatherhood-Inspired 'When I Pray for You'". People . Time Inc. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Laffer, Lauren (February 3, 2017). "Dan + Shay Release Powerful 'When I Pray For You' Music Video". Sounds Like Nashville. SpinMedia . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  8. ↑ Marquina, Sierra (January 24, 2017). "Dan + Shay's Shay Mooney Welcomes Baby Boy With Fiancee Hannah Billingsley — Find Out His Name!". Us Weekly . Wenner Media . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Hot Country Songs: The Week of February 25, 2017". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Country Digital Song Sales: The Week of February 25, 2017". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Christian Digital Song Sales: The Week of February 25, 2017". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Christian/Gospel Digital Song Sales: The Week of February 25, 2017". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Christian Songs: The Week of February 25, 2017". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Dan Shay Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  15. ↑ "When I Pray for You – Dan + Shay | Release Credits". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Dan Shay Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Dan Shay Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Dan Shay Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
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