How He Loves
Encyclopedia
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
).
Meanwhile, McMillan was recording in a studio in Jacksonville, FL 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 passed away. 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.
According to McMillan, the love that he's singing 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."
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". The song was given new life by DCB's cover, and has since become a commonly played worship song on Christian radio, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Christian Songs in 2009 and #4 in the US iTunes Top 100 Christian Songs for 2010.
.
John Mark McMillan
John Mark McMillan is a singer/songwriter within the Christian music industry.In 2002, he released his debut album "Hope Anthology, Volume 1". In 2005 he released "The Song Inside the Sounds of Breaking Down", which included the track How He Loves...
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
David Crowder Band
The David Crowder Band is a six-piece Christian Modern Worship band from Waco, Texas.-Band history:The band began when David Crowder, from Texarkana, Texas, realized that almost half of the students at Baylor University were not attending church...
, Kim Walker
Kim Walker (musician)
Kim Walker Smith is an American singer, songwriter, worship leader, and recording artist. Currently, she resides in Redding, CA with her husband Skyler. She produced her first solo album, titled Here Is My Song, which was released in February 2008 through the Jesus Culture record label...
, Todd Agnew
Todd Agnew
Todd Agnew is a Contemporary Christian musician and songwriter.-Musical career:Agnew's best-known song is a version of the hymn "Amazing Grace" called "Grace Like Rain" that was featured on his first album, Grace Like Rain, released in June 2003. Agnew wrote this song with his friend, Chris Collins...
, New Breed, Flyleaf
Flyleaf
Flyleaf is an American alternative metal band, formed in the Belton and Temple, Texas regions in 2000. The band has charted on mainstream rock, Christian pop and Christian metal genres. They performed around the United States in 2003 until releasing their eponymous debut album, Flyleaf, in 2005....
, The Glorious Unseen
The Glorious Unseen
The Glorious Unseen is a Christian rock/contemporary worship band from Nashville, Tennessee. Before signing with Tooth & Nail Records, lead vocalist Ben Crist wrote and played many of the band's songs in his home church, The Anchor Fellowship. The band released their first album, Tonight the Stars...
).
Background
McMillan wrote How He Loves following the death of his best friend, Stephen Coffey. 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." That very night, he was in a multi-car accident and died of serious injuries.Meanwhile, McMillan was recording in a studio in Jacksonville, FL 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 passed away. 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.
According to McMillan, the love that he's singing 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."
David Crowder Band Version
Contemporary Christian band David Crowder BandDavid Crowder Band
The David Crowder Band is a six-piece Christian Modern Worship band from Waco, Texas.-Band history:The band began when David Crowder, from Texarkana, Texas, realized that almost half of the students at Baylor University were not attending church...
recorded How He Loves for their ninth studio album, Church Music
Church Music (album)
Church Music is the fifth full-length studio album by David Crowder Band recorded for sixstepsrecords, released September 22, 2009. It reached #1 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, and debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200.-Recording Process:...
. It was released as the album's lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
in 2009. For the band's version, Crowder received permission from McMillan to change the lyrics from "sloppy wet kiss" to "unforeseen kiss". The song was given new life by DCB's cover, and has since become a commonly played worship song on Christian radio, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Christian Songs in 2009 and #4 in the US iTunes Top 100 Christian Songs for 2010.
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 Awards41st GMA Dove Awards
The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 21, 2010 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2009. The show was held at the The Opry Entertainment Complex in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Bart Millard....
.
Studio recordings
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- David Walker
- Eddie Kirkland
- The Glorious UnseenThe Glorious UnseenThe Glorious Unseen is a Christian rock/contemporary worship band from Nashville, Tennessee. Before signing with Tooth & Nail Records, lead vocalist Ben Crist wrote and played many of the band's songs in his home church, The Anchor Fellowship. The band released their first album, Tonight the Stars...
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- New Breed
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- Kim WalkerKim Walker (musician)Kim Walker Smith is an American singer, songwriter, worship leader, and recording artist. Currently, she resides in Redding, CA with her husband Skyler. She produced her first solo album, titled Here Is My Song, which was released in February 2008 through the Jesus Culture record label...
- YouthQuest
- The Aaron Pelsue Band
In concert
- Codie & Josie
- FlyleafFlyleafFlyleaf is an American alternative metal band, formed in the Belton and Temple, Texas regions in 2000. The band has charted on mainstream rock, Christian pop and Christian metal genres. They performed around the United States in 2003 until releasing their eponymous debut album, Flyleaf, in 2005....
- Gatlin Elms
- Hillsong
- Todd AgnewTodd AgnewTodd Agnew is a Contemporary Christian musician and songwriter.-Musical career:Agnew's best-known song is a version of the hymn "Amazing Grace" called "Grace Like Rain" that was featured on his first album, Grace Like Rain, released in June 2003. Agnew wrote this song with his friend, Chris Collins...
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& Klaus - David Crowder BandDavid Crowder BandThe David Crowder Band is a six-piece Christian Modern Worship band from Waco, Texas.-Band history:The band began when David Crowder, from Texarkana, Texas, realized that almost half of the students at Baylor University were not attending church...