Jesus He Knows Me
Encyclopedia
"Jesus He Knows Me" is the second track on the 1991 Genesis
album We Can't Dance
, and its fourth single
. The song is a satire
about televangelism
, released in a period when several televangelists such as Robert Tilton
, Jim Bakker
, Larry Lea
and Benny Hinn
were under investigation for promising financial success to their listeners, provided they sent money to them. The track reached #20 in the UK and #23 in the U.S.
) as the primary B-side, while both CDs included an exclusive track.
The first CD had "I Can't Dance (The Other Mix)" (a remix
by Ben Liebrand
) and the second featured "Land of Confusion
(Rehearsal Version)". "The Other Mix" is so-called because another version, the "Sex Mix", had been released some months before on the "I Can't Dance" CD single.
The second CD was the fifth disc in "The Invisible Series", a collection of Genesis CDs which featured live recordings as extra tracks.
The "Single Mix" of "Jesus He Knows Me" has a louder chorus than the album version, making it more suitable for radio play.
The song was featured in the 1996 Belgian film Le huitième jour
by Jaco Van Dormael
.
For the band's 2007 tour the song was originally in the setlist and was rehearsed but wasn't performed on the tour.
features singer Phil Collins
as an unscrupulous televangelist who lives like a millionaire thanks to donations from his followers. The comedic video also features fellow band members, keyboardist Tony Banks
and guitarist Mike Rutherford
, as fellow evangelists. Collins, in an orange suit, tries to have his viewers raise $18,000,000 in one weekend because "the Lord told it to him". In the final minute on the video, money rains down on the set of the fake program. As the toteboard reaches his goal, the amount of money shown increases in intervals of at least $18,000,000.
The video is the second from We Can't Dance in which Banks and Rutherford have to drag Collins off at the end; the other is "I Can't Dance
".
In the video near the 1:40 mark people can be seen holding a sign reading "Genesis 3:25", referring not to the Bible
but to the fact that the band had three members and had been together for twenty-five years (the band formed in 1967, the video was filmed in 1992, although only Banks and Rutherford had been in the band since the beginning). Some observers, not understanding this reference, believed the sign to be an error or a joke, as the third chapter in the Book of Genesis has only 24 verses.
If it referred to the Bible it could also be meaning "this kind of televangelism is a resumption of the Fall of Man" because the third chapter in the Book of Genesis is the chapter about the Fall of Man.
Throughout the clip, Collins is shown on the covers of several fictitious magazines with religious names which spoof actual publications, such as "Spirit Illustrated", "Rolling Souls", "MITE" (an anagram of TIME
) and "God's Housekeeping".
As a footnote, Collins's character in this video bears some resemblance to his role of "Phil Mayhew", a low-brow game show host – con artist eventually dabbling in televangelism in the 1985 Miami Vice
episode "Phil the Shill".
Thinking the band had converted to Christianity, the video was picked up by Trinity Broadcasting Network
to be aired until they learned about the song's story.
n satirical
show, Nikad izvini
, featuring Serbian Orthodox Church
Metropolitan bishop
, Amfilohije Radović
, which sings how he managed to cheat God and take rule over Heaven
to save souls of Serbian criminals.
7" single
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
album We Can't Dance
We Can't Dance
Rolling Stone chiefly commented on the album's lyrics. They criticized "Tell Me Why" and "Way of the World" for being soulless and impersonal social commentaries, but regarded most of songs as outstanding, and summarized "Although We Can't Dance doesn't quite achieve the vulnerable grace of Duke or...
, and its fourth single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. The song is a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
about televangelism
Televangelism
Televangelism is the use of television to communicate the Christian faith. The word is a portmanteau of television and evangelism and was coined by Time magazine. A “televangelist” is a Christian minister who devotes a large portion of his ministry to television broadcasting...
, released in a period when several televangelists such as Robert Tilton
Robert Tilton
Robert Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved notoriety in the 1980s and early 1990s through his infomercial-styled religious television program Success-N-Life, which at its peak in 1991 aired in all 235 American TV markets , brought in nearly $80 million per year, and was described as...
, Jim Bakker
Jim Bakker
James Orsen "Jim" Bakker is an American televangelist, a former Assemblies of God minister, and a former host of The PTL Club, a popular evangelical Christian television program.A sex scandal led to his resignation from the ministry...
, Larry Lea
Larry Lea
-Early years:He attended and graduated from Dallas Baptist University where he met his first wife, Melva. He completed his graduate work at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Larry and Melva married in 1972, and together they have 3 children. He became the youth pastor of...
and Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn
Toufik Benedictus "Benny" Hinn הין; born December 3, 1952) is a televangelist, best known for his regular "Miracle Crusades" – revival meeting/faith healing summits that are usually held in large stadiums in major cities, which are later broadcast worldwide on his television program, This Is Your...
were under investigation for promising financial success to their listeners, provided they sent money to them. The track reached #20 in the UK and #23 in the U.S.
Release
Like all the singles from We Can't Dance, "Jesus He Knows Me" was released on two CDs as well on vinyl editions. All formats featured the non-album track "Hearts on Fire" (later included on Genesis Archive #2 1976-1992Genesis Archive 2: 1976-1992
Genesis Archive #2: 1976–1992 is a 2000 boxed set by veteran progressive rock/pop band Genesis. This retrospective covers the band's history while Phil Collins was lead singer....
) as the primary B-side, while both CDs included an exclusive track.
The first CD had "I Can't Dance (The Other Mix)" (a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
by Ben Liebrand
Ben Liebrand
Ben Liebrand is a dance music DJ. He has produced artists such as Forrest and MC Miker G & DJ Sven and remixed tracks by artists such as Salt N Pepa, Sting, TLC, Fun Fun, Tavares, Bill Withers, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Rick Astley, SWV and Phil Collins...
) and the second featured "Land of Confusion
Land of Confusion
"Land of Confusion" is a rock song written by the band Genesis for their 1986 album Invisible Touch. The song was the third track on the album and was the fourth track from the album to become a single, which reached #4 in the US and #14 in the UK in early 1987. It made #8 in the Netherlands...
(Rehearsal Version)". "The Other Mix" is so-called because another version, the "Sex Mix", had been released some months before on the "I Can't Dance" CD single.
The second CD was the fifth disc in "The Invisible Series", a collection of Genesis CDs which featured live recordings as extra tracks.
The "Single Mix" of "Jesus He Knows Me" has a louder chorus than the album version, making it more suitable for radio play.
The song was featured in the 1996 Belgian film Le huitième jour
Le Huitième Jour
Le huitième jour is a Belgian 1996 film that tells the story of the friendship that develops between two men who meet by chance...
by Jaco Van Dormael
Jaco Van Dormael
Jaco Van Dormael is a Belgian film director, screenwriter and playwright. His complex and critically acclaimed films are especially noted for their respectful and sympathetic portrayal of people with mental and physical disabilities.- Biography :In the 1980s, he became interested in filmmaking and...
.
Live
The song was performed live on the 1992 We Can't Dance tour although it was not going to be played because the band thought the live visuals were mocking religion. The band eventually decided to perform "Jesus He Knows Me" instead of "Living Forever" which was in the setlist at the time.For the band's 2007 tour the song was originally in the setlist and was rehearsed but wasn't performed on the tour.
Music video
The videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
features singer Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
as an unscrupulous televangelist who lives like a millionaire thanks to donations from his followers. The comedic video also features fellow band members, keyboardist Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
and guitarist Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
, as fellow evangelists. Collins, in an orange suit, tries to have his viewers raise $18,000,000 in one weekend because "the Lord told it to him". In the final minute on the video, money rains down on the set of the fake program. As the toteboard reaches his goal, the amount of money shown increases in intervals of at least $18,000,000.
The video is the second from We Can't Dance in which Banks and Rutherford have to drag Collins off at the end; the other is "I Can't Dance
I Can't Dance
"I Can't Dance" is the fourth track from the Genesis album We Can't Dance and was the second single from the album . The song peaked at number seven on both the U.S...
".
In the video near the 1:40 mark people can be seen holding a sign reading "Genesis 3:25", referring not to the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
but to the fact that the band had three members and had been together for twenty-five years (the band formed in 1967, the video was filmed in 1992, although only Banks and Rutherford had been in the band since the beginning). Some observers, not understanding this reference, believed the sign to be an error or a joke, as the third chapter in the Book of Genesis has only 24 verses.
If it referred to the Bible it could also be meaning "this kind of televangelism is a resumption of the Fall of Man" because the third chapter in the Book of Genesis is the chapter about the Fall of Man.
Throughout the clip, Collins is shown on the covers of several fictitious magazines with religious names which spoof actual publications, such as "Spirit Illustrated", "Rolling Souls", "MITE" (an anagram of TIME
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
) and "God's Housekeeping".
As a footnote, Collins's character in this video bears some resemblance to his role of "Phil Mayhew", a low-brow game show host – con artist eventually dabbling in televangelism in the 1985 Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
episode "Phil the Shill".
Thinking the band had converted to Christianity, the video was picked up by Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
to be aired until they learned about the song's story.
Influence
This song's instrumental was used as a cover in pilot episode of SerbiaSerbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
show, Nikad izvini
Nikad izvini
Nikad izvini was a political satire television show in Serbia which sometimes also treated the subject in a surreal way. It ran every day on Pink television, between August 2003 and April 2005, following all "Pink" afternoon news...
, featuring Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
Metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
, Amfilohije Radović
Amfilohije Radovic
Amfilohije Radović is the current Metropolitan of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, Archbishop of Cetinje.His role in the Yugoslav Wars is considered controversial.- Biography :...
, which sings how he managed to cheat God and take rule over Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
to save souls of Serbian criminals.
Track listings
CD maxi- "Jesus He Knows Me" (single mix) — 4:18
- "Hearts on Fire" — 5:15
- "I Can't Dance" (the other mix) — 6:00
7" single
- "Jesus He Knows Me" (single mix) — 4:17
- "Hearts on Fire" — 5:15
Charts
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 26 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 27 |
| German Singles Chart | 13 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 22 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 38 |
| UK Singles Chart | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 23 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 27 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 24 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 12 |
External links
- Music Video at VH1 ClassicVH1 ClassicVH1 Classic is a television network, launched on May 8, 2000. It is operated as part of MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom and primarily features music videos and concert footage from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, though it formerly included a wider range of genres and time periods...