Count 'Em

{{Infobox song

| name = Count 'Em

| cover = Count 'Em - Brandon Lake.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = Brandon Lake

| album = Coat of Many Colors

| released = {{Start date|2023|8|4}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Christian rock

| length = 3:47

| label = Provident Label Group

| writer =

Brandon Lake
Jacob Sooter
Hank Bentley

| producer =

Jacob Sooter
Hank Bentley

| chronology =

| prev_title = People of Heaven

| prev_year = 2023

| next_title = Nothing New (I Do)

| next_year = 2024

| misc =

{{External music video|{{YouTube|a6Ti41hJ5fQ|"Count 'Em"}}

| type = single

| header = Music videos

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|BzQ4Hkq0tG8|"Count 'Em" (Lyrics)}}

| type = song

| header = no

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|cUazOkri2OY|"Count 'Em" (Live from Summer Worship Nights)}}

| type = song

| header = no

}}

"Count 'Em" is a song by Brandon Lake. The song was released on August 4, 2023,{{cite web |url= https://www.thechristianbeat.org/brandon-lake-drops-count-em-single-video/ |title= Brandon Lake Drops "Count 'Em" Single & Video - TCB |last= Longs |first= Herb |date= August 4, 2023 |website= The Christian Beat |access-date= February 14, 2024}} as the second single from his fourth studio album, Coat of Many Colors (2023).{{cite web |url= https://www.thechristianbeat.org/brandon-lake-announces-coat-of-many-colors-album-coming-october-20/ |title= Brandon Lake Announces 'Coat Of Many Colors' Album Coming October 20 - TCB |last= Longs |first= Herb |date= June 10, 2023 |website= The Christian Beat |access-date= February 14, 2024}} Lake co-wrote the song with Hank Bentley and Jacob Sooter.{{cite web |url= https://songselect.ccli.com/songs/7223150/count-em |title= Count Em {{!}} Official Song Resources on SongSelect® |website= SongSelect |publisher= CCLI |access-date= February 14, 2024}} Jacob Sooter and Hank Bentley worked on the production of the single.

The song peaked at number 19 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart published by Billboard.

Background

On July 31, 2023, Lake announced that he will embark on the Coat of Many Colors Tour in the fall of 2023, and that "Count 'Em" will be released on August 4, 2023.{{cite web |url= https://www.thechristianbeat.org/brandon-lake-announces-coat-of-many-colors-tour/ |title= Brandon Lake Announces 'Coat Of Many Colors Tour' - TCB |last= Longs |first= Herb |date= July 31, 2023 |website= The Christian Beat |access-date= February 14, 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://jubileecast.com/articles/29710/20230801/brandon-lake-announces-new-tour-with-special-guest.htm |title= Brandon Lake Announces New Tour with Special Guest Benjamin William Hastings : News : JubileeCast |last= Yap |first= Timothy |date= August 1, 2023 |website= JubileeCast |access-date= February 14, 2024}} "Count 'Em" was released as the second single from the album, along with its accompanying music video, on August 4, 2023.{{cite web |url= https://jubileecast.com/articles/29729/20230806/here-are-the-lyrics-to-brandon-lakes-count-em.htm |title= Here Are the Lyrics to Brandon Lake's "Count ‘Em" : News : JubileeCast |last= Yap |first= Timothy |date= August 4, 2023 |website= JubileeCast |access-date= February 14, 2024}}

Writing and development

Lake shared the story behind the song in an interview with American Songwriter, saying:{{cite web |url= https://americansongwriter.com/track-by-track-brandon-lake-talks-coat-of-many-colors/ |title= Track by Track: Brandon Lake Talks 'COAT OF MANY COLORS' - American Songwriter |last= Hopper |first= Alex |date= November 2, 2023 |website= American Songwriter |access-date= February 11, 2024}}

{{blockquote|"I was at Hank Bently’s house with Jacob Sooter working on the record when we decided to take a break and head out for lunch. Jacob struck a few chords on the Wurlitzer as we’re heading out the door. I quickly was inspired and rattled off a verse idea with a fast cadence. I didn’t think much of it but as we got back from lunch I couldn’t shake the desire to want to write whatever song this would become. A few hours later we had this monster of a song that brags on who God is and all the things I’ve seen Him do. I’m grateful for those heavenly interruptions that inspire a song when you least expect it."}}

Composition

"Count 'Em" is a rock song containing hip-hop influence and gospel choir background vocals.{{cite web |url= https://www.newreleasetoday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=28022&user_id=151759 |title= Coat of Many Colors by Brandon Christian CD Book Reviews {{!}} NRTeam Member JasminPatterson_NRT {{!}} NewReleaseToday |last= Patterson |first= Jasmin |date= February 6, 2024 |website= NewReleaseToday |publisher= NRT Media, Inc |access-date= February 14, 2024}} The song is composed in the key of C or C minor with a tempo of 70 beats per minute and a musical time signature of {{music|time|4|4}}.{{cite web |url= https://www.multitracks.com/songs/Brandon-Lake/Coat-of-Many-Colors/Count-'Em/ |title= Count 'Em by Brandon Lake {{!}} MultiTracks.com |website= MultiTracks |access-date= September 20, 2023}}

Reception

=Critical response=

Writing for Air1, Lindsay Williams opined on the song: "With dark undertones of synth-heavy pop and a rapid-fire, hip-hop inflected delivery, "Count 'Em" is a lyrically rich single that doesn't fit the typical worship mold, yet holds a high reverence for the fear of God."{{cite web |url= https://www.klove.com/music/blog/new-music/album-spotlight-brandon-lake-coat-of-many-colors-6585 |title= Album Spotlight: Brandon Lake, 'Coat of Many Colors' {{!}} Positive Encouraging K-LOVE |last= Williams |first= Lindsay |date= November 9, 2023 |website= Air1 |access-date= February 14, 2024}} Reviewing for Jesus Freak Hideout, Matthew Spiker said ""Count 'Em" is easily the heaviest song on the album and has one of the best hooks."{{cite web |url= https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/CoatOfManyColors.asp |title= Brandon Lake, "Coat Of Many Colors" Review |last= Spiker |first= Matthew |date= November 4, 2023 |website= Jesusfreakhideout.com |publisher= Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date= February 14, 2024}} Lindsay Williams in her K-Love review wrote: "The fiery track is full of dark, moody production and a spitfire spoken-word delivery, swiftly proving Lake's music can't be categorized, nor can it be pegged as anything other than unpredictable. But that's precisely what makes him so compelling as an artist."{{cite web |url= https://www.klove.com/music/blog/new-music/album-spotlight-brandon-lake-coat-of-many-colors-6585 |title= Album Spotlight: Brandon Lake, 'Coat of Many Colors' {{!}} Positive Encouraging K-LOVE |last= Williams |first= Lindsay |date= October 20, 2024 |website= K-Love |access-date= February 14, 2024}} In a NewReleaseToday review, Jasmin Patterson said of the song: "The grit and edge in this one fit the subject matter of how powerful and victorious God is. "

=Awards and nominations=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Awards
Year ! Organization ! Award ! Result ! style="text-align:center" \| Ref
scope="row" rowspan="2" \| 2024 \| rowspan="2" \| GMA Dove Awards \| Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year \| {{Nominated}} \| rowspan="2" \| {{center\|{{cite web \|url= https://doveawards.com/awards/2024-nominees \|title= 2024 Nominees \|date= July 22, 2024 \|website= GMA Dove Awards \|access-date= October 1, 2024 \|archive-date= July 22, 2024 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240722151324/https://doveawards.com/awards/2024-nominees \|url-status= live}}}}
Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept) \| {{Nominated}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Awards

Year

! Organization

! Award

! Result

! style="text-align:center" | Ref

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2024

| rowspan="2" | GMA Dove Awards

| Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year

| {{Nominated}}

| rowspan="2" | {{center|{{cite web |url= https://doveawards.com/awards/2024-nominees |title= 2024 Nominees |date= July 22, 2024 |website= GMA Dove Awards |access-date= October 1, 2024 |archive-date= July 22, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240722151324/https://doveawards.com/awards/2024-nominees |url-status= live}}}}

Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept)

| {{Nominated}}

Commercial performance

"Count 'Em" debuted at number 27 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated August 19, 2023,{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs/2023-08-19/ |title= Hot Christian Songs Chart - Billboard |date= August 15, 2023 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 14, 2024}} concurrently charting at number six on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart,{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-digital-song-sales/2023-08-19/ |title= Christian Digital Song Sales Chart {{!}} Billboard |date= August 15, 2023 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 14, 2024}} and number 21 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart.{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-digital-song-sales/2023-08-19/ |title= Rock Digital Song Sales Chart {{!}} Billboard |date= August 15, 2023 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 14, 2024}} The song peaked at number 19 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated December 16, 2023,{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs/2023-12-16/ |title= Hot Christian Songs Chart - Billboard |date= December 12, 2023 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 14, 2024}}

Music videos

Brandon Lake released the official music video of "Count 'Em" through their YouTube channel on August 4, 2023.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Ti41hJ5fQ |title= Brandon Lake - Count 'Em (Official Music Video) - YouTube |date= August 4, 2023 |website= YouTube |access-date= February 14, 2024}} Lake also released the lyric video for the song via YouTube on the same day.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzQ4Hkq0tG8 |title= Brandon Lake - Count 'Em (Lyric Video) - YouTube |date= August 4, 2023 |website= YouTube |access-date= September 20, 2023}} On January 19, 2024, Lake released the live performance video of the song recorded during the Summer Worship Nights Tour on YouTube.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gprrLDCqOUc |title= Brandon Lake - COUNT EM - Live From Summer Worship Nights |date= January 19, 2024 |website= YouTube |access-date= February 14, 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.thechristianbeat.org/brandon-lake-count-em-live-from-summer-worship-nights-video/ |title= Brandon Lake "COUNT EM" Live From Summer Worship Nights Video - TCB |last= Longs |first= Herb |date= January 20, 2024 |website= The Christian Beat |access-date= February 14, 2024}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Count 'Em

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 7:23

| title1 = Count 'Em

| note1 =

| writer1 = {{hlist| Hank Bentley | Brandon Lake | Jacob Sooter}}

| extra1 = {{hlist| Jacob Sooter | Hank Bentley}}

| length1 = 3:47

| title2 = Praise You Anywhere

| note2 =

| writer2 = {{hlist| Bentley | Ben Fielding | Lake | Sooter}}

| extra2 = {{hlist| Jacob Sooter | Hank Bentley}}

| length2 = 3:35

}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Count 'Em"
scope="col"\| Chart (2023–2024) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Billboardchristiansongs\|19\|artist=Brandon Lake\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=February 14, 2024\|refname=Hot Christian Songs}}
{{single chart\|Billboardchristianairplay\|21\|artist=Brandon Lake\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=October 15, 2024\|refname="Christian Airplay"}}
scope="row"\|US Christian AC (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/brandon-lake/chart-history/ica/ \|title= Brandon Lake Chart History (Christian AC Airplay) \|magazine= Billboard \|access-date= October 15, 2024}} \| 26
scope="row"\| US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{cite web \|url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/brandon-lake/chart-history/rkt/ \|title= Brandon Lake Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales) \|website= Billboard \|access-date= February 14, 2024}} \| 21

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Count 'Em"

scope="col"| Chart (2023–2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardchristiansongs|19|artist=Brandon Lake|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 14, 2024|refname=Hot Christian Songs}}

{{single chart|Billboardchristianairplay|21|artist=Brandon Lake|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 15, 2024|refname="Christian Airplay"}}

scope="row"|US Christian AC (Billboard){{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/brandon-lake/chart-history/ica/ |title= Brandon Lake Chart History (Christian AC Airplay) |magazine= Billboard |access-date= October 15, 2024}}

| 26

scope="row"| US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{cite web |url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/brandon-lake/chart-history/rkt/ |title= Brandon Lake Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales) |website= Billboard |access-date= February 14, 2024}}

| 21

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for "Count 'Em"
scope="col"\| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Christian Songs (Billboard){{cite web \|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-christian-songs/ \|title= Hot Christian Songs – Billboard \|website= Billboard \|version= Year-End Chart \|access-date= February 14, 2024}} \| 98

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Count 'Em"

scope="col"| Chart (2023)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Christian Songs (Billboard){{cite web |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-christian-songs/ |title= Hot Christian Songs – Billboard |website= Billboard |version= Year-End Chart |access-date= February 14, 2024}}

| 98

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Release history for "Count 'Em" ! scope="col"\| Region ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format ! scope="col"\| Label ! scope="col"\| Ref.
scope="row"\| Various \| August 4, 2023 \| {{hlist\| Digital download\| streaming}} \| Provident Label Group \| {{cite web \|url= https://music.apple.com/us/album/count-em-single/1696125997 \|title= Count 'Em - Single - Album by Brandon Lake - Apple Music \|date= August 4, 2023 \|via= Apple Music \|access-date= February 14, 2024}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release history for "Count 'Em"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| Ref.

scope="row"| Various

| August 4, 2023

| {{hlist| Digital download| streaming}}

| Provident Label Group

| {{cite web |url= https://music.apple.com/us/album/count-em-single/1696125997 |title= Count 'Em - Single - Album by Brandon Lake - Apple Music |date= August 4, 2023 |via= Apple Music |access-date= February 14, 2024}}

References

External links

{{URL| https://www.praisecharts.com/songs/details/82122/count-em-sheet-music/chords | Lyrics and sheet music for the song}} on PraiseCharts

Category:2023 songs

Category:2023 singles

Category:Brandon Lake songs

Category:Songs written by Brandon Lake