I See You (Chris Tomlin and Brandon Lake song)
{{short description|2021 song by Chris Tomlin and Brandon Lake}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I See You
| cover = I See You - Chris Tomlin & Brandon Lake.jpg
| alt = "I See You" Single Cover
| type = single
| artist = Chris Tomlin and Brandon Lake
| album = Always
| released = {{Start date|2021|8|6}}
| recorded = 2021
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=48}}
| label =
| writer =
- Chris Tomlin
- Bryan Fowler
- Jonas Myrin
| producer = Bryan Fowler
| chronology = Chris Tomlin
| prev_title = God Who Listens
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = Thank You Lord
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Brandon Lake singles
| type = single
| prev_title = Too Good to Not Believe
| prev_year = 2021
| title = I See You
| year = 2021
| next_title = Might Get Loud
| next_year = 2021
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|6wvzx6pUhbc|"I See You" (Lyrics)}}
| type = single
| header = Music video
}}
}}
"I See You" is a song by American contemporary Christian musicians Chris Tomlin and Brandon Lake. It was released on August 6, 2021,{{cite web |url= https://www.thechristianbeat.org/chris-tomlin-brandon-lake-partner-on-i-see-you/ |title= Chris Tomlin & Brandon Lake Partner On "I See You" - TCB |last= Clarks |first= Jessie |date= August 6, 2021 |website= The Christian Beat |access-date= August 15, 2021}} as the lead single from Tomlin's fourteenth studio album, Always (2022).{{cite web |url= https://www.thechristianbeat.org/chris-tomlin-releases-holy-forever/ |title= Chris Tomlin Releases Next Track "Holy Forever" Off New Worship Project - TCB |last= Clarks |first= Jessie |date= July 15, 2022 |website= The Christian Beat |access-date= July 17, 2022}} The song was written by Bryan Fowler, Chris Tomlin, and Jonas Myrin.{{cite web |url= https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/7179714 |title= I See You {{!}} Chords, Lyrics and Sheet Music {{!}} SongSelect® |website= SongSelect |publisher= CCLI |access-date= August 15, 2021}} Bryan Fowler handled the production of the single.
"I See You" peaked at No. 31 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart published by Billboard.
Background
On August 6, 2021, Chris Tomlin announced the release of "I See You" with Brandon Lake as a single,{{cite web |url= https://jubileecast.com/articles/26643/20210806/chris-tomlin-brandon-lake-help-us-to-see-god-in-difficult-circumstances-with-new-single.htm |title= Chris Tomlin & Brandon Lake Help Us to See God in Difficult Circumstances with New Single : News : JubileeCast |last= Harper |first= Blessing |date= August 6, 2021 |website= JubileeCast |access-date= August 15, 2021}} accompanied with the song's lyric video.{{cite web |url= http://www.breathecast.com/articles/chris-tomlin-brandon-lake-releases-official-lyric-video-see-38506/ |title= Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake Releases Official Lyric Video 'I See You' : Music : BREATHEcast |last= Barnes |first= Tiffany |date= August 9, 2021 |website= BREATHEcast |access-date= August 15, 2021}} Tomlin said the message of the song is "all about seeing God throughout the different seasons in life, the ups and the downs."
Composition
"I See You" is composed in the key of D♭ with a tempo of 80 beats per minute,{{cite web |url= https://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/i-see-you-chris-tomlin-brandon-lake/#Info |title= I See You - Chris Tomlin - Brandon Lake Lyrics and Chords {{!}} Worship Together |website= Worship Together |access-date= August 15, 2021}} and a musical time signature of {{music|time|4|4}}.{{cite web |url= https://praisecharts.com/songs/details/77176/i-see-you-chords |title= I See You Chords PDF (Chris Tomlin / Brandon Lake) - PraiseCharts |website= PraiseCharts |access-date= August 15, 2021}}
Critical reception
Joshua Andre of 365 Days of Inspiring Media gave a negative review of "I See You", describing the song as a "typical CCM song in that Chris and Brandon together passionately and vibrantly relay to us that we can indeed see Jesus in creation and in everything in our lives, ... we are met with an enthusiastic melody… but a melody nonetheless whereby I as a listener am not that impressed. Because you see, it's a track that is forgettable."{{cite web |url= https://www.365daysofinspiringmedia.com/reviews/chris-tomlin-brandon-lake-i-see-you-single/ |title= Chris Tomlin & Brandon Lake – I See You (Single) {{!}} 365 Days Of Inspiring Media |last= Andre |first= Joshua |date= August 8, 2021 |website= 365 Days Of Inspiring Media |access-date= August 15, 2021}} Andre compared the song's theme to "I See You" by Rich Mullins, "At Your Name" from Tim Hughes, and "God Of Wonders" from Mac Powell and Cliff and Danielle Young. Reviewing for Plugged In, Kristin Smith said
"This sweet song reminds us that He is indeed always present, that He longs to be close to us in every moment. In fact, we are promised that the One who sees us will never leave or forsake us, that we can always rest in His love and provision. Tomlin and Lake remind us of that bedrock truth in “I See You.”"{{cite web |url= https://www.pluggedin.com/track-reviews/chris-tomlin-brandon-lake-i-see-you/ |title= I See You - Plugged In |last= Smith |first= Kristin |date= August 13, 2021 |website= Plugged In |access-date= May 19, 2022}}
Commercial performance
"I See You" debuted at No. 31 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated August 17, 2021,{{cite web |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs/2021-08-21 |title= Hot Christian Songs Chart {{!}} Billboard |date= August 17, 2021 |website= Billboard |access-date= August 17, 2021}} concurrently charting at No. 10 on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart.{{cite web |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-digital-song-sales/2021-08-21 |title= Christian Digital Song Sales Chart {{!}} Billboard |date= August 17, 2021 |website= Billboard |access-date= August 17, 2021}}
Music video
The lyric video of "I See You" was published via Chris Tomlin's YouTube channel on August 6, 2021.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wvzx6pUhbc |title= Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake - I See You (Lyric Video) - YouTube |date= August 6, 2021 |website= YouTube |publisher= YouTube, LLC |access-date= August 15, 2021}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| collapsed =
| headline = "I See You"{{cite web |url= https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BHPD1GM |title= I See You by Chris Tomlin & Brandon Lake on Amazon Music - Amazon.com |date= August 6, 2021 |website= Amazon Music |access-date= August 15, 2021}}
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = I See You
| note1 =
| writer1 =
| length1 = 3:48
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = "I See You" — Apple Music bonus content{{cite web |url= https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-see-you-single/1579592788 |title= I See You - Single by Chris Tomlin & Brandon Lake on Apple Music |date= August 6, 2021 |website= Apple Music |version= United States |publisher= Apple Inc. |access-date= August 15, 2021}}
| extra_column =
| total_length = 7:36
| title2 = I See You
| note2 = Lyric video
| length2 = 3:48
}}
Personnel
Adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-see-you-mw0003572656/credits |title= I See You - Brandon Lake, Chris Tomlin {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic |website= AllMusic |access-date= August 15, 2021}}
- Adam Ayan — mastering engineer
- Jesse Brock — mixing assistant
- Daniel Carson — electric guitar
- Chad Chrisman — A&R
- Nickie Conley — background vocals
- Jason Eskridge — background vocals
- Bryan Fowler — acoustic guitar, background vocals, bass, electric guitar, keyboards, producer, programmer, synthesizer programming
- Brandon Lake — primary artist, vocals
- Paul Mabury — drums
- Sean Moffitt — mixing
- Brad O'Donnell — A&R
- Chris Tomlin — primary artist, vocals
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "I See You" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Billboardchristiansongs|31|artist=Chris Tomlin|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 17, 2021|refname=Hot Christian Songs}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardchristianairplay|50|artist=Chris Tomlin|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 3, 2021|refname=Christian Airplay}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| Ref. |
|---|
| Various
| August 6, 2021 | {{hlist| Digital download | streaming}} | {{hlist| Sparrow Records |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{URL| praisecharts.com/songs/details/77176/i-see-you-chords | Lyrics and sheet music for the song}} on PraiseCharts
{{Chris Tomlin}}
{{Brandon Lake}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:I See You (Chris Tomlin and Brandon Lake song)}}