Does Anybody Hear Her

"Does Anybody Hear Her" is a song recorded by Christian rock band Casting Crowns, released by Beach Street Records, Reunion Records, and Provident Label Group. Written by Mark Hall and produced by Mark A. Miller, it was released on September 23, 2006 as the third single from the band's 2005 album Lifesong. An alternative CCM and adult contemporary song, "Does Anybody Hear Her" relates the story of a girl who is being pushed away by the Christian church as well as the message that condemning other people (in a harsh, unloving manner) is wrong.

"Does Anybody Hear Her"
Single by Casting Crowns
from the album Lifesong
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2006 (2006-09-23)
RecordedZoo Studio (Franklin, TN)
Lifesong Studio (McDonough, GA)
Little Big Studio (Nashville, TN)
GenreChristian rock, adult contemporary
Length4:28
LabelBeach Street, Reunion, PLG
Songwriter(s)Mark Hall
Producer(s)Mark A. Miller
Casting Crowns singles chronology
"Praise You In This Storm"
(2006)		 "Does Anybody Hear Her"
(2006)		 "East to West"
(2007)

"Does Anybody Hear Her" received positive reviews from most music critics, many of whom praised the song's lyrical theme. It was successful on Christian radio, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian AC charts; it also topped the Radio & Records Christian AC and Soft AC/Inspirational charts. It ranked at number 33 on the 2000s decade-end Hot Christian AC chart and number 46 on the 2000s decade-end Hot Christian Songs chart.

Background and production

According to lead vocalist Mark Hall, "Does Anybody Hear Her" is about a girl "who is making all the wrong decisions and about how" and how the Christian church is not there for her.[1] Hall began writing the song around 2000 about a girl in his youth group; it ultimately encompassed around 15-20 girls who due to their father not being there for them tried to find intimacy elsewhere, ultimate "[giving] themselves away to the first person who loves them". Hall said that "We [the Christian church] attach identities to people, saying, 'It’s too late to reach this person,' or 'This person here, there’s still some good there, so we should try on this one,' or 'This one’s a lost cause, we just need to get him out of here'. That’s a scary place to live if you’re that person — if you didn’t make the church’s 'list'".[1]

"Does Anybody Hear Her" was written by Mark Hall. It was produced by Mark A. Miller and recorded and mixed by Sam Hewitt at Zoo Studio in Franklin, Tennessee. Additional recording was done at Lifesong Studio in McDonough, Georgia. The song was mastered by Richard Dodd and engineered by Dale Oliver and John Lewis Lee III. The strings on the song were arranged by Bobby Huff and were recorded at Little Big Studio by Boeho Shin and Daewoo Kim.[2]

Composition

"Does Anybody Hear Her" is a song with a length of four minutes and 28 seconds.[3] According to the sheet music published by Musicnotes.com, it is set in common time in the key of F major (although the band usually performs the song live in the key of E major) and has a tempo of 77 beats per minute. Mark Hall's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of C4 to the high note of F5.[4] A ballad,[5][6] "Does Anybody Hear Her" is an alternative CCM and adult contemporary song.[4] Lyrically, the song relates the story of a young woman who is being pushed away by the Christian church.[7][8] It delivers the message that condemning other people is wrong[9] and that the Christian church is being too judgmental of pregnant teenagers.[5]

Critical reception

"Does Anybody Hear Her" received positive reviews from most music critics. Kim Jones of About.com called the song her favorite off of Lifesong.[7] Jared Johnson of Allmusic praised the song as an example of "Mark Hall's artistic balladry".[8] Deborah Evans Price of Billboard described it as "potent".[10] David McCreary of CCM Magazine felt that the song's "softer cadence" didn't diminish its "hard-hitting message".[9] Although describing it as "poignant", Russ Breimeier of Christianity Today felt the song was too broad in scope.[5] John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout described "Does Anybody Hear Her" as "a step backwards from the opening tracks [of Lifesong]" but felt that its musical tone "still works in the grand scheme of the song's message".[6]

Release and chart performance

"Does Anybody Hear Her" was released to Christian AC and Soft AC/Inspirational radio on September 23, 2006.[11][12] It debuted at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs for the chart week of November 4, 2006.[13] It advanced to number five in its seventh chart week[14] and to number four in its 12th chart week.[15] In its 15th chart week, "Does Anybody Hear Her" hit the number one position, which it held for six consecutive weeks.[16][17][18][19][20][21] In total, it spent 33 weeks on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[22] It also peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Christian AC and Radio & Records Christian AC and Soft AC/Inspirational charts.[23][24][25]

"Does Anybody Hear Her" ranked at number 89 on the 2006 year-end Radio & Records Christian AC chart.[26] It ranked at number eight on the 2007 year-end Billboard Hot Christian AC chart and at number 10 on the 2007 year-end Hot Christian Songs chart,[27][28] as well as at number eight on the 2007 year-end Radio & Records Christian AC chart and number 13 on the 2007 year-end Soft AC/Inspirational chart.[29][30] On the decade-end Billboard charts, "Does Anybody Hear Her" ranked at number 33 on the Hot Christian AC chart and number 46 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[31][32]

Live performances

Casting Crowns performed "Does Anybody Hear Her" as the fourth song on their set list at a concert on November 12, 2005 at the Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.[33] They performed it as the eleventh song on their setlist at a concert on February 4, 2010 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.[34] As part of an acoustic set at a concert on February 28, 2010 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.[35]

Track listing
Digital download[3]
  1. "Does Anybody Hear Her" – 4:28

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes of Lifesong.[2]

Charts

Release and radio history
Date Format Label
September 23, 2006 Christian AC radio[11] Beach Street, Reunion, PLG
Soft AC/Inspirational radio[12]
gollark: The UK has the exciting new "online safety bill" probably coming soon.
gollark: How wonderful.
gollark: Although it's more "complete inability to listen to anyone competent" than "lack of maths knowledge".
gollark: Politicians who don't know maths can just ignore it and demand changes somewhere, see.
gollark: Remember, even if you only studied philosophy or politics, maths can't hurt you if you just deny it constantly or ban it, and technology people can do anything if you complain enough!

References
  1. Hall, Mark (June 2007). "Story Behind the Song: Casting Crowns, 'Does Anybody Hear Her'" (PDF). CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing. 29 (12): 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  2. Lifesong (Media notes). Casting Crowns. Beach Street Records. 2005. p. 9.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. "Lifesong by Casting Crowns". iTunes. Apple Inc. August 30, 2005. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  4. "Casting Crowns – Does Anybody Hear Her Digital Sheet Music" (Digital Download)|format= requires |url= (help). Musicnotes.com EMI Christian Music Group. MN0055747. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  5. Breimeier, Russ. "Lifesong, Christian Music Reviews". Christianity Today. The Fish. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  6. DiBiase, John (August 25, 2005). "Casting Crowns, 'Lifesong' Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  7. Jones, Kim. "Casting Crowns - Lifesong". About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  8. Johnson, Jared. "Lifesong - Casting Crowns". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  9. McCreary, David (September 2005). "Another Crowning Achievement" (PDF). CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing. 28 (3): 50–51. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  10. Price, Deborah Evans (September 10, 2005). "Reviews Spotlights". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 117 (37): 74. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  11. "Going for Adds – Christian AC". Radio & Records. VNU Media. September 23, 2006. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  12. "Going for Adds – Soft AC/Inspirational". Radio & Records. VNU Media. September 23, 2006. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  13. "Christian Songs (November 4, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  14. "Christian Songs (December 16, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  15. "Christian Songs (January 20, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  16. "Christian Songs (February 10, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  17. "Christian Songs (February 17, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  18. "Christian Songs (February 24, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  19. "Christian Songs (March 3, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  20. "Christian Songs (March 10, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  21. "Christian Songs (March 17, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  22. "Does Anybody Hear Her - Casting Crowns". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  23. "Hot Christian AC (February 17, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  24. Jessen, Wade. "Christian AC (March 9, 2007)". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on March 10, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  25. Jessen, Wade. "Soft AC/Inspirational (March 9, 2007)". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  26. "Christian AC Year-end (2006)". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  27. "Hot Christian AC Year-end (2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  28. "Hot Christian Songs Year-end (2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  29. "Christian AC Year-end (2007)". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  30. "Soft AC/Inspirational Year-end (2007)". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on February 23, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  31. "Hot Christian AC Decade-end (2000s)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  32. "Hot Christian Songs Decade-end (2000s)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  33. Mabee, Justin (November 16, 2005). "Casting Crowns Lifesong Tour". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  34. Brownlee, Bill (February 5, 2010). "Review: Casting Crowns". Back to Rockville. The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  35. Davis, Kevin (March 30, 2010). "A Night With Kutless & Casting Crowns". New Release Tuesday. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
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