Spoken For (song)

"Spoken For" is a song by Christian rock band MercyMe. Written by Bart Millard, Nathan Cochran, Mike Scheuchzer, Jim Bryson, Robby Shaffer, and Pete Kipley, "Spoken For" has been described as "haunting", and as having a "strong lyrical hook".

"Spoken For"
Single by MercyMe
from the album Spoken For
ReleasedSeptember 2002
Recorded2002 in the United States
GenreContemporary Christian
Length4:09
LabelINO
Songwriter(s)Bart Millard, Nathan Cochran, Mike Scheuchzer, Jim Bryson, Robby Shaffer, Pete Kipley
Producer(s)Kipley
MercyMe singles chronology
"I Can Only Imagine"
(2001)		 "Spoken For"
(2002)		 "Word of God Speak"
(2003)
Spoken For track listing
  1. "The Change Inside Of Me"
  2. "All The Above"
  3. "Spoken For"
  4. "There's A Reason"
  5. "Come One, Come All"
  6. "Crazy"
  7. "Word of God Speak"
  8. "Your Glory Goes On"
  9. "Love of God"
  10. "Go"
  11. "All Because Of This"

Spoken For was released in 2002 as the lead single from MercyMe's 2002 album of the same title. It attained success on Christian radio, peaking atop the Radio & Records Christian AC and INPSO charts, as well as at No. 6 on the Radio & Records Christian CHR chart. It was nominated for Song of the Year at the 34th GMA Dove Awards.

Background

"Spoken For" was written by Bart Millard, Nathan Cochran, Mike Scheuchzer, Jim Bryson, Robby Shaffer, and Pete Kipley; it was also produced by Kipley.[1] The song was recorded in several locations; Luminous Sound in Dallas, Texas, The Sound Kitchen in Franklin, Tennessee, Indigo Room in Franklin, Tennessee, HydeAway Sound Lab in Jeckyll Island, Georgia, The Scwoodio in Greenville, Texas, Mountain View Recorders in Glorieta, New Mexico, and Playground Recording in Wylie, Texas.[1] The song was mastered by Richard Dodd at Vital Recordings,[1] and mixed by F. Reid Shippen at Recording Arts in Nashville, Tennessee.[1]

Composition

"Spoken For" is a contemporary Christian song with a length of four minutes and nine seconds.[2] The song is set in the key of C major and has a tempo of eighty beats per minute, with a vocal range spanning from A3-F5[3]

The verse for "Spoken For" (“Take this world from me/I don’t need it anymore/I am finally free/My heart is spoken for”) has been described as "memorable",[4] while the song itself has been described as "haunting".[4] The song's lyrical hook has been described as "strong".[5]

Reception

Critical reception

"Spoken For" received generally positive reviews from critics. Kevin McNeese of New Release Tuesday commented that "["Spoken For"] ...reminds us of the importance and adoration that God places on us".[6] Russ Breimeier of Christianity Today commented that the song is "worshipful",[5] also commenting that "MercyMe is destined for another big hit with ["Spoken For"]... I don't think it'll have the same impact as their signature hit, but it's enough to firmly establish MercyMe's popularity".[5] Tony Cummings of Cross Rhythms opined in his review of the album that "I particularly liked the haunting “Spoken For”".[4]

"Spoken For" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 34th GMA Dove Awards.[7]

Chart performance

"Spoken For" peaked at No. 1 on the Radio & Records Christian AC chart, holding that spot for a total of seven weeks. In all, it spent 36 weeks on the chart.[8] On the Radio & Records INSPO chart, "Spoken For" held the top spot for six weeks, and spent a total of 21 weeks on the chart.[8] On the Radio & Records Christian CHR chart, "Spoken For" peaked at No. 6, spending a total of 28 weeks on the chart.[8]

Charts
Chart (2002–2003) Peak
Position
US R&R Christian AC[8] 1
US R&R INSPO[8] 1
US R&R Christian CHR[8] 6

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[1][nb 1]

MercyMe

  • Bart Millard – lead vocals, background vocals
  • Jim Bryson – keys, recording
  • Robby Shaffer – drums
  • Mike Scheuchzer – guitars
  • Nathan Cochran – bass guitar

Additional performers

  • Travis Cottrell – background vocals
  • Will Owsley – background vocals
  • Roy G. Biv String Vibe – strings

Production

  • Csaba Petozz – recording
  • J. R. McNeely – recording
  • Lee Bridges – recording
  • Richard Dodd – mastering
  • F. Reid Shippen – mixing
gollark: GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH WHY
gollark: Yes, write it *normally*, respecting the ownership model.
gollark: THAT IS NOT LOW-LEVEL!
gollark: YOUR ARCHITECTURE IS PROBABLY BAD AND UNSAFE IS A MONKEYPATCH ON TOP OF THAT!
gollark: You need it in *low-level code*, not *normal application stuff*.

References
Notes
  1. The band members' instruments are not credited on the album's liner notes, aside from Bryson's role in recording. Their primary instruments are listed based on their de facto primary roles in the group.
Footnotes
  1. Spoken For (Media notes). MercyMe. INO Records. 2002. p. 4,7.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "Spoken For - MercyMe". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  3. "Spoken For Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Simpleville Music. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  4. Cummings, Tony. "Spoken For (Cross Rhythms)". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  5. Bartenhagen, Marcia (25 November 2002). "Spoken For - Music Review". CCM Magazine. Crosswalk.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  6. McNesse, Kevin (2008-01-30). "Spoken For by MercyMe". NewReleaseTuesday.com. NRT Media. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  7. MacCorkle, Laura (14 January 2003). "34th Annual Dove Awards Nominees Announced - Jan 14 News". Crosswalk.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  8. "Billboard Charted Singles" (PDF). Mikecurb.com. Curb Records. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
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