Born Again (Third Day song)

"Born Again" is a song recorded by the Christian rock band Third Day and alternative metal singer Lacey Mosley. Written by Mac Powell and composed by Third Day, "Born Again" was released as the third and final single from Third Day's 2008 album Revelation. Musically, the song is a ballad featuring influences from the genres of folk music and pop music, while the song is lyrically a "study in self-examination and celebration of a life redeemed". It was included on the compilation album WOW Hits 2011.[1]

"Born Again"
Single by Third Day featuring Lacey Mosley
from the album Revelation
Released2009
RecordedBay 7 Studios (Valley Village, CA)
Sparky Dark Studio (Calabasas, CA)
GenreChristian rock
Length3:36
LabelEssential
Songwriter(s)Mac Powell
Producer(s)Howard Benson
Third Day singles chronology
"Revelation"
(2009)		 "Born Again"
(2009)		 "Lift Up Your Face"
(2010)

"Born Again" met with positive critical reception, with many critics praising Mosley's vocals. It was nominated for two Grammy Awards at the 52nd Grammy Awards: the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song and the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance. It was the third No. 1 single from Revelation and twenty-seventh overall for Third Day, peaking atop the Billboard Christian AC Monitored chart; it also peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, No. 4 on the Hot Christian AC chart, No. 10 on the Christian CHR chart, and No. 41 on the Heatseekers Songs chart. Billboard also ranked "Born Again" on their 2009 year-end Hot Christian Songs, Hot Christian AC, and Christian CHR charts.

Background

The lyrics to the first verse of "Born Again" were written while Third Day's lead singer, Mac Powell, was folding laundry. Powell recalled that "I was doing some chores at home. I was sitting down on the floor folding laundry and I had that song in my head. All of a sudden it just came out--a full first verse literally. It wasn’t like I said a line and worked out a few other lines, it literally just came out. I just spoke it and sang it and it scared me because that never happens".[2] Powell said he then "got up and I was running around the house, throwing stuff everywhere looking for a pen and a piece of paper".[2]

"Born Again" was written by Mac Powell and composed by Third Day.[2][3] It was produced and programmed by Howard Benson and recorded by Mike Plontikoff at Bay 7 Studios in Valley Village, Los Angeles and at Sparky Dark Studio in Calabasas, California. The song was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge at Resonate Music in Burbank, California and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine. Digital editing was conducted by Paul DeCarli, while audio engineering was handled by Ashburn Miller with additional engineering handled by Hatsukazu Inagaki. Pre-production was handled at Haunted Hollow Studio in Charlottesville, Virginia by Rob Evans and Steve Miller, at Tree Sound Studios in Norcross, Georgia by Don McCollister, and at Sonica Recording in Atlanta, Georgia by Jon Briglevich.[3]

Composition

"Born Again" is a ballad[6] with a length of three minutes and thirty-six seconds.[7] It is set in 6
8 time in the key of G major, with a moderately set tempo of 66 beats per minute and a vocal range spanning from D4 to G5.[8] "Born Again" contains musical influences from the genres of folk[6] and pop[9] and features "gorgeous"[4] and "soaring"[5] vocals from Lacey Mosley of the alternative metal band Flyleaf.[4][5][10][11] Lyrically, it is a "study in self-examination and celebration of a life redeemed"[4] and "a heartfelt expression of what it's like to experience a change from within".[11] Third Day's bassist, Tai Anderson, said the song "digs beneath" the "cliché" expression of being 'born again' and into what the phrase is "supposed to mean".[2]

Reception

Critical

"Born Again" received positive reviews from music critics, some of whom praised the vocals from Lacey Mosley[6][4][5][10] and regarded it as a highlight of Revelation.[5][10] Deborah Evans Price of Billboard praised the vocal performance of Mosley as "gorgeous",[4] while Russ Breimeier of Christianity Today praised it as "a heartfelt expression of what it's like to experience a change from within".[11] Matt Conner of CCM Magazine regarded "Born Again" as "one of the highlights on an album full of them",[10] while John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout described it as a "folk-flavored ballad ... which beautifully features Lacey Mosley from Flyleaf".[6] Debra Akins of Gospel Music Channel praised it as "one of the best tracks" off Revelation.[5] Graeme Crawford of Cross Rhythms, however, said the "pop" feel of "Born Again" was "disappointing".[9]

"Born Again" was nominated for two Grammy Awards (Best Gospel Song and Best Gospel Performance) at the 52nd Grammy Awards.[12]

Chart performance

On the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, "Born Again" debuted at no. 25 for the chart week of June 13, 2009.[13] It advanced to no. 9 in its tenth chart week,[14] and to no. 5 in its fourteenth chart week.[15] In its twenty-first chart week, "Born Again" reached its peak position of no. 3;[16] it dropped out after twenty-seven weeks on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[17] On the Billboard Hot Christian AC chart, "Born Again" debuted at no. 27 for the chart week of June 13, 2009.[18] It advanced to no. 18 in its fifth chart week[19] and to no. 8 in its twelfth chart week.[20] In its fifteenth chart week, "Born Again" reached its peak position of no. 4 on the chart;[21] "Born Again" dropped out after twenty-eight weeks on the Hot Christian AC chart.[17]

"Born Again" spent twenty weeks on the Billboard Christian CHR chart,[22] peaking at no. 10.[21] It peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard Christian AC Indicator chart, making it Third Day's third no. 1 single from Revelation and twenty-seventh no. 1 single overall.[23] It also spent eight weeks on the Billboard Heatseekers Songs chart,[17] peaking at no. 41.[24] It ranked at no. 9 on the 2009 year-end Hot Christian Songs chart,[25] at no. 14 on the 2009 year-end Hot Christian AC chart,[26] and at no. 27 on the 2009 year-end Christian CHR chart.[27]

Live performances

Since its release, Third Day has performed "Born Again" in concert. At WinterJam 2010, Third Day performed the song with Dawn Michele of Fireflight.[28] On the opening night of the Make a Difference Tour, Third Day performed "Born Again" as part of their setlist.[29] At a concert as part of their Make Your Move Tour in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on November 6, 2011, the band performed the song during an acoustic set; the band took requests, and "Born Again" was one of the songs requested.[30] Third Day also performed the song at a concert in Joplin, Missouri on March 20, 2011; following the devastating tornado that struck Joplin on May 22, 2011, Third Day released the entire concert as a download, with all proceeds going to tornado relief for Joplin.[31]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes[3]

Third Day

Additional performers

Technical

  • Keith Armstrong – mixing assistance
  • Howard Benson – producer, programming
  • Jon Briglevich – pre-production
  • Paul Decarli – digital editing
  • Rob Evans – pre-production
  • Terry Hemmings – executive producer
  • Hatsukazu Inagaki – additional engineering
  • Nik Karpen – mixing assistance
  • Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Don McCollister – pre-production
  • Ashburn Miller – audio engineering
  • Steve Miller – pre-production
  • John Nicholson – drum tech
  • Mike Plotnikoff – recording
  • Marc Vangool – guitar tech

Charts

Weekly
Charts (2009) Peak
position
Billboard Hot Christian Songs[32] 3
Billboard Hot Christian AC[21] 4
Billboard Christian AC Indicator[23] 1
Billboard Christian CHR[21] 10
Billboard Heatseekers Songs[24] 41

Year-end
Charts (2009) Position
Billboard Hot Christian Songs[25] 9
Billboard Hot Christian AC[26] 14
Billboard Christian CHR[27] 27

References
  1. "Wow Hits 2011 – Various Artists". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  2. Powell, Mac; Anderson, Tai. "Born Again". Third Day.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  3. Revelation (Media notes). Third Day. Essential Records. 2008. p. 9.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Price, Deborah Evans (2 August 2008). "Revelation". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (31): 33. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  5. Akins, Debra (July 29, 2008). "Revelation". Gospel Music Channel.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  6. DiBiase, John (July 27, 2008). "Third Day, "Revelation" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  7. Farias, Andre. "Revelation - Third Day". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  8. "Third Day - Born Again Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  9. Crawford, Graeme (July 28, 2008). "Third Day - Revelation". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  10. Conner, Matt (September 29, 2008). "Industry Leaders Develop Another Stellar Effort". CCM Magazine. New Release Tuesday. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  11. Breimeier, Russ. "Revelation, Christian Music Review". Christianity Today. The Fish. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  12. "Nominees and Winners". Grammy.org. The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  13. "Christian Songs (13 June 2009)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  14. "Christian Songs". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (32): 52. 15 August 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  15. "Christian Songs". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (36): 44. 12 September 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  16. "Christian Songs". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (43): 48. 31 October 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  17. "Singles Charts Archive Search". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2012. Note: User must manually input the correct search information to obtain the sourced information.
  18. "Hot Christian AC". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (24): 52. 20 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  19. "Hot Christian AC". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (27): 48. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  20. "Hot Christian AC". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (34): 60. 29 August 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  21. "Hot Christian AC". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (37): 63. 19 September 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  22. "Christian CHR". Billboard. Applebaum, Howard. 121 (41): 48. 17 October 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  23. "Third Day Delivers 27th No. 1 With 'Born Again'". Provident Label Group. Jesus Freak Hideout. September 4, 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  24. "Revelation - Third Day (Billboard singles)". Allmusic. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  25. "Year-end Christian Songs (2009)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  26. "Year-end Christian AC (2009)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  27. "Year-end Christian CHR (2009)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  28. DiBiase, John (February 4, 2010). "WinterJam 2010". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  29. Lynn, Holzemer; Holzemer, David (November 15, 2010). "Opening Night of the "Make A Difference" Tour". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  30. DiBiase, John (November 10, 2011). "The Make Your Move Tour 2011". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  31. "Third Day Release Live Show Audio Download To Raise Funds To Support Joplin, MO". Jesus Freak Hideout. June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  32. "Christian Songs (October 31, 2009)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
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