Starry Night (Chris August song)

"Starry Night" is the debut single by American Contemporary Christian musician Chris August off of his debut CD No Far Away. It was released on May 11, 2010;[1] it had topped several of Billboard magazine's Christian charts by November of that year. The single garnered five Dove Award nominations for August, including Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.

"Starry Night"
Single by Chris August
from the album No Far Away
ReleasedMay 11, 2010[1]
Recorded2010
GenreContemporary Christian music
LabelFervent
Songwriter(s)Chris August
Producer(s)Chris August
Ed Cash
Chris August singles chronology
"Starry Night"
(2010)		 "7x70"
(2011)

Writing

August was originally signed by Geffen Records as a mainstream artist after Ryan Cabrera noticed him. He was managed by Ashlee Simpson's father Joe Simpson and he toured as her opening act and keyboardist. After his contract ended during renegotiation, he decided to return to his roots as a Christian musician.[2]

In an interview with the website New Release Tuesday, August said "I ended up moving back to Dallas, got involved in church again and one night I realized that I hadn't had true convictions in years. I hated that and it hit me hard. I decided that night that I was going to rededicate my music and my life to God. That was January 18, 2009. That's the night I wrote 'Starry Night'."[3] He was signed to Fervent Records and soon shared the song with his new record label. The meaning behind the song is August's reflection on how people can take great photographs or make great paintings about objects, yet these objects and everything else were created by God.[3]

Charts

"Starry Night" began its run on the charts by debuting at No. 29 on the Billboard Christian AC Monitored chart two weeks after its release. The single hit No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart and it reached No. 21 on Billboard's Heatseeker Songs.[4] When the song topped the Christian AC Monitored chart, it was the first debut single to reach No. 1 in over three years.[5] Billboard ranked it on their 2010 year end charts as the No. 13 "Hot Christian Songs AC" single and the No. 15 song on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[6]

Chart Peak
position
Billboard Christian Songs 1
Billboard Heatseeker Songs 21
Billboard Christian AC Monitored 1

Year-end
Chart (2011) Position
Billboard Christian Songs[7] 21
Billboard Hot Christian AC[8] 25
Billboard Christian Digital Songs[9] 31

Decade-end charts
Chart (2010s) Position
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[10] 39

Critical reception

A Jesus Freak Hideout review says the song "hits home with conviction and thoughts of growing up on the farm marveling at God's handiwork."[11] Word Records said the single is "an inspiring up-tempo song of praise".[12]

Awards

August received five Dove Award nominations in 2011 without having released another single.[13] The song was nominated for the Song of the Year and the Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.[13] August was nominated for the New Artist Of The Year and the Male Vocalist Of The Year; his album No Far Away received a nomination for the Pop/Contemporary Album Of The Year.[13]

References
  1. August, Chris (May 11, 2010). "Starry Night (Album Version)". Amazon.com. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  2. Leggett, Steve. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  3. Davis, Kevin. "#140 - "Starry Night" by Chris Augus". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  4. "Christ August chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  5. "Chris August's 'Starry Night' Is Most Played Single In Christian Music". CM Spin. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  6. "Chris August's Wish List Is Coming True With His Smash No 1 Single 'Starry Night' Illuminating The 2010 Best Of Lists". 22 December 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  7. "Year-end Christian Songs chart (2011)". Billboard.biz. Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  8. "Year-end Hot Christian AC chart (2011)". Billboard.biz. Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  9. "Year-end Christian Digital Songs chart (2011)". Billboard.biz. Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  10. "Hot Christian Songs – Decade-End 2010s". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  11. Chamberlin, Kevin (22 August 2010). "Review of No Far Away". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  12. Word Records (cited in "Singer/Songwriter Chris August Releases Debut Single - entitled "Starry Night"". 7 June 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2015.)
  13. "Chris August Earns His First Ever Dove Award Nominations And Is Up For 5 Awards At The 42nd Annual Dove Awards Making Him The Most Nominated New Artist". Breathe Cast. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
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