| "Jesus Is Lord" | |
|---|---|
| Song byKanye West | |
| from the albumJesus Is King | |
| Released | October 25, 2019 (2019-10-25) |
| Genre | Gospel |
| Length | 0:49 |
| Label | |
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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"Jesus Is Lord" is a song by American vocalist and record producerKanye West from his ninth studio album,Jesus Is King (2019). The song was produced by West, Angel Lopez, Brian "AllDay" Miller,Federico Vindver, andTimbaland. The producers wrote it alongside Claude Léveillée, who had a songwriting credit added due to the songsampling his work. Agospel track, it contains samples of "Un Homme Dans La Nuit", performed by Léveillée. Lyrically, the song features West performing achorus that sees him echo the reaction of men and women to theLast Judgement.
The song received mixed reviews frommusic critics, who were generally divided in their assessments of West's performance. Critical commentary was positive towards the composition of "Jesus Is Lord" from some, though numerous reviewers were dissatisfied with the song's short length. On the USBillboard Hot 100, it charted at number 63. The song also reached numbers 10 and 11 on the USChristian Songs andGospel Songs charts, respectively. West performed it repeatedly during aSunday Service concert in October 2019. An extended version of the song entitled "Every Knee Shall Bow", which includes horns, was used for the album's accompanying filmof the same name.
In December 2018, West's collaboratorTimbaland and Argentine record producerFederico Vindver took part in recording sessions with numerous rappers inMiami, includingSaweetie andLil Mosey.[1] West had arrived at the sessions in under 24 hours, with Vindver recalling that he and Timbaland were "blown away" when West started "playing tracks for theYandhi project."[a][1] Vindver detailed the collaborative process between West and Timbaland, saying: "Timbaland would freestyle with him in the studio — Tim on the drum machine, Kanye singing in real time. He wanted to make more healing music at that time. But he was still finding what it was."[1] West and Timbaland were reported to be recording together in Miami again durimg January 2019 for completion of the album, alongside rappersLil Wayne,2 Chainz, andYNW Melly, among others.[3] In addition to "Jesus Is Lord", Timbaland contributed production toJesus Is King tracks "Closed on Sunday", "Water", "Hands On", and "Use This Gospel".[4] Timbaland produced the song with West, Angel Lopez, Brian "AllDay" Miller, and Vindver.[4]
Since French-Canadian actor and musician Claude Léveillée had died eight years before 2019, Westsampling "Un Homme Dans La Nuit" (1978) within "Jesus Is Lord" meant that he used aposthumous sample of Léveillée.[5] Through an American law firm, the sample source's original publisherPeermusic were made aware of West's usage.[6] On theirFacebook page, theindependent record labelAudiogram questioned how West found "Un Homme Dans La Nuit" despite it not being available onstreaming services.[7] Éditorial Avenue creative director Guillaume Lafrance was surprised by West using the sample, with him confessing to not "know how Kanye came across this work" as well as questioning if someone suggested it to him or if West "stumbled upon it by chance in a store?"[6] As a result of the sample, Léveillée received credit on the song as a writer.[4][7] It was also written by West, Lopez, Miller, Vindver, and Timbaland.[4] West shared the track list for the album on October 24, 2019, showing "Jesus Is Lord" to be set for release on it.[8]
Musically, "Jesus Is Lord" is agospel track.[9] The horns and piano of the song are sampled from the recording "Un Homme Dans La Nuit", as performed by Léveillée.[10] Five seconds are sampled of the recording, from 1:52 to 1:57 of it.[5][6] The song features a trumpet, contributed by Jesse McGinty and Mike Cordone.[4] McGinty also played theeuphonium,French horn, saxophone, trombone, and tuba for the song.[4]
The message of the song spreadsthe gospel.[11] The lyrics also referencePhilippians 2:10-11 of the Bible, looking towards the return ofJesus in the future.[12] The song consists of West singing achorus, in which he requests, "Every knee shall bow / Every tongueconfess."[13][14] After this, West proclaims "Jesus is Lord" twice in the chorus.[14][15] West sings the chorus two times over in the song.[12]
"Jesus Is Lord" was released on October 25, 2019, as the eleventh and final track on West's ninth studio albumJesus Is King.[16] The song was met with mixed reviews frommusic critics, who often had split feelings of West's vocals. Writing forThe Herald-Standard, Clint Rhodes called the song "short and direct in reference to every believer's call to spread the gospel message" due to West's performance.[11]The Daily Telegraph writerNeil McCormick viewed West "proclaiming 'Jesus Is Lord'" as surprising, since West "once rapped that he'd 'rather be a [dick] than a swallower.'"[15] Luke Hinz fromHotNewHipHop complimented the song's "beautifully layered horn arrangement," which he described as serving "to usher out West and his collaborators on bended knee."[17] Despite pointing out its "much-too-short" length, Sam C. Mac ofSlant Magazine labeled the song a "triumphant, brassy fanfare" and questioned it being the "most baroque production" from West since his fifth studio albumMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).[18]God Is in the TV's Aidy James Steven felt the song is "gone as soon as it's arrived, disappearing suddenly into the ether."[19] Steven continued, analyzing West as doing this because he would "rather leave you wanting more than with too much to digest," while admitting that the song "could have perhaps been elaborated upon or cut without consequence" and he concluded by dubbing it "a pleasant enough back cover to Kanye's Bible."[19]
Carl Lamarre fromBillboard gave "Jesus Is Lord" a mixed review, ranking the song as the sixth best track onJesus Is King and citing it as "equally compelling" in comparison to the album's "triumphant" opener "Every Hour".[20] He elaborated, highlighting the horns that "provide a glorious, champion-like feel," though slammed the song's short length as well as the lack of a verse from West.[20] InPitchfork, Sheldon Pearce complained that the song is too-short and admitted that its "message may be new" even though the delivery is "anything but," while he asserted the song "could flow seamlessly into the sampled horns" on West's single "Touch the Sky" (2006).[21] ForConsequence, Wren Graves stated the song "seems to stop, unresolved, in the middle of a thought."[22] Will Rosebury fromClash dismissed the song's placement onJesus Is King" as "a short outro."[23] In a highly negative review, Ed Power fromThe Irish Times said that as the album closes at last with the song, "fans will indeed wonder if Kanye might not have done better overruling his pastor and hanging up his mic."[24]
Following the album's release, the song debuted at number 63 on the USBillboard Hot 100.[25] "Jesus Is Lord" entered the USChristian Songs chart at number 10, rounding out the top 10 of the chart that fully consisted of entries fromJesus Is King.[26] Similarly, the song reached number 11 on the USGospel Songs chart.[26] On the USBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it debuted at number 31.[27]
In Canada, the song charted at number 65 on theCanadian Hot 100.[28] "Jesus Is Lord" performed best in Australia, peaking at number 55 on theARIA Singles Chart.[29] The song was less successful on theLithuanian Top 100, reaching number 90 on the chart.[30] It further charted at number 38 on theUK R&B Chart.[31]
As part of a concert by his gospel group theSunday Service Choir on October 27, 2019 atThe Forum inInglewood, California, West delivered repeated performances of "Jesus Is Lord".[32] Kanye brought his daughter North West on stage while performing and she sang lyrics from the track after him.[32] Kanye West stated during the performance, "LA put your hands up this is our final song!"[32] At the same concert, the Sunday Service Choir's director Jason White led the crowd through a performance of the track.[14] The crowd stretched out their arms, closed their eyes, and demonstrated worship.[14] For West and the Sunday Service Choir's concert at Bethany Rose Church inBaton Rouge, Louisiana on November 1, 2019, they performed the track live.[33]
An alternate version of the track, titled "Every Knee Shall Bow", is included in theconcert filmJesus Is King, which was released simultaneously with the album of the same name. The version is featured in theclosing credits of the film, though had not been included on the pre-release track listing.[34][35] It is a horn-infused track, which is reminiscent of the original version and includes the lyrics, "Every knee shall bow/Jesus is Lord."[b][34][35][36]
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