Look Up Child Explained

Look Up Child
Type:studio
Artist:Lauren Daigle
Cover:Look Up Child (Official Album Cover) by Lauren Daigle.png
Border:yes
Recorded:2017–2018
Genre:Contemporary Christian music
Length:51:35
Label:Centricity
Producer:
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Lauren Daigle
Next Year:2023

Look Up Child is the third studio album by American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter Lauren Daigle. It was released on September 7, 2018, through Centricity Music. The album received the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards.[1] It was nominated for Top Christian Album at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.[2] The album has spent 44 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart, the longest reign of the 2010s.[3]

Background

In an interview with Billboards Jim Asker, Daigle said "I don't shy away from singing about my faith. I think it conveys honesty, and people see authenticity. More people are going to relate to my music if it's sincere. I believe that wholeheartedly. That's how you reach people that might not have felt that [the Christian genre] was their home before. I want this to be such a record of joy, such a record of hope, that people experience a childlikeness again. In the time of making this record, I had to remember who I was as a child. I want people to reflect on, 'The innocence of my childhood ... how do I see myself through those eyes again? How do I love myself like that again? Where's that joy? Where's that hope?' "[4]

Release and promotion

Singles

"You Say" was released as the lead single from the album on July 13, 2018.[5] It impacted Christian radio on July 9, 2018.[6] The song launched into the top five of the US iTunes Sales Chart upon its release, and debuted at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Daigle's first entry on the chart, where it reached a peak of No. 29.[7] [8] It was released to Top 40 radio on January 15, 2019.[9] "You Say" has spent 100 weeks atop the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, the longest of any artist in the chart's history.

"Look Up Child" was released as the second promotional single. The song debuted at No. 33 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and has reached a peak of No. 3. It was released to Christian radio on January 4, 2019, as the second single from the album.[10]

"Rescue" was released to Christian radio on July 12, 2019, as the third single from the album.[11] It peaked at No. 2 on the Christian Songs chart and No. 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. The single was scheduled to be released to Hot AC radio on July 22, 2019, but was released on August 19, 2019.[12] [13]

"Still Rolling Stones" impacted Christian radio on April 10, 2020, as the fourth single from the album.[14]

Promotional singles

"Still Rolling Stones" was released on August 10, 2018, as a promotional single.[15] The song debuted at No. 17 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. It peaked at No. 4.

Commercial performance

Look Up Child debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 with 115,000 album-equivalent units, of which 103,000 were pure album sales.[16] It is the highest-charting album by Daigle, and the highest-charting Christian album overall since Hard Love by Needtobreathe reached No. 2 on the chart in 2016. The album became the highest-charting Christian album by a woman on the Billboard 200 since LeAnn Rimes' You Light Up My Life peaked at No. 1 in 1997.[16]

As of June 2019, the album has sold 362,000 copies in the U.S.[17] [18]

The album was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA on March 1, 2024.

Reception

Critical response

Look Up Child received widespread acclaim from music critics. Chris DeVille of Stereogum compared Daigle to English singer Adele, noting that "[f]rom her smoky powerhouse vocals to the tastefully inoffensive arrangements they dominate, her record could easily be mistaken for Adele."[19] At CCM Magazine, Mark Geil rated the album five stars out of five, remarking how "This isn't a retread of How Can It Be. The new album is ballad-heavy, so expect passion but not tempo. At times, Daigle's Adele-inspired vocal affectations are a little over-the-top, but her delivery remains earnest. The piano is bright, and the album shines brightest in its playful moments, like "Still Rolling Stones" and the reggae-infused "Your Wings"." Concluding the review with "This is heartfelt record that heralds a strong return from one of Christian music's finest."

Luchae Williams from Gateway News affirmed that "Lauren Daigle's sophomore offering proves that you don't need dramatics, in order to create a masterpiece. Daigle's voice is enchanting and one can't help but admire the excellence in which she bobs and weaves through each song with her smoky smooth tone."[20] Kevin Davis of New Release Today wrote "All of the songs are memorable and personal, and these moving recordings are poignant songs of reflection. Every song is emotionally captivating, and Lauren's powerful and gorgeous vocals keep me hanging on every word she sings. The standout songs each feature an engaging and emotive musical style while phrasing her prayer-filled lyrics in a creative and personal way, making it one of my top albums of the year."[21]

Year-end lists

365 Days of Inspiring MediaTop 30 Albums of the Entire Year (2018)

Accolades

Awards
YearOrganizationAwardResultRef.
2019Grammy AwardsBest Contemporary Christian Music Album[22]
Billboard Music AwardsTop Christian Album[23]
GMA Dove AwardsPop/Contemporary Album of the Year[24]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[25]

String Section

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018–19)! scope="col"
Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP)[26] 92
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[27] 61
UK Christian & Gospel Albums (OCC)[28] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Billboard 200[29] 113
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[30] 1
Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Position
US Billboard 200[31] 30
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[32] 1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[33] 2
Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Position
US Billboard 200[34] 93
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[35] 1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[36] 7
Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[37] 90
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[38] 3
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[39] 36
Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[40] 2
Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[41] 2

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010-2019)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[42] 15

Notes and References

  1. Lauren Daigle Talks Grammy Wins, Capturing Being 'Carefree & Wild' With 'Look Up Child': Watch. Billboard. February 11, 2019.
  2. Cardi B Leads 2019 Billboard Music Awards Nominations With 21. Warner. Denise. Billboard. March 4, 2019.
  3. Lauren Daigle and Kirk Franklin Achieve Milestones On Christian, Gospel Charts. Billboard.
  4. Lauren Daigle on New Album 'Look Up Child' & Single 'You Say': 'I Want This to Be a Record of Joy & Hope' - Billboard. Jim Asker. July 24, 2018. July 13, 2018. Billboard.
  5. Web site: Lauren Daigle: You Say - Music on Google Play. July 24, 2018. July 13, 2018. Google Play.
  6. Web site: Lauren Daigle - You Say - Daily Play MPE. July 24, 2018. July 9, 2018. Daily Play MPE.
  7. Web site: Lauren Daigle's 'You Say' Enters Top 5 On US iTunes Sales Chart. July 24, 2018. July 16, 2018. HeadlinePlanet.
  8. Web site: Lauren Daigle Scores First Billboard Hot 100 Entry as 'You Say' Debuts at 53. July 24, 2018. July 13, 2018. HeadlinePlanet.
  9. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20190108141602/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases. Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates. January 8, 2019. January 8, 2019. AllAccess Music Group.
  10. Web site: Lauren Daigle - Look Up Child (Album) - Daily Play MPE®. November 2, 2018. November 2, 2018. November 8, 2018.
  11. Web site: Lauren Daigle - Rescue - Daily Play MPE®. June 19, 2019. June 18, 2019. Daily Play MPE®.
  12. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20190612181544/https://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases. Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases - Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates - AllAccess. June 12, 2019. June 12, 2019. June 12, 2019. AllAccess Music Group.
  13. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20190805182307/https://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases. Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases - Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates - AllAccess. August 5, 2019. August 19, 2019. August 5, 2019. AllAccess Music Group.
  14. Web site: Lauren Daigle - Still Rolling Stones (Album) - Daily Play MPE®Daily Play MPE® . March 13, 2020 . Daily Play MPE® . Destiny Media Technologies Inc. . March 14, 2020.
  15. Web site: Lauren Daigle Reveals Additional Details on Forthcoming Album 'Look Up Child'. August 10, 2018. August 10, 2018. CentricityMusic.
  16. Paul McCartney Earns First No. 1 Album in Over 36 Years on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Egypt Station'. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. September 16, 2018. September 17, 2018.
  17. Web site: BuzzAngle Music 2018 US Music Industry Report . January 17, 2019 . January 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190114221228/http://www.buzzanglemusic.com/wp-content/uploads/BuzzAngle-Music-2018-US-Report-Industry.pdf . dead .
  18. Ariana Grande & Lil Nas X Lead Nielsen Music's Mid-Year 2019 Charts. Billboard.
  19. Web site: Lauren Daigle Is The Christian Adele . DeVille . Chris . September 20, 2018 . Stereogum . May 3, 2019.
  20. Web site: Lauren Daigle – Look Up Child: Review . Williams. Luchae. December 6, 2018. March 28, 2020.
  21. Web site: Look Up Child by Lauren Daigle. March 30, 2020. New Release Today..
  22. https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/61st-annual-grammy-awards Grammy.com, 7 December 2018
  23. 2019 Billboard Music Awards Winners: The Complete List. Billboard. May 4, 2019.
  24. Web site: 2019 Winners The 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards . October 16, 2019 . . October 24, 2019.
  25. Web site: Look Up Child / Lauren Daigle. Tidal. August 21, 2019. August 21, 2019.
  26. Web site: France Album Charts. SNEP. May 17, 2019. May 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190519220915/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-album-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=20. May 19, 2019. dead.
  27. Web site: Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100. . July 3, 2021.
  28. Web site: Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Top 20 Official Charts Company . October 12, 2018 . . November 4, 2018.
  29. Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018. Billboard. January 2, 2013. December 5, 2018.
  30. Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018. Billboard. January 2, 2013. February 9, 2019.
  31. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019. Billboard. December 6, 2019.
  32. Billboard Christian Albums – Year-End 2019. Billboard. January 2, 2013. December 9, 2019.
  33. Billboard Independent Albums – Year-End 2019. Billboard. December 9, 2019.
  34. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 4, 2020.
  35. Billboard Christian Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 4, 2020.
  36. Billboard Independent Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 4, 2020.
  37. Top Current Album Sales - Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 5, 2021.
  38. Billboard Christian Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 4, 2021.
  39. Billboard Independent Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 4, 2021.
  40. Billboard Christian Albums – Year-End 2022. Billboard. December 4, 2022.
  41. Billboard Christian Albums – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 26, 2023.
  42. Hot Christian Albums – Decade-End 2010s. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031225410/https://www.billboard.com/music/lauren-daigle/chart-history/3AU. dead. October 31, 2019. Billboard. October 31, 2019.