What a Friend explained

What a Friend
Type:single
Artist:Matt Maher
Album:Echoes
Released:[1]
Recorded:2017
Genre:
Length:[2]
Label:Essential
Producer:
  • Ed Kerr
  • Dan Galbraith
Prev Title:Your Love Defends Me
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Born on That Day
Next Year:2018

"What a Friend" is a song performed by Canadian contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist Matt Maher. The song was released as the second single from his 2017 album Echoes on September 15, 2017.[3] The song peaked at No. 10 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his seventh Top 10 single from that chart. It lasted 26 weeks on the overall chart.[4] The song is played in an E major key, and 110 beats per minute.[5]

Background

"What a Friend" was released on September 15, 2017, as the second single from his fifth studio album Echoes.[6] The song samples the Christian hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph M. Scriven, who wrote it in 1855 to comfort his mother in Iceland while he was living in Canada.[7] Maher shows God’s faithfulness even in the midst of personal sorrow and devastation. On the song, Maher sings about the joy of our friendship with the Saviour.[8] Aleteia described the song as "switching gears from quiet worship to bouncing folk-rock, with a country-pop hook, where the piece is infused with a jubilant energy, which is aided by a perfectly employed gospel-ish choir."[9]

Music video

A lyric video was released on February 23, 2018.[10] A live version of the song was released on June 15, 2018, featuring Christian music singer Jason Crabb.[11] [12]

Track listing

CD release[13]
  1. "What a Friend" – 3:17
  2. "What a Friend (Lead Sheet (Medium Key)" – 3:17
  3. "What a Friend (Vocal Demonstration)" – 3:4
  4. "What a Friend (High Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  5. "What a Friend (High Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  6. "What a Friend (Medium Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  7. "What a Friend (Medium Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  8. "What a Friend (Low Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  9. "What a Friend (Low Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
US Christian AC (Billboard)[14] 3
US Christian AC Indicator (Billboard)[15] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
US Weekend Top 20[16] 14
US Christian AC (Billboard)[17] 10
US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[18] 14
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[19] 29

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What A Friend - Matt Maher . September 15, 2017 . Genius. August 13, 2018.
  2. Web site: What A Friend on Spotify . September 15, 2017 . Spotify . August 15, 2018.
  3. Web site: What a Friend by Matt Maher on Apple Music . 29 September 2017 . Apple Music (iTunes) . U.S. . . 13 August 2018.
  4. Web site: What a Friend by Matt Maher. September 18, 2018. Tunebat. August 13, 2018.
  5. Web site: Key & BPM for What a Friend by Matt Maher. September 29, 2017. Tunebat. August 13, 2018.
  6. Web site: Matt Maher - What A Friend (Official Audio). September 15, 2017. YouTube. August 13, 2018.
  7. Web site: Matt Maher Releases New Album, 'Echoes'. September 29, 2017. HuffingtonPost. August 13, 2018.
  8. Web site: TRACEY EVISON: Matt Maher gives listeners a wonderful new album. November 24, 2017. TheGuardian. August 13, 2018.
  9. Web site: Clap along to Matt Maher's "What a Friend". September 29, 2017. Aleteia. August 13, 2018.
  10. Web site: Matt Maher - What a Friend (Official Lyric Video). February 23, 2018. YouTube. August 13, 2018.
  11. Web site: Matt Maher - What a Friend (feat. Jason Crabb). June 15, 2018. YouTube. August 13, 2018.
  12. Web site: Video: Matt Maher – What A Friend ft. Jason Crabb – Live from K-Love Fan Awards. June 28, 2018. JesusWired. August 13, 2018.
  13. Web site: What A Friend Matt Maher, Daywind . DayWind.com . 13 August 2018.
  14. Web site: Matt Maher - Christian AC History . Billboard . August 13, 2018.
  15. Christian AC Indicator . https://web.archive.org/web/20180814071501/https://www.billboard.com/music/matt-maher/chart-history/christian-ac-indicator. dead. August 14, 2018. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 13, 2018.
  16. Web site: Weekend Top 20 - Year-End 2018 - Podbean. 2 January 2019.
  17. Christian AC - Year-End 2018 - Billboard. . 4 December 2018.
  18. Christian Airplay - Year-End 2018 - Billboard. . 4 December 2018.
  19. Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2018 . Billboard. 4 December 2018.

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