| Wonder | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Hillsong United |
| Border: | yes |
| Recorded: | 2016–2017 |
| Genre: | |
| Chronology: | Hillsong United studio album |
| Prev Title: | Empires |
| Prev Year: | 2015 |
| Next Title: | Are We There Yet? |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
Wonder is the fifth studio album from Australian contemporary worship music band Hillsong United, a worship band from Hillsong Church. The album was released on 9 June 2017, under Hillsong Music, Sparrow Records and Capitol Christian Music Group. "Wonder" was released as the lead single for the album in May 2017, while "So Will I (100 Billion X)" and "Not Today" were released in 2018.
The band had several recording sessions for Wonder at The Record Plant in Los Angeles.[1] Lead vocalist Joel Houston felt that the album's title and themes reflected returning wonder to both faith and worship, saying, "This is the challenge, and this is what worship— if worship can be summed up as an expression of art and music and story— is ultimately designed to do. To elevate the conversation, re-awaken the soul to something other, and lift our eyes to the wonder of a superlative truth."[2] "Splinters and Stones" was described as having "striking vocal modification and pulsing bass samplings" while containing personal lyrics.
Wonder was announced as a surprise album in May 2017, alongside its cover art, release date and track listing. Hillsong United also toured Israel to promote Empires, where they debuted "Wonder" alongside several new songs.[3] "Wonder" and "Splinters and Stones" were released as instant-grat singles for those who pre-ordered the album, and the two songs were also available for streaming. "Wonder" was released to radio airplay as the album's first single on the same day.[4] The official lyric video for "Wonder" was released on 18 May,[5] while the lyric video for "Splinters and Stones" was uploaded two days later.[6] Hillsong United also performed an acoustic version of "Wonder" for music website Worship Together.[7] "Shadow Step" was released as the album's third promotional single on 26 May 2017, with its lyric video released on the same day.[8] "Shape of Your Heart" was released as the album's fourth promotional single on 2 June.[9]
"Wonder" was debuted live during the band's concert in Caeserea, Israel, which was filmed in a live video and released on 24 May 2017.[10]
Hillsong United promoted the album during the 2017 Justice Conference on 9 June,[11] and had "launch nights" for the album at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on 18 June 2017,[12] and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on 23 June.[13] The band was also announced as part of the line-up of the 2017 Outcry Festival at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.[14]
On 5 January 2018, "So Will I (100 Billion X)" was released as the album's second single.[15] [16] [17]
In 2018, it was announced that "So Will I (100 Billion X)" song won a GMA Dove Award in the category of Worship Recorded Song of the Year.[18] The song also nominated Song of the Year.[19] Wonder album was nominated Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year,[19] while Hillsong United band was nominated Artist of the Year.[19]
| Chart (2017) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] | 72 | |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[22] | 22 | |
| Chart (2018) | Position | |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[23] | 8 | |
| Chart (2019) | Position | |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[24] | 21 | |
| Chart (2020) | Position | |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[25] | 33 | |
| Chart (2021) | Position | |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[26] | 74 |