Word Label Group/Curb Records
Release Date: June 16th 2023
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
For KING & COUNTRY – What Are We Waiting For? (The Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- What Are We Waiting For?
For KING & COUNTRY have always been a band that are a joy to listen to, and no matter the preference of musical genre, I’m sure, that anyone who hears this infectiously hopeful and poignant duo, are sure to be blessed and encouraged. Relatively new compared to a lot of the CCM pioneers that have shaped what Christian music is today, we have covered the band a lot here on 365DaysOfInsipringMedia.com, and so whatever I wrote about the band in previous posts, I won’t rehash now. What I will say is that both Joel and Luke have created a duo that have challenged us listeners to stretch the bow a little bit in terms of the classification of music that is deemed ‘Christian’, and really remind us, that God can speak to us through a variety of different means, not just solely through ‘Christian’ influences. They have crafted their career in such a way that allows the songs they’ve carefully created, to sit with listeners in a reflective way, delving deep within our psyches and challenging the very nature of what we were to believe is true, about ourselves, God, love, life and the rest of it. Joel and Luke have created something special in for KING & COUNTRY, and this is a band that has made waves continually in the CCM realm, and now into the mainstream market as well (with the injection of their song ‘relate’and their previously poignant and powerful songs ‘Together’, ‘God Only Knows’ and ‘Burn the Ships’). The band have been a household name for quite some time, ever since their chart-topping song ‘Busted Heart’ hit the radio waves all those years ago, having taken the media, listeners and the whole general CCM industry by storm since their arrival to Word Label Group back in 2011. Relocating to Nashville in the early 1990s, the band have continually focused on powerful instrumentation and anthemic moments of revelation, realisation, and heart, as these songs delivered by this duo, allows us all to declare and proclaim, especially during current seasons that are difficult and trying. Their 2022 album What Are We Waiting For? was career-defining for them- because of that album, they were able to gain exposure on The Kelly Clarkson Show, not to mention that album in particular winning Best Pop/Contemporary album at the 2023 Dove Awards. I even reviewed the album here. Now a year and a bit along from that album release, we see another musical offering of sorts- ‘What Are We Waiting For?’ the single, the unreleased track that was ‘supposedly’ the title track off their 2022 album.
Originally slated to have Jimmie Allen and CeCe Winans be in the recording of the song, alongside the two brothers, the song itself released with just the brothers…maybe this was the case, of all of the ongoing Jimmie Allen sex allegations? Who knows, but whatever the case, the song by for KING & COUNTRY is still powerful. It’s a reminder for us to be sober minded about what and who we are living for, and to always be in check at various moments throughout our lives as to who we’re praying to, what we’re saving for, and what we are investing our time and money in. As the band relay in a recent press release, the song itself challenges listeners to become the change that they themselves want to see in the world- that we as a human race ought to look in the mirror and fix the things about ourselves so that we as carriers of God’s light, can showcase His grace and mercy to the world, in one that unfortunately doesn’t have a lot of optimism and unity at the moment- ‘…so often we deal in statements in life — we make statements about ourselves, about God, about others. And yet if you look at Jesus’ life, He so often dealt in questions. We have found it very relieving and exciting to start writing from that place, and ‘What Are We Waiting For?’ stands as just that. We’re proud to ask these questions alongside you, and we hope that you find your answers as we’ve found ours…’ This is a song that hopefully encourages us all to make a step towards loving our neighbour like we ought to love ourselves and those around us who ascribe to the same ____ as we do. Well done Joel and Luke for this song full of purpose and hopeful action. Here’s hoping and praying that somehow, the recorded version of the song with both Jimmie and CeCe will see the light of day, sometime in the future?
Score: 5/5
RIYL: TobyMac, Matthew West, Newsboys, Tenth Avenue North