"God Gave Me You"
Single by Dave Barnes
from the album What We Want, What We Get
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2010
GenreCCM
Length3:48
LabelRazor & Tie
Songwriter(s)Dave Barnes
Producer(s)
  • Dave Barnes
  • Ed Cash
Dave Barnes singles chronology
"Loving You, Loving Me"
(2009) 		"God Gave Me You"
(2010) 		"Little Lies"
(2010)

"God Gave Me You" is a song written and originally recorded by American contemporary Christian music singer Dave Barnes. It was released in January 2010 as the lead single from the album, What We Want, What We Get.[1]

History

Barnes wrote the song after the title came to him while he was walking through London, England. He told Country Weekly that "the lyrics just flowed together with the melody" when he wrote it. Barnes also said that he was inspired by his wife, Annie, who supported him "through all the ups and downs of an artist's career." After releasing it, he said that he received mail from fans who said that the song's message "saved marriages or became a theme for a couple's relationship."[2]

Music video

Barnes' version features a music video directed by Joey Boukadakis.[3]

Chart positions

Chart (2010) Peak
position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[4] 21
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[5] 13

Blake Shelton version

"God Gave Me You"
Single by Blake Shelton
from the album Red River Blue
ReleasedJuly 25, 2011
Recorded2011
GenreCountry, CCM
Length3:49
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)Dave Barnes
Producer(s)Scott Hendricks
Blake Shelton singles chronology
"Honey Bee"
(2011) 		"God Gave Me You"
(2011) 		"Drink on It"
(2012)

In 2011, American country music singer Blake Shelton recorded the song on his 2011 album Red River Blue. His rendition was released in July 2011 as the album's second single. Shelton heard Barnes' version of the song on a contemporary Christian station, and said that it had inspired him to propose to then-girlfriend Miranda Lambert (now ex-wife); the music video included footage from Lambert the night before their wedding.[2][6] On November 30, the song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

Critical reception

Jessica Phillips of Country Weekly called the song "the romantic zenith of the album".[7] Rolling Stone reviewer Will Hermes said that it was a "spirited cover" that "makes the most of its big, sculpted hooks".[8] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine was less favorable, saying in his review of the album, "His weakness for overwrought, schmaltzy pop ballads rears its head on second single 'God Gave Me You,' which sounds like something Bryan Adams or Foreigner would have recorded 20 years ago."[9] Similarly, Melissa Mairz of Entertainment Weekly thought that it was a "schmaltzy power ballad".[10] Engine 145 writer Karlie Justus gave it a thumbs-down, with her review saying that Shelton's "honest, vibrant vocal performance is nearly canceled out by a tinny instrumental mix of anonymous background vocals and a looping drum beat".[11]

Music video

The music video was directed by Trey Fanjoy and premiered in September 2011. It features Blake and his band performing the song in a dark tunnel, with a video screen playing in the background. It also shows 3 different scenarios that end in happiness and joy: a waitress returning home to her daughter after a tough and rainy work day, a student (portrayed by Stirling Everly, the grandson of Don Everly of The Everly Brothers) on his first day of high school meeting a female classmate in class for the first time, and an EMT saving a man’s life after an accident.

Before the song begins and at the end of the video, footage of Blake’s then-fiance Miranda Lambert is shown, and she goes on to say how proud she is to be his wife and best friend. Blake said at the time, “That footage made the video. If that footage wasn’t there, there would be no video.”

Due to Blake & Miranda’s divorce in 2015, CMT took the video out of rotation (which it also did with his “Doin’ What She Likes” video, which features a phone conversation between Blake & Miranda), and GAC starts the video when the song starts, and ends it right before Miranda’s final words to Blake.

Chart performance

"God Gave Me You" debuted at number 56 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of July 23, 2011, and it debuted at number 65 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of July 11, 2011. On the chart dated October 29, 2011, "God Gave Me You" became Shelton's fifth consecutive Number One single and his tenth overall. It has sold 2,514,000 copies in the United States as of November 2014.[12]

Weekly charts

Chart (2011–2012) Peak
position
Canada Country (Billboard)[13] 1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 38
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 22
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[17] 29

Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[18] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 94
Chart (2012) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[20] 92

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010–2019) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[21] 19

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] 5× Platinum 2,514,000[12]

Other cover versions

References

  1. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "What We Want, What We Get". Allmusic. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b Dunham, Nancy (31 October 2011). "Behind the Song: London Calling". Country Weekly. 18 (45): 16–17. ISSN 1074-3235.
  3. ^ "Fresh New Music: May 2010". VH1.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  4. ^ "Dave Barnes Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Dave Barnes Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Christian Songs for Dave Barnes. Prometheus Global Media.
  6. ^ Stromblad, Cory. "Blake Shelton's 'Red River Blue' Leads New Album Releases". The Boot. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  7. ^ Phillips, Jessica. "Red River Blue by Blake Shelton". Country Weekly. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  8. ^ "Red River Blue review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  9. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (July 11, 2011), "Blake Shelton: Red River Blue", Slant Magazine, retrieved July 12, 2011
  10. ^ "Red River Blue review". Entertainment Weekly. July 14, 2011. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  11. ^ Justus, Karlie (8 August 2011). "Blake Shelton — "God Gave Me You"". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  12. ^ a b Matt Bjorke (December 10, 2014). "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: December 3, 2014". Roughstock. Sales figures given here
  13. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  15. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  16. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  17. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  18. ^ "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  19. ^ "Best of 2011: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
  20. ^ "Best of 2012: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  21. ^ "Decade-End Charts: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  22. ^ "American single certifications – Blake Shelton – God Gave Me You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  23. ^ "God Gave Me You: Country Love Songs - Album by Caleb and Kelsey". Spotify. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  24. ^ "Caleb and Kelsey Lyrics, Songs, and Albums". Genius. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  25. ^ "God Gave Me You - Johnny Suite". Spotify. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  26. ^ "God Gave Me You - Single by Mauricio Rivera". Spotify. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
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