Lion (Elevation Worship album)
Lion (stylized in all-caps) is the tenth live album by American contemporary worship band Elevation Worship. It was released on March 4, 2022,[1] via Elevation Worship Records and Provident Label Group. The featured worship leaders on the album are Chris Brown, Jonsal Barrientes, Brandon Lake, Pat Barrett, Tiffany Hudson, Joe L. Barnes, and Chandler Moore.[2]
Lion
Lion was supported by the release of "Might Get Loud" and "Same God" as singles. "Might Get Loud" peaked at No. 20 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. "Same God" peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. "What I See" and "This Is the Kingdom" were released as promotional singles from the album. "What I See" peaked at No. 28 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. "This Is the Kingdom" peaked at No. 27 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. The album is also being promoted with the Elevation Nights 2022 Arena Tour and the Elevation Worship Summer Tour, spanning cities across the United States.
Lion became a commercially successful album upon its release, debuting at No. 2 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart in the United States, and at No. 3 on the Official Charts' Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom. Lion received two GMA Dove Award nominations for Worship Album of the Year and Recorded Music Packaging of the Year at the 2022 GMA Dove Awards.[3] The album received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards.[4]
Artwork[edit]
Chris Brown of Elevation Worship shared that the decision process behind choosing the album cover was explorative, saying that as the album took shape and with inspiration from the title track, Steven Furtick suggested taking an unexpected direction the album cover, opting to put a lamb on the cover depicting "the encompassing and paradoxical nature of who God is."[10] Brown expounded on the paradoxical nature of God, saying "So much of God’s kingdom embodies paradox. Jesus himself does: He was servant and master. He was sovereign and he submitted to authority. He’s the beginning and the end. He’s the Lion and the Lamb."[10]
Release and promotion[edit]
Singles[edit]
Elevation Worship released "Might Get Loud" featuring Chris Brown, Brandon Lake, and Tiffany Hudson, on August 20, 2021, as the lead single from the album, accompanied with its music video.[11] The song peaked at No. 20 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[12]
The radio version of "Same God" was released on June 17, 2022, making it the second single from the album.[13] The song peaked at No. 1 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated January 21, 2023, on the back of significant gains in radio airplay and streaming.[14]
Promotional singles[edit]
On January 21, 2022, Elevation Worship launched the digital pre-order of the album, releasing "Same God" featuring Jonsal Barrientes as the first promotional single from the album, accompanied with its music video.[15]
On February 4, 2022, Elevation Worship released "What I See" featuring Chris Brown as the second promotional single from the album, accompanied with its music video.[16] "What I See" peaked at No. 28 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[12]
On February 18, 2022, Elevation Worship released "This Is the Kingdom" featuring Pat Barrett as the third and final promotional single from the album.[17] "This Is the Kingdom" peaked at No. 27 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[12]
Touring[edit]
On February 2, 2022, Premier Productions announced that Elevation Worship and Steven Furtick will be embarking on the Elevation Nights 2022 Arena Tour, performing in eight cities in the spring of 2022.[18] The tour commenced at the Now Arena in Chicago, Illinois,[19] on April 26, 2022, and concluded at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts,[20] on May 5, 2022.[21]
On June 2, 2022, Premier Productions announced that Elevation Worship will be embarking on the Elevation Worship Summer Tour 2022.[22] The group will be joined by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes on tour.[23] The tour will span 13 dates across arenas in the United States, commencing at the Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas, on August 5, 2022,[24] and concludes at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City on August 21, 2022.[25]
Commercial performance[edit]
In the United States, Lion debuted at No. 2 on the Top Christian Albums chart in the United States dated March 19, 2022.[32] The album concurrently registered on the mainstream Billboard 200 chart at No. 80.[33] In the United Kingdom, Lion debuted on the OCC's Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart at No. 3.[34] The album also charted on the Swiss Hitparade at No. 83.[35]