Burning Lights (2013)

Burning Lights is the seventh studio album by Christian singer - songwriter

Chris Tomlin, released on January 8, 2013 by sixstepsrecords/Sparrow

Records.

After the release of his 2010 album And If Our God Is For Us... and subsequent

tour, Tomlin took a year off in 2012 to record his next project Burning Lights.

The album was produced by Jason Ingram with Dan Muckala co-producing on

a couple of tracks and Ed Cash producing three songs. Tomlin continues

to write songs that connect people to the heart of Jesus and lead them to a

greater worship of Him.

Only two singles were released to promote Burning Lights: "Whom Shall I Fear

(God of Angel Armies)" and "God's Great Dance Floor." The former was released

back in November 2012 and serves as a signature song and is now sung in

churches worldwide. Written by Tomlin, producer Cash and his brother Scott

Cash, "Whom Shall I Fear" is heavily rooted from scripture, particularly Psalm 27:1

("The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?"). The song focuses

on God's ultimate protection. It serves as a reminder that no matter what darkness, enemies, or challenges a person faces, the "God of Angel Armies" is

always standing by their side. "Whom Shall I Fear" was an immediate hit on

Christian radio and topped the Billboard Christian music charts across the

board, also peaking at No. 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and at No. 15 on

the Heatseekers Songs charts. The song stayed on the charts for well over a

year.

The latter single, "God's Great Dance Floor," was another Top 10 hit on the

Billboard Christian music charts. The track was written by Tomlin, former

Delirious? lead singer Martin Smith and Nick Herbert. Unlike the typical slow-

building worship ballads, "God's Great Dance Floor" was heavily influenced by

Electronic Dance Music (EDM). The lyrics tell the story of someone running

far away, breaking down, and returning to a welcoming father who responds

not with anger, but by throwing a massive celebratory party. The "dance floor" represents the immense freedom, life, and joy found in experiencing total

forgiveness. Inspired by the biblical parable of The Prodigal Son.

The album also features Christian hip hop artist Lacrae ("Awake My Soul"),

Kari Jobe ("Crown Him (Majesty)"), Christy Nockels ("Jesus, Son of God")

and Phil Wickham ("Thank You God For Saving Me") as guest artists.

Burning Lights not only topped the Billboard Top Christian Albums, it topped

the Billboard 200. It is the third CCM album to top the latter chart, following

Bob Carlisle's 1997 release Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) and TobyMac's

2012 album Eye On It. Burning Lights sold 73,000 copies in its first week.

It fell to No. 22 a week later, making it the 7th album to drop from No. 1 on

the Billboard 200 as of January 2017. In October 2013, Tomlin won a Dove

Award for Praise & Worship Album of the Year at the 44th GMA Dove Awards,

in addition to nominations for Song of the Year, Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. In 2014, Tomlin was nominated

in two Grammy categories: Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for

"Whom Shall I Fear" and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded Tomlin with a

Gold record in 2016 and his single "Whom Shall I Fear" with a Gold certification

in 2014 and then a Platinum certification in 2019.

Track listing

1. Burning Lights (Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Jason Ingram)

-1:04

2. Awake My Soul (featuring Lacrae) (Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Jesse

Reeves, Jason Ingram) -3:55

3. Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) (Chris Tomlin, Scott Cash, Ed Cash)

-4:28

4. Lay Me Down (Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, Jason Ingram)

-4:45

5. God's Great Dance Floor (Chris Tomlin, Martin Smith, Nick Herbert) -3:39

6. White Flag (Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Jason Ingram) -4:34

7. Crown Him (Majesty) (featuring Kari Jobe) (based on the hymn "Crown

Him With Many Crowns" by Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring; additional

chorus by Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher and Ed Cash) -5:13

8. Jesus, Son of God (featuring Christy Nockels) (Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher,

Jason Ingram) -4:28

9. Sovereign (Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, Martin Chalk, Jason

Ingram) -4:36

10. Countless Wonders (Chris Tomlin, Matt Armstrong, Ed Cash) -3:22

11. Thank You God For Saving Me (featuring Phil Wickham) (Chris Tomlin,

Phil Wickham) -4:26

12. Shepherd Boy (Chris Tomlin, Martin Smith) -4:34

Production credits

Jason Ingram -producer (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 -12)

Ed Cash -producer (tracks 3, 4 and 7)

Dan Muckala -co-producer (tracks 2 and 8)

RIAA certifications

Burning Lights -Gold certified in 2016.

"Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)" single

Gold certified in 2014.

Platinum certified in 2019.

Radio singles

2012 -2013 "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)" -#1 Billboard Hot Christian

Songs for 15 weeks, -#1 Billboard Christian Airplay for 15 weeks, -#1 Billboard

Christian AC Airplay for 14 weeks, -#15 Billboard Heatseekers Songs, -#11

Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100

2013 "God's Great Dance Floor" -#9 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#9 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#9 Billboard Christian AC Airplay

Previous release: How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection (2011)

(compilation album)

Next release: Love Ran Red (2014)

You can listen to the album on YouTube Music containing audio and lyric videos: