Hello Love (2008)
- Joel Caballero
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Hello Love is the fifth studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Chris
Tomlin, released on September 2, 2008 by sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records.
The album was produced by Ed Cash.
Hello Love features a collection of praise and worship anthems designed for both personal reflection and congregational worship. The lead single "Jesus Messiah"
was released to both Christian radio and on digital formats on July 2008 to
precede to album. The song made history upon its release, capturing 97 radio station adds on its first day—marking the biggest add date in Christian radio
history at the time. "Jesus Messiah" is widely praised by theologians and worship leaders because it condenses heavy scriptural truths—such as Christ's humility,
substitutionary atonement, communion, and redemption—into an accessible,
singable melody. The song climbed to the Top 5 on both Billboard and Radio &
Records (R&R) Christian AC charts, and on R&R's Christian Inspo chart, it hit
number one where it stayed there for nine consecutive weeks. In 2009,
"Jesus Messiah" was nominated for Worship Song of the Year and in May 2020,
it was Gold certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Another highlight single is "I Will Rise." Released in early 2009 as the second
single, "I Will Rise" was written by Tomlin, Passion Conferences founder and
pastor Louie Giglio, Matt Maher and Jesse Reeves. The song was born out of a
lunch conversation between Tomlin and Giglio. Giglio expressed a deep desire
for a worship song specifically tailored for people walking through intense
seasons of struggle, loss, or looking over the grave of a loved one. Giglio brought the anchor phrase, "The grave is overwhelmed," to the table. Tomlin took that
powerful line and structured the rest of the song around it to provide Christians with an ultimate declaration of hope—reminding believers that physical death is not the final end. It was another Top 5 hit on the Billboard Christian music charts
and it also appeared on the Billboard Heatseekers Songs chart at number 50.
In 2013, it was Gold certified and then Platinum certified 10 years later. In 2010, "I
Will Rise" was nominated for two Dove Awards for Song of the Year and Worship
Song of the Year.
Hello Love debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart on
September 20, 2008 and one week later, it hit number one where it stayed for
three weeks. On the Billboard 200 Albums chart, it debuted and peaked at
number 9 with combined sales of 52,000 copies sold in its first week, besting
his first-week numbers of his previous release See the Morning. The album was
Gold certified by the RIAA in July 2010. In 2009, Tomlin earned his second
Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and
at the Dove Awards, Tomlin was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year
and Artist of the Year and Hello Love was nominated for Praise & Worship
Album of the Year.
In addition to the 12-track standard CD version, there was also an iTunes version
of Hello Love with a 13th track "My Beloved." The album was also available as a
Worship Leader Limited Edition on 2 CD's. The second CD contains sheet music,
chord charts and a special greeting from Tomlin himself.
Track listing with the bonus track
1. Sing, Sing, Sing (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Daniel Carson, Matt Gilder,
Travis Nunn) -3:50
2. Jesus Messiah (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash) -4:50
3. You Lifted Me Out (Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, Louie Giglio,
Matt Gilder) -4:14
4. God of This City (Aaron Boyd, Peter Comfort, Richard Bleakley, Peter
Kernaghan, Andrew McCann, Ian Jordan) -4:58
5. I Will Rise (Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher, Jesse Reeves, Louie Giglio) -5:02
6. Love (featuring The Watoto Children's Choir) (Chris Tomlin, Mike Finley, Cary
Pierce, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash) -5:00
7. Praise the Father, Praise the Son (Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash) -3:59
8. God Almighty (Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash) -6:39
9. My Deliverer (Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves) -5:36
10. With Me (Chris Tomlin, Cary Pierce, Andrew Osenga) -4:08
11. Exalted (Yahweh) (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves) -5:52
12. All the Way My Savior Leads Me (Fanny J. Crosby, Robert Lowry; additional
lyrics by Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman) -4:38
13. My Beloved (Chris Tomlin, J.D. Walt, Louie Giglio, Jesse Reeves) -4:11
RIAA certifications
Hello Love -Gold certified in 2010.
"Jesus Messiah" single -Gold certified in 2020.
"I Will Rise" single -Gold certified in 2013.
Platinum certified in 2023.
Radio singles
2008 "Jesus Messiah" -#3 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#3 Billboard Christian
Airplay, -#2 Billboard Christian AC Airplay, -#13 R&R Christian CHR, -#2 R&R
Christian AC, -#1 R&R Christian Inspo for 9 weeks
2009 "I Will Rise" -#4 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#4 Billboard Christian
Airplay, -#2 Billboard Christian AC Airplay, -#50 Billboard Heatseekers Songs
2009 -2010 "Sing, Sing, Sing" -#6 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#6 Billboard
Christian Airplay, -#7 Billboard Christian AC Airplay
Previous release: See the Morning (2006)
Next release: Glory In the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship (2009)
Watch the lyrics and chords video of "Sing, Sing, Sing" here:
Watch the lyrics and chords video of "Jesus Messiah" here:
Watch the lyrics and chords video of "God of This City" here:
Watch the lyric video of "I Will Rise" here:
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