Spoken For (2002)

Spoken For is the second studio album by the Christian rock band MercyMe, released on October 1, 2002 by INO Records and originally distributed by Word Records and Word Music Group. The album was produced by Pete Kipley.

MercyMe and producer -musician Pete Kipley team up once again to create Spoken For, their follow-up to their 2001 debut release Almost There with the album's song "I Can Only Imagine" still getting Christian radio airplay and making its way to mainstream and country radio. Spoken For musically represents a shift in the band's musical style, with critics variously identifying it as roots rock, pop rock, or adult contemporary. Lyrically, the album focuses on worship and the concept of Christians as being "spoken for" by God. The album was recorded in six studios in the United States including three in Texas, where the group currently resides.

Three singles were released in support of Spoken For; the title track, which peaked at number one on the Radio & Records Christian AC and INSPO charts, "Word of God Speak," which spent a record 23 weeks at the top of the Billboard Christian Songs chart and "The Change Inside of Me," which peaked at number eight on the Radio & Records Christian CHR chart. "Word of God Speak" was another surprise radio hit which used very minimal instruments with just lead singer Bart Millard's vocals, MercyMe keyboardist Jim Bryson and strings and the song lasting over three minutes. Lyrically, the song reflects on the idea that it is impossible to speak of an infinite God with a limited vocabulary. In addition to being named the number one song of 2003, it was the number song of the 2000s by Billboard magazine. "Word of God Speak" was released as a CD single, coupled with their Almost There smash "I Can Only Imagine" in 2003.

Spoken For debuted and peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Christian Albums and at number 41 on the Billboard 200 Albums charts. Although not as big a seller as Almost There, Spoken For, nevertheless, was Gold certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) a year later in 2003, giving MercyMe back-to-back gold records. At the 34th GMA Dove Awards in 2003, MercyMe was nominated for four Dove Awards including Song of the Year for the title song and Group of the Year. They would win a year later in 2004 at the 35th GMA Dove Awards where they won Group of the Year and Artist of the Year. The track "Word of God Speak" won Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, with the former awarded to Millard and Kipley. It was MercyMe's second Song of the Year title to win after "I Can Only Imagine" two years prior.

Track listing

All songs written by MercyMe and Pete Kipley, except where noted.

1. The Change Inside of Me -3:25

2. All the Above (MercyMe, Mark Stuart, Pete Kipley) -3:24

3. Spoken For -4:10

4. There's a Reason -4:12

5. Come One, Come All -3:51

6. Crazy (Bart Millard, Robby Hurd, Chad Sipes, Pete Kipley) -4:37

7. Word of God Speak (Bart Millard, Pete Kipley) -3:08

8. Your Glory Goes On -2:40

9. Love of God (Frederick M. Lehman; arranged by MercyMe and Pete Kipley)

-3:33

10. Go -3:28

11. All Because of This -1:38

Personnel

MercyMe:

Bart Millard -lead vocals, backing vocals, arrangements on track 9

Jim Bryson -keyboards

Mike Scheuchzer -guitars

Nathan Cochran -bass guitar

Robby Shaffer -drums

additional musicians:

Travis Cottrell -backing vocals

Will Owsley -backing vocals

Pete Kipley -string arrangements

Roy G. Biv String Vibe -strings

RIAA certifications

Gold certified in 2003.

Accolades

Dove Award -Group of the Year

Artist of the Year

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Word of God

Speak")

Song of the Year ("Word of God Speak" written by Bart Millard

and Pete Kipley)

Radio singles

2002 -2003 "Spoken For" -#6 R&R Christian CHR, -#1 R&R Christian AC for 7 weeks,

-#1 R&R Christian Inspo for 6 weeks

2003 "Word of God Speak" -#1 Billboard Hot Christian Songs for 23 weeks, -#1

Billboard Christian Airplay for 23 weeks, -#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for 21

weeks, -#25 R&R Christian CHR, -#1 R&R Christian AC for 10 weeks, -#1 R&R

Christian Inspo for 9 weeks

2003 "The Change Inside of Me" -#8 R&R Christian CHR

Previous release: Almost There (2001) 

Next release: Undone (2004)

Watch the audio album of Spoken For, including an official trivia video for "Spoken For" on the playlist.

Watch the official trivia video of "Word of God Speak" here: