My Church

"My Church"
Single by Maren Morris
from the album Hero
Released January 19, 2016 (2016-01-19)
Format Digital download
Genre Country pop
Length 3:17
Label Columbia Nashville
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • busbee
  • Maren Morris
Maren Morris singles chronology
"My Church"
(2016)		 "80s Mercedes"
(2016)

"My Church" is a song by American singer Maren Morris. It was released in January 2016 as her debut single. She co-wrote and co-produced the song with busbee.

Content

The church in the song is used figuratively to describe the sanctuary that she feels is her car when she plays music on the FM radio while driving.[1][2] The song refers to listening to country icons like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and is about "the simple joy that comes with turning up the volume, rolling down the windows and singing along to the radio at 65 miles an hour."[1] She compares the experience to a church revival, saying, "Yeah, I guess that's my church." She co-wrote and co-produced the single with busbee.[2]

Reception

Critical

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country rated the song as a "Critic's Pick", saying that "She’s a mix of Amy Winehouse, Little Big Town and pulp fiction. Beautiful images and ideas swirl around lo-fi instrumentation... A little sweetness seeps through during this soulful, blues-influenced jam."[3]

Rolling Stone named "My Church" one of the 30 best songs of the first half of 2016: "Some keep the Sabbath going to church. Breakout Nashville star Maren Morris keeps it blazing down the freeway listening to classic country radio – with Hank Williams delivering the sermon and Johnny Cash leading the choir. Honoring tradition, this joyous popwise stomper keeps it moving forward."[4]

Commercial

According to Columbia Nashville, the song set a record as the song played by the greatest number of radio stations ever for a debut single in its impact week, with 107 stations playing the song, beating the previous record of 99.[5] It entered the Country Airplay chart at number 59.[6] It first entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 38 for the week of January 30, 2016,[7] selling 6,000 copies that week.[8] It entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart two weeks later[9] and reached number one on the Country Digital Songs chart in another four weeks.[10] The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on April 29, 2016.[11] It has sold 820,000 copies in the United States as of November 2016.[12]

Accolades

Year Association Category Result
2016 CMA Awards[13] Best New Artist Won
2016 CMA Awards Single of the Year Pending

Music video

The music video debuted in January 2016. It features Morris driving an early 1970s Mercedes Sedan, and picking up various passengers along the way. The guy on the motorcycle is played by actor Oryan West.[14]

Chart performance

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 64
Canada Country (Billboard)[16] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 50
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[18] 9
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[19] 5

References

  1. 1 2 Leahey, Andrew (January 25, 2016). "Watch Maren Morris Praise FM Radio in 'My Church' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 Roland, Tom (February 2, 2016). "Maren Morris Mixes Cash, Christ and Marconi In 'My Church'". Billboard. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Dukes, Billy (November 21, 2015). "ToC Critic's Pick: Maren Morris, 'My Church' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  4. ↑ Christopher R. Weingarten (June 22, 2016). "30 Best Songs of 2016 So Far". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ Brian Cantor (January 20, 2016). "Maren Morris' Debut Single "My Church" Sets Records at Country Radio". Headline Planet.
  6. ↑ "Country Airplay: January 30, 2016". Billboard. (subscription required (help)).
  7. ↑ "Hot Country Songs: January 30, 2016". Billboard. (subscription required (help)).
  8. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (January 19, 2016). "The Top 30 Digital Singles: January 19, 2016". Roughstock.
  9. ↑ "The Hot 100: February 13, 2016". Billboard.
  10. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (February 29, 2016). "The Top 30 Digital Singles: February 29, 2016". Roughstock.
  11. ↑ "American single certifications – Maren Morris – My Church". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  12. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (November 26, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Singles Chart: November 28, 2016". Roughstock.
  13. ↑ Watts, Cindy (August 31, 2016). "Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris leaders in 2016 CMA Awards nominations". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  14. ↑ McClellan, Laura (January 26, 2016). "Maren Morris Finds Her Own Religion in 'My Church' Video". Taste of Country. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  15. ↑ "Maren Morris – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Maren Morris.
  16. ↑ "Maren Morris – Chart history" Billboard Canada Country for Maren Morris.
  17. ↑ "Maren Morris – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Maren Morris.
  18. ↑ "Maren Morris – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Maren Morris.
  19. ↑ "Maren Morris – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Maren Morris.
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