Between You and Me
Encyclopedia
"Between You And Me" is a song by the American contemporary Christian music
group DC Talk. Released in 1996, it was the second radio and commercial single
released from the group's fourth album, Jesus Freak.
After the unexpected success of the grunge rock single "Jesus Freak
," "Between You and Me" helped to bring DC Talk to a new level of success and solidify them as mainstream artists.
"Between You and Me" was a commercial success. The song later earned DC Talk a GMA Dove Award. "Between You and Me" is, to this day, the only DC Talk single to have charted on the Billboard Hot 100
.
. DC Talk member Toby McKeehan
, co-writer of the song, said that the lyrics simply describe the way relationships work.
In contrast to many of the DC Talk's other singles, the Christian
message of "Between You and Me" - the importance of forgiveness and confession - is heavily implied, although isn't blatantly stated in terms of any specific religion. The only mention of God is featured during the breakdown of the song, which is absent in the radio edit.
of G major
. The song then moves into the key of E major
during the verses, before reverting back to G major during the choruses. During the verses, Michael Tait
, Kevin Max
, and Toby McKeehan
take turns singing lead. The second chorus is followed by a melodic breakdown featuring minimalistic guitar and whispered vocals. The song then repeats the line "It's my way to freedom" and "I've got something to say" until the end.
for Jesus Freak in 1996 and, compared to the glowing reception of "Jesus Freak," was largely critically ignored by Christian radio. Due to its wide appeal, however, the song was extensively played on many non-Christian stations, leading the single to become a major hit.
The song's surprising rise on the Billboard's charts was a result of the partnership with Virgin Records
. Phil Quartararo, then-CEO of Virgin Records said that, "["Between You and Me"] was identified early in the game as a very radio-friendly cut."
In addition to "Jesus Freak" and "Colored People
," "Between You and Me" was considered instrumental in breaking DC Talk into the mainstream. Commercially, the song was a smash hit. The song remains DC Talk's highest-charting single on mainstream radio, peaking at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100
single chart.
"Between You and Me" was successful when it came to the GMA Dove Awards. In 1997, the song won an award for the best Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.
Many fans have speculated that the box represents sins, and the man running placed the box in the trash can for the world to see, metaphorically confessing his sins to the public, and making amends.
The video for "Between You and Me" received regular airtime on MTV
and VH1
.
. Interestingly, a live version of "Between You and Me" is not included on the 1997 live release Welcome to the Freak Show
. This is due to the fact that "Between You and Me" was not played until the last dates of the tour, after which the recording had already taken place. "Between You and Me" also appears on the compilation album
WOW 1997
.
and the team-up of Paul Wright and Ayiesha Woods
for the tribute album Freaked!
.
UK Commercial Single
European Commercial Single
Production
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
group DC Talk. Released in 1996, it was the second radio and commercial single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
released from the group's fourth album, Jesus Freak.
After the unexpected success of the grunge rock single "Jesus Freak
Jesus Freak (song)
"Jesus Freak" is a song by the American contemporary Christian music group DC Talk. Released on August 1, 1995, it was the lead radio single from the group's self-titled fourth album. The song was written and produced by Toby McKeehan and Mark Heimermann...
," "Between You and Me" helped to bring DC Talk to a new level of success and solidify them as mainstream artists.
"Between You and Me" was a commercial success. The song later earned DC Talk a GMA Dove Award. "Between You and Me" is, to this day, the only DC Talk single to have charted on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Lyrics and meaning
Lyrically, “Between You and Me” stresses the importance of seeking forgiveness from a friend. In addition, the bridge of the song addresses the need for confessing one's sins to GodGod
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. DC Talk member Toby McKeehan
Toby McKeehan
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, co-writer of the song, said that the lyrics simply describe the way relationships work.
In contrast to many of the DC Talk's other singles, the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
message of "Between You and Me" - the importance of forgiveness and confession - is heavily implied, although isn't blatantly stated in terms of any specific religion. The only mention of God is featured during the breakdown of the song, which is absent in the radio edit.
Composition
"Between You And Me" is built around acoustic strumming and synthesized drums, courtesy of Scott Williamson. "Between You And Me" features a chorus that is in a different key than its verses. The song begins with acoustic strumming in the keyKey (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of G major
G major
G major is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp, F; in treble-clef key signatures, the sharp-symbol for F is usually placed on the first line from the top, though in some Baroque music it is placed on the first space from the bottom...
. The song then moves into the key of E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
during the verses, before reverting back to G major during the choruses. During the verses, Michael Tait
Michael Tait
Michael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
, Kevin Max
Kevin Max
Kevin Max Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk...
, and Toby McKeehan
Toby McKeehan
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
take turns singing lead. The second chorus is followed by a melodic breakdown featuring minimalistic guitar and whispered vocals. The song then repeats the line "It's my way to freedom" and "I've got something to say" until the end.
Release and acclaim
The song was released as a the second singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
for Jesus Freak in 1996 and, compared to the glowing reception of "Jesus Freak," was largely critically ignored by Christian radio. Due to its wide appeal, however, the song was extensively played on many non-Christian stations, leading the single to become a major hit.
The song's surprising rise on the Billboard's charts was a result of the partnership with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. Phil Quartararo, then-CEO of Virgin Records said that, "["Between You and Me"] was identified early in the game as a very radio-friendly cut."
In addition to "Jesus Freak" and "Colored People
Colored People (song)
"Colored People" is a song written and recorded by Christian rock band DC Talk. The song was one of several radio singles released from the their 1995 studio album, Jesus Freak.-Music and lyrics:...
," "Between You and Me" was considered instrumental in breaking DC Talk into the mainstream. Commercially, the song was a smash hit. The song remains DC Talk's highest-charting single on mainstream radio, peaking at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
single chart.
"Between You and Me" was successful when it came to the GMA Dove Awards. In 1997, the song won an award for the best Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.
Music video
The music video for the song features Michael Tait, Kevin Max, and Toby McKeehan performing the song in a laundromat. Interspersed is footage of a man carrying a package and running from two men. Near the end, he runs into the laundromat where DC Talk are singing and deposits the box in a trash can before leaving. Tait, Max, and McKeehan then reach into the trash can to investigate the contents of the box. Just as the box is opened, the video ends.Many fans have speculated that the box represents sins, and the man running placed the box in the trash can for the world to see, metaphorically confessing his sins to the public, and making amends.
The video for "Between You and Me" received regular airtime on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
Other releases
Various version of "Between You and Me" have appeared on several DC Talk official releases, including the band's greatest hits album IntermissionIntermission: the Greatest Hits
Intermission: the Greatest Hits is the seventh album released by DC Talk. It is compiled of songs from some of their earlier albums, including their best known album, Jesus Freak. The songs "Chance" and "Sugar Coat It", along with a remix of "Say The Words", are songs that were recorded...
. Interestingly, a live version of "Between You and Me" is not included on the 1997 live release Welcome to the Freak Show
Welcome to the Freak Show
Welcome to the Freak Show is the name of a live audio and video recording by DC Talk. Chronicling the Jesus Freak Tour in the spring of 1996, they were released separately two months apart in 1997 on CD and VHS, respectively. A DVD version was later released in 2003. Each version has been...
. This is due to the fact that "Between You and Me" was not played until the last dates of the tour, after which the recording had already taken place. "Between You and Me" also appears on the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
WOW 1997
WOW 1997
WOW 1997 is a compilation album of 30 Contemporary Christian music hits that was released on October 29, 1996. It charted at #1 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian chart in 1996, and at #2 in 1997. The album reached number 71 in 1996 on the Billboard 200 chart...
.
Cover versions
The song was covered by both Relient KRelient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
and the team-up of Paul Wright and Ayiesha Woods
Ayiesha Woods
Ayiesha Woods is a contemporary Christian musician signed to Gotee Records. She has released two studio albums on Gotee: Introducing Ayiesha Woods and Love Like This . Woods is known for the hit songs "Happy" and "Big Enough" from her debut album...
for the tribute album Freaked!
Freaked!
Freaked! is a tribute album to the album Jesus Freak. It features artists from Gotee singing most of the songs on the original album. The last track from Jesus Freak is omitted, as it was a poem by Kevin Max.-Track listing:...
.
Track listing
US Radio Promo- "Between You And Me" (Radio Edit) - 3:47
UK Commercial Single
- "Between You And Me" (Radio Edit) - 3:47
- "So Help Me God" - 4:39
- "The Hardway" - 5:18
- "Between You And Me" (Album Version) - 4:59
European Commercial Single
- "Between You And Me" (Radio Edit) - 3:47
- "My Friend (So Long)" (Acoustic Version) - 3:46
- "What If I Stumble?" (Live) - 5:43
Chart positions
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
29 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
11 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
24 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 15 |
Album credits
Personnel- Toby McKeehan – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Michael TaitMichael TaitMichael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
– vocals - Kevin Max Smith – vocals
- Dann HuffDann HuffDann Huff is an American musician, session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. For his work as a producer in the Country music genre he has won several awards including the Musician of the Year award in 2001 and 2004 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Otto Price – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Scott WilliamsonScott WilliamsonScott Ryan Williamson is a right-handed relief pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization. He has played for the Cincinnati Reds , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , and the Baltimore Orioles...
– hat and fillsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Todd Collins – CongaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
, CabasaCabasaThe cabasa, similar to the shekere, is a percussion instrument that is constructed with loops of steel ball chain wrapped around a wide cylinder. The cylinder is fixed to a long, narrow wooden or plastic handle.... - Mark Heimermann – double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, Hammond B-3Hammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
Production
- Toby McKeehan – productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Mark Heimermann – programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, production - Todd Collins – programming
External links
- "Between You and Me" Music Video
- [ Allmusic page for "Just Between You and Me" single]