The Motions
Encyclopedia
"The Motions" is a song by contemporary Christian
singer-songwriter Matthew West
from his third studio album, Something to Say
. It was released in January 2009 as the album's third single
. It reached number 1 on Christian adult contemporary radio in April 2009.
The song is about complacency and a desire to "break free from the average, ordinary, lukewarm Christian life", and was inspired by a June 2007 column that West wrote for CCM Magazine
.
The song was appeared the compilation album WOW Hits 2010
.
. During part of 2007, West was a contributing columnist to the magazine, primarily discussing the details and method of his songwriting. In June 2007, his column drew a comparison between songwriting and personal life, talking about "moving through the motions" and writing a "perfectly structured" song; it soon becomes evident, however, that the song lacks inspiration and cannot be "[awoken] from its apparent slumber". Soon afterward "The Motions" was written, based on that concept.
West said he wrote the song after being "tired of that constant settling for a stale faith. God is a God of passion. His true plan for our lives is anything but boring."
In April 2007, he had experienced vocal problems, which led to surgery and a prescribed period of silence for two months. He said that the experience "brought [the] song to life for me".
's Christian AC chart. It has remained at the top position for five consecutive weeks. It also placed at number 2 on the Christian contemporary hit radio
format in April. According to Nielsen SoundScan
, "The Motions" was the top downloaded Christian track starting at the last week of April. In May 2009, the song reached number 10 on Billboard
s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart, which is equivalent to placing at 110 on the Hot 100.
On April 16, he played "The Motions" at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life event, which was attended by Michael Steele and guest speaker Sarah Palin
. He also performed the song on Trinity Broadcasting Network
's program Praise the Lord, which was aired on May 1.
A campaign website was created in promotion of the song, which includes a section where listeners submit "Motions Resolutions".
's review noted that the song caused his album, Something to Say
, to be "anything but a buffet of the 'same old stuff'." On December 3, 2009, the song was Grammy Award
nominated for the Best Gospel Song category, which was Matthew West's first Grammy nomination.
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
singer-songwriter Matthew West
Matthew West
On July 26, 2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, West had an injury to his left arm which threatened his musical career and guitar playing. He says, "I locked myself out of my house. But I'd done that before, and I had a way of breaking in through...
from his third studio album, Something to Say
Something to Say (Matthew West album)
Something to Say is the third full-length studio album by CCM artist Matthew West. It was released on January 15, 2008 through Sparrow Records. The album's first single, "You Are Everything", was the most-played song on Christian AC radio in 2008. Other singles from the album include the title...
. It was released in January 2009 as the album's third 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...
. It reached number 1 on Christian adult contemporary radio in April 2009.
The song is about complacency and a desire to "break free from the average, ordinary, lukewarm Christian life", and was inspired by a June 2007 column that West wrote for CCM Magazine
CCM Magazine
CCM Magazine was a monthly magazine published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. It was first published in July 1978, and it has always been a Christian music magazine. On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final printed issue of the...
.
The song was appeared the compilation album WOW Hits 2010
WOW Hits 2010
WOW Hits 2010 is a two-disc compilation album composed of some of the biggest hits on Christian radio in 2009. Disc one features more adult contemporary hits, while disc two features the CHR–pop and rock hits. The album charted at number one on the Hot Christian Albums chart and number 33 on the...
.
Background
The song was originally inspired by a column that Matthew West wrote in the "Writer's Block" portion of CCM MagazineCCM Magazine
CCM Magazine was a monthly magazine published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. It was first published in July 1978, and it has always been a Christian music magazine. On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final printed issue of the...
. During part of 2007, West was a contributing columnist to the magazine, primarily discussing the details and method of his songwriting. In June 2007, his column drew a comparison between songwriting and personal life, talking about "moving through the motions" and writing a "perfectly structured" song; it soon becomes evident, however, that the song lacks inspiration and cannot be "[awoken] from its apparent slumber". Soon afterward "The Motions" was written, based on that concept.
West said he wrote the song after being "tired of that constant settling for a stale faith. God is a God of passion. His true plan for our lives is anything but boring."
In April 2007, he had experienced vocal problems, which led to surgery and a prescribed period of silence for two months. He said that the experience "brought [the] song to life for me".
Release and promotion
The song was released to Christian radio in the beginning of January 2009. It began rising on Christian music charts in March, and on April 17 it reached number 1 on R&RR&R (magazine)
R&R was a weekly music trade publication that followed the radio industry and tracked the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes...
's Christian AC chart. It has remained at the top position for five consecutive weeks. It also placed at number 2 on the Christian contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format in April. According to Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
, "The Motions" was the top downloaded Christian track starting at the last week of April. In May 2009, the song reached number 10 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart, which is equivalent to placing at 110 on the Hot 100.
On April 16, he played "The Motions" at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life event, which was attended by Michael Steele and guest speaker Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
. He also performed the song on Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
's program Praise the Lord, which was aired on May 1.
A campaign website was created in promotion of the song, which includes a section where listeners submit "Motions Resolutions".
Reception
The song was generally well-received by critics. Jesus Freak HideoutJesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
's review noted that the song caused his album, Something to Say
Something to Say (Matthew West album)
Something to Say is the third full-length studio album by CCM artist Matthew West. It was released on January 15, 2008 through Sparrow Records. The album's first single, "You Are Everything", was the most-played song on Christian AC radio in 2008. Other singles from the album include the title...
, to be "anything but a buffet of the 'same old stuff'." On December 3, 2009, the song was Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominated for the Best Gospel Song category, which was Matthew West's first Grammy nomination.
Music video
Matthew West created a music video for the song, which was the first video he had ever done. It premiered at tangle.com during the week of March 20, 2009. The video highlighted on his experience in 2007 with vocal fold surgery and two months of prescribed silence. The video includes footage of West performing the song on stage, primarily taking scenes from his 2008 documentary video, Nothing to Say.Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| R&R R&R (magazine) R&R was a weekly music trade publication that followed the radio industry and tracked the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes... 's Christian AC format |
1 |
| R&R R&R (magazine) R&R was a weekly music trade publication that followed the radio industry and tracked the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes... 's Christian CHR Contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts... format |
2 |
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... chart |
10 |