What Are We Waiting For?

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Not to be confused with What Are You Waiting For?.
What Are We Waiting For?
File:What Are We Waiting For? - For King & Country.jpg
Studio album by For King & Country
Released 11 March 2022 (2022-03-11)
Recorded 2021[1]
Genre
Length 39:30
Label Word Entertainment
Producer
  • Tedd T.
  • Josh Kerr
  • For King & Country
  • Jeff Sojka
  • Federico Vindver
  • Benjamin Backus
  • Seth Mosley
For King & Country chronology
A Drummer Boy Christmas
(2020)		 What Are We Waiting For?
(2022)
Singles from What Are We Waiting For?

What Are We Waiting For? is the fifth studio album by For King & Country, an Australian Christian pop duo comprising brothers Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, released via Word Entertainment on 11 March 2022.[2] The album contains guest appearances by Dante Bowe, Sleeping at Last, Tori Kelly, and Kirk Franklin.[3] The duo collaborated with Tedd T., Josh Kerr, Jeff Sojka, Federico Vindver, Benjamin Backus, and Seth Mosley in the production of the album.[4]

The album was supported by the release of "Relate" and "For God Is with Us" as singles. "Relate" peaked at No. 1 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. "For God Is with Us" peaked at No. 19 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. "Unsung Hero" and "Love Me Like I Am" were released as promotional singles. The album is also being promoted with the What Are We Waiting For? – The Tour, spanning cities across the United States.[5]

Background

On 11 October 2021, For King & Country announced that What Are We Waiting For? would be their fifth album, slated for release on 11 March 2022, while also announcing their tour to promote the album.[6] The album contains thirteen original tracks and marks their first full-length project of new music since Burn the Ships (2018).[7] On 7 January 2022, For King & Country released the album track listing accompanying the album pre-order announcement, indicating that previously released singles "Relate" and "For God Is with Us" were included on the album, as well as their 2020 hit single "Together" alongside Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin.[8] Additional guest appearances on the album included Dante Bowe and Sleeping at Last.[9] What Are We Waiting For? was released on 11 March 2022,[10] with the duo performing songs from the album at the Vines Center during Liberty University's Convocation in Lynchburg, Virginia.[11]

What Are We Waiting For? marks the first time that duo has chosen an album title that does not relate to a track on the album, Joel Smallbone explaining: "First of all, we want the album to be received and digested as an entire piece, rather than as a collection with a title track. But also, because there was something in the question 'what are we waiting for?' that really had pinged Luke and me in the process. And I think it means something different for all of us. My personal 'what are we waiting for?' is that I am waiting for the moment when I'm not waiting for something. And I think that part of the beauty of the question is that you find yourself in it."[12]

Recording, production

For King & Country began writing and recording the album in studio full-time in early 2021, as opposed to slotting in sessions while touring and other commitments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, describing their approach to the process as "nine-to-five."[1] Joel Smallbone shared with American Songwriter that he had the initial idea for recording a new album shortly after concluding A Drummer Boy Drive-In: The Christmas Tour, later approaching his brother Luke and began planning.[13] Joel Smallbone said that the decision to include 2020 song "Together" on the album was based on the song having taken years to write,[14] having been initially planned to be part of their 2018 album, Burn the Ships, but they failed to finish it in time.[1]

Release and promotion

Singles

"Relate" was released on 6 August 2021 as the lead single from the album.[15] The song peaked at No. 1 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart,[16] and No. 6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[17]

"For God Is with Us" was released on 24 September 2021 as the second single from the album, as well as its accompanying music video.[18] The song peaked at No. 19 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[16]

Promotional singles

On 7 January 2022, For King & Country launched the digital pre-order of the album, releasing "Unsung Hero" as an instant grat from the album, accompanied with its music video.[19] "Unsung Hero" peaked at No. 42 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[16]

For King & Country released "Love Me Like I Am" as an instant grat from the album on 18 February 2022, accompanied with its music video.[20] "Love Me Like I Am" peaked at No. 38 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[16]

Other songs

The music video for "Broken Halos" was released on 11 March 2022, coinciding with the album's release.[21] "Broken Halos" peaked at No. 37 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[16]

What Are We Waiting For? | The Worldwide Special

On 11 March 2022, For King and Country announced that they will avail an online performance titled What Are We Waiting For? | The Worldwide Special, filmed in the Mojave Desert in California, via Facebook and YouTube on 21 March 2022.[22] On 21 March 2022, the duo announced that the special will premiere on 24 March 2022, partnering with Convoy of Hope for the benefit of Ukrainian people affected by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[23] On 27 March 2022, For King & Country appeared on Fox & Friends, where they announced that they raised over $150,000 for aiding Ukrainian refugees.[24]

Touring

On 11 October 2021, For King & Country announced that they will be embarking on the What Are We Waiting For? – The Tour, in the spring of 2022.[25] The duo will be joined by Dante Bowe on tour.[26] The tour will span 33 dates across arenas in the United States, commencing at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, on 31 March 2022, and concluding at the FirstBank Amphitheatre in Franklin, Tennessee on 22 May 2022.[27]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Jesus Freak Hideout 4.5/5 stars[28]
JubileeCast 4/5[29]
Today's Christian Entertainment 4/5 stars[30]

Jesus Freak Hideout's Alex Caldwell gave a favourable review of the album, saying: "With a sorely needed theme of unity and togetherness in these troubled times, What Are We Waiting For? proves that you can have a few uneven moments (in life, or on an album) and still be wildly uplifting in what you do."[28] Timothy Yap of JubileeCast praised the album, saying, "What Are We Waiting For? is by no means a perfect record, but it's a thematically tight album with a diverse array of songs helping us how we can better relate to each other and God."[29] Kelly Meade, indicating in a positive review at Today's Christian Entertainment, said "Throughout the album, brothers Joel & Luke highlight the need for mercy, peace and being there for people around us to encourage them as they face the challenges of life. The tone of this album feels different from the duos past releases and yet is still unmistakably For King & Country as it presents the messages within the songs as only they can."[30]

Commercial performance

In the United States, What Are We Waiting For? debuted at No. 7 on the mainstream Billboard 200 chart dated 26 March 2022, earning a total of 32,000 equivalent album units in sales in its first week.[31] This is the duo's second top ten entry on the Billboard 200, following their 2018 album Burn the Ships.[31] The album also debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart, being their second chart-topping album.[32]

In Australia, What Are We Waiting For? debuted at No. 62 on the ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for the week commencing 21 March 2022.[33] What Are We Waiting For? launched at No. 3 on the Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart dated 18–24 March 2022, as published by the Official Charts Company in the United Kingdom.[34] The album also charted on the Swiss Hitparade at No. 83.[35]

Track listing

What Are We Waiting For? track listing
No. Title Producer(s) Length
1. "Relate"  
  • Tedd T.
  • Josh Kerr
  • For King & Country
 2:53
2. "Broken Halos"  
  • Tedd T.
  • Kerr
  • For King & Country
 3:12
3. "Love Me Like I Am"  
  • For King & Country
  • Kerr
  • Jeff Sojka
 3:05
4. "Unity" (with Dante Bowe)
  • For King & Country
  • Kerr
  • Federico Vindver
 3:30
5. "For God Is with Us"  
  • For King & Country
  • Kerr
  • Tedd T.
  • Benjamin Backus
 3:16
6. "Hold On Pain Ends"  
  • For King & Country
  • Kerr
  • Tedd T.
  • Backus
 2:51
7. "Unsung Hero"  
  • For King & Country
  • Vindver
  • Seth Mosley
 3:31
8. "Harmony" (with Sleeping at Last)
  • For King & Country
  • Vindver
  • Mosley
 1:12
9. "Shy"  
  • Josh Kerr
  • Tedd T.
  • For King & Country
 2:53
10. "Together" (with Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin)
  • Vindver
  • Kerr
  • Backus
 3:26
11. "Seasons"  
  • Kerr
  • Tedd T.
  • For King & Country
 3:16
12. "Cheering You On"  
  • Kerr
  • Tedd T.
  • For King & Country
 3:23
13. "Benediction"   Kerr 3:02
Total length:
 39:30

Charts

Chart performance for What Are We Waiting For?
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[36] 62
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 81
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[38] 43
UK Christian & Gospel Albums (OCC)[34] 4
US Billboard 200[39] 7
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[40] 1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[41] 3

Release history

Release history and formats for What Are We Waiting For?
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 11 March 2022
Word Entertainment [42]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – For King & Country – What Are We Waiting For?". Hung Medien.
  38. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  39. ↑ Illegal name entered For King Country/For+King+Country/chart?f=305 "For King Country – Chart history" Billboard 200 for For King Country.
  40. ↑ "Illegal name entered For King Country/For+King+Country/chart?f=310 For King Country – Chart history" Billboard Christian Albums for For King Country.
  41. ↑ "Illegal name entered For King Country/For+King+Country/chart?f=326 For King Country – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for For King Country.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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