Wikipedia

Place in This World

"Place in This World" is a song by American musician Michael W. Smith, released in 1991 as the second single from his 1990 album Go West Young Man.[2] The song became his biggest success in mainstream music when it hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It lasted 21 weeks on the overall chart.[3] The song is played in B major, mod. to C at 72 beats per minute.[4]

"Place in This World"
Single by Michael W. Smith
from the album Go West Young Man
ReleasedMarch 1991 (1991)
Recorded1990
StudioBMG Studio, New York City[1]
GenreCCM, adult contemporary
Length4:01
LabelReunion
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Wayne Kirkpatrick
  • Bryan Lenox
  • Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith singles chronology
"Go West Young Man"
(1990) 		"Place in This World"
(1991) 		"How Long Will Be Too Long"
(1991)
Music video
"Place in this World" on YouTube

Background edit

"Place in This World" was released in 1991, as the second single from his sixth studio album Go West Young Man.[5] This record was his first attempt at mainstream success, which successfully crossed over the single. The message of the song has proved to be meaningful to a lot of people. Smith was asked if there are any stories that have stuck with him. He responded, "Well, the one story I remember vividly, I could still go back to reading the letter, was some young girl, I think she was 18 or 19 years old, and had a horrific childhood in terms of abuse and that sort of thing. And she was suicidal. She gave me this whole story in a two page letter. She was driving down the freeway and listening to a pop radio station and heard 'Place in This World' and pulled over and began to weep. And had this encounter with God on the side of the interstate. And her life forever changed. And that's the one that I'll never forget. There's been plenty of people talk about 'A Place in This World' but that's the one letter that I'll never forget."[6]

The song won the GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year in 1992.[7]

Personnel edit

  • Michael W. Smith — lead vocals
  • Mike Lawler — additional keyboards
  • Bryan Lenox — percussion, drums, keyboard programming
  • Trace Scarborough — keyboard programming
  • Matt Pierson — synth bass
  • Dann Huff — guitar
  • Terry McMillan – percussion
  • Mark Douthit — saxophone
  • Barry Green — trombone
  • Mike Haynes — trumpet
  • Chris McDonald — horn arrangements
  • The Nashville String Machine — strings
  • Ronn Huff — string arrangements and conductor
  • Carl Gorodetzsky — concertmaster and contractor

Charts edit

Accolades edit

GMA Dove Awards

Year Winner Category
1992 "Place In This World" (co-written with Amy Grant & Wayne Kirkpatrick) Song of the Year

References edit

  1. ^ Place in this World – Michael W. Smith| AllMusic
  2. ^ "Go West Young Man by Michael W. Smith". October 1, 1990. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  3. ^ "Michael W. Smith Place In This World Chart History". Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  4. ^ "Sheet music for Place In This World by Michael W. Smith". Musinotes. October 1, 1990. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Place In This World by Michael W. Smith". Amazon. October 1, 1990. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  6. ^ "Michael W. Smith". SongFacts. June 26, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  7. ^ GMA Dove Awards - History Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing July 8, 1991". Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  9. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". August 31, 1991. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. August 10, 1991. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "Michael W Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  12. ^ "Michael W Smith Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  13. ^ "U.S. Cash Box Chart Entries - 1990 - 1996" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "Michael W. Smith - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  15. ^ "Michael W. Smith - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  16. ^ "Michael W. Smith - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  17. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1991". Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  18. ^ "1991 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-36. Retrieved August 10, 2021.

External links edit

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