"What a Friend" is a song performed by Canadian contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist Matt Maher. The song was released as the second single from his 2017 album Echoes on September 15, 2017.[4] The song peaked at No. 10 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his seventh Top 10 single from that chart. It lasted 26 weeks on the overall chart.[5] The song is played in an E major key, and 110 beats per minute.[6]

"What a Friend"
Single by Matt Maher
from the album Echoes
ReleasedSeptember 15, 2017 (2017-09-15)[1]
Recorded2017
Genre
Length3:17[2]
LabelEssential
Songwriter(s)
  • Matt Maher
  • Matthew Hein
  • Adam Palmer
  • Abbie Parker[3]
Producer(s)
  • Ed Kerr
  • Dan Galbraith
Matt Maher singles chronology
"Your Love Defends Me"
(2017)
"What a Friend"
(2017)
"Born on That Day"
(2018)
Music video
"What a Friend" on YouTube

Background

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"What a Friend" was released on September 15, 2017, as the second single from his fifth studio album Echoes.[7] The song samples the Christian hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph M. Scriven, who wrote it in 1855 to comfort his mother in Iceland while he was living in Canada.[8] Maher shows God’s faithfulness even in the midst of personal sorrow and devastation. On the song, Maher sings about the joy of our friendship with the Saviour.[9] Aleteia described the song as "switching gears from quiet worship to bouncing folk-rock, with a country-pop hook, where the piece is infused with a jubilant energy, which is aided by a perfectly employed gospel-ish choir."[10]

Music video

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A lyric video was released on February 23, 2018.[11] A live version of the song was released on June 15, 2018, featuring Christian music singer Jason Crabb.[12][13]

Track listing

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CD release[14]
  1. "What a Friend" – 3:17
  2. "What a Friend (Lead Sheet (Medium Key)" – 3:17
  3. "What a Friend (Vocal Demonstration)" – 3:4
  4. "What a Friend (High Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  5. "What a Friend (High Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  6. "What a Friend (Medium Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  7. "What a Friend (Medium Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  8. "What a Friend (Low Key With Background Vocals)" – 3:14
  9. "What a Friend (Low Key Without Background Vocals)" – 3:14

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "What A Friend - Matt Maher". Genius. Genius. September 15, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  2. ^ "What A Friend on Spotify". Spotify. Spotify. September 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  3. ^ "What A Friend Matt Maher (What A Friend)". PraiseCharts. PraiseCharts. September 15, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "What a Friend by Matt Maher on Apple Music". Apple Music (iTunes). U.S. Apple Inc. September 29, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  5. ^ "What a Friend by Matt Maher". Tunebat. September 18, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  6. ^ "Key & BPM for What a Friend by Matt Maher". Tunebat. September 29, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "Matt Maher - What A Friend (Official Audio)". YouTube. September 15, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  8. ^ "Matt Maher Releases New Album, 'Echoes'". HuffingtonPost. September 29, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "TRACEY EVISON: Matt Maher gives listeners a wonderful new album". TheGuardian. November 24, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  10. ^ "Clap along to Matt Maher's "What a Friend"". Aleteia. September 29, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  11. ^ "Matt Maher - What a Friend (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. February 23, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  12. ^ "Matt Maher - What a Friend (feat. Jason Crabb)". YouTube. June 15, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  13. ^ "Video: Matt Maher – What A Friend ft. Jason Crabb – Live from K-Love Fan Awards". JesusWired. June 28, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  14. ^ "What A Friend Matt Maher, Daywind". DayWind.com. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  15. ^ "Matt Maher - Christian AC History". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Matt Maher Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  17. ^ "Matt Maher Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "Christian AC Indicator". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  19. ^ "Weekend Top 20 - Year-End 2018 - Podbean". Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  20. ^ "Christian AC - Year-End 2018 - Billboard". Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  21. ^ "Christian Airplay - Year-End 2018 - Billboard". Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  22. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.