lead vocalist bart millard wrote the song i can only imagine by mercyme.
lead vocalist bart millard wrote the song i can only imagine by mercyme.
who wrote the song i can only imagine by mercyme?
lead vocalist bart millard
according to lead vocalist bart millard, mercyme had started as a rock band and had wanted to make a rock record. following the success of their breakthrough single "i can only imagine", a ballad, they were advised to "duplicate ['i can only imagine'] on the next two records". millard says they felt that they were at a point where "we are known more for ballads than the rock band we wanted to be". with the consent of their label, which felt there was a trend towards heavier music, mercyme decided to make an "edgier" record. in particular the band focused on up-tempo songs, trying to put more edge into what they were making. millard noted that while the songs are still pop rock songs, the band tried to put a bit more edge into them. additionally, the band decided to work with producer brown bannister, who had produced the group's christmas record and millard's solo album "hymned no. 1", as opposed to pete kipley, who had produced the band's previous three albums. bannister's producing style was different from kipley's; while kipley was a hands-on producer, "involved in every part of the song", bannister would wait until the band had "run down all [their] avenues" before giving input. the band felt bannsiter was an "amazing encourager" and were satisfied with the christmas album bannister had produced with him; although they felt kipley did a great job on their previous records, improving themselves as a band and as songwriters, they felt it was "time for a change". another factor in the decision to use bannister was his previous recording experience; bannister had produced one of millard's favorite albums, white heart's 1989 album "freedom". the different approach the band took with bannister resulted in a sometimes "radical" approach, with the band "taking songs apart, putting them back together and, at times, totally reinventing them". one song, "something about you", shifted from "an aggressive rock song to a soaring anthem".
coming up to breathe
both an acoustic and live version of "i can only imagine" were included in the platinum edition of "almost there", which was released in august 2006. mercyme recorded a new version of the song for their "itunes originals" album, which was released in march 2008. two more versions were included on their compilation album "10"; a symphony version featuring the london session orchestra as well as a live version. for their 2018 compilation album "i can only imagine: the very best of mercyme", released to commemorate the release of the movie, the band recorded an updated version titled "i can only imagine (the movie session)". this version charted on the "billboard" christian songs chart, peaking at no. 19.
i can only imagine (mercyme song)