"Break Every Chain" is a song performed by American recording artist
Tasha Cobbs
Natasha Tameika Cobbs Leonard (born July 7, 1981) is an American gospel musician and songwriter. She released the extended play ''Grace'' in 2013 with the hit lead single " Break Every Chain". The EP reached No. 61 on the ''Billboard'' charts. ...
from her major-label debut studio album ''Grace'' (2013). The song was composed by Will Reagan, produced by VaShawn Mitchell and released as the album's lead single. The songs features guest vocals performed by Timiney Figueroa from
Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.
The song was originally written and performed by Will Reagan and the
United Pursuit Band in 2009. The song was later covered by
Jesus Culture
Jesus Culture is a Christian revivalist youth-oriented organization that was formed at the Bethel Church of Redding, California, in the United States. Jesus Culture Ministry hosts conferences and operates a record label, Jesus Culture Music. In ...
in 2011. However, Cobbs' interpretation of the song is the first commercially successful and accepted within the gospel community, of the trio.
The song topped the
''Billboard'' Gospel Songs chart in 2012, as well as the corresponding digital and airplay gospel charts. The song also managed to peak at number thirty-five on the
''Billboard'' Holiday Songs chart and twenty-nine on the
''Billboard'' Adult R&B Songs chart. At the
56th Grammy Awards
The 56th Annual Grammy Awards presentation was held on January 26, 2014, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show was broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT and was hosted for the third time by LL Cool J. The show was moved to January to avoid compe ...
, the song won a
Grammy for "
Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance". Cobbs performed the song at the
44th GMA Dove Awards
The 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at the Allen Arena. It returned to Nashville, Tennessee after being away for two years. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other ...
in October 2013.
The Digital Age
The Digital Age is a band from Waco, Texas consisting of four of the six members of the former David Crowder Band. It was formed in 2012 after the David Crowder Band's final tour.
History
The Digital Age is a modern-rock Christian band compose ...
recorded a version of this song in 2013 off their debut album
Evening:Morning.
Background
Tasha Cobbs began her music career in
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...
with her father, who also pastored. She oversaw the Music Ministry at Jesus New Life Ministries. In 2006, Cobbs toured the United States with Pastor William H. Murphy III and his Dream Center church of Atlanta. Finally, Cobbs launched her solo career with her independently released album ''Smile'' in 2010. The song, along with ''Grace'', was recorded live on June 14, 2012 at Northview Christian Church in
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...
was produced by
VaShawn Mitchell.
Reception
The song features an emotional female lead vocal performance by Tasha Cobbs, who uses a subtle use of vocal harmony, composed in major key tonality. Musically, the song features electric rock instrumentation and R&B influences with upbeat lyrics. Lyrically, "it's a powerful chanting declaration sure to empower believers across the world." The official lyric video for the song contains over 100,009,153 views million views on the video-sharing website
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
.
At the
55th Grammy Awards
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 10, 2013, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012. The show was broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. E ...
, the song won a
Grammy for "
Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance".
At the
44th GMA Dove Awards
The 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at the Allen Arena. It returned to Nashville, Tennessee after being away for two years. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other ...
, Cobbs received five nominations including New Artist of the Year, and Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year for ''Grace''. "Break Every Chain" was nominated for Song of the Year, Gospel Performance of the Year and Contemporary Gospel/Urban Song of the Year.
At the 29th Annual
Stellar Awards
A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.[Sagma](_blank)
The Stell ...
, Cobbs was nominated for Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year. ''Grace'' was nominated for CD of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year and Praise and Worship CD of the Year. "Break Every Chain" was nominated for "Song of the Year", as well.
Chart performance
The song became Cobb's first number one single, displacing
Tamela Mann
Tamela Jean Mann (née Johnson; born June 9, 1966) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and actress. Mann began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. She was a featured soloist on several tracks while wit ...
's "
Take Me to the King
"Take Me to the King" is a song recorded by American recording artist Tamela Mann. "Take Me to the King" was released on June 12, 2012, as the lead single from Mann's third studio album, '' Best Days''. At the 55th Grammy Awards, the song receive ...
", which had spent nineteen non-consecutive weeks atop the
''Billboard'' Gospel Songs chart. "Break Every Chain" led the chart for seven consecutive weeks.
The song also topped the corresponding gospel charts: the
''Billboard'' Gospel Airplay chart,
''Billboard'' Gospel Digital Songs chart, and the
''Billboard'' Gospel Streaming Songs chart.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
{{authority control
2009 songs
2011 singles
2012 singles
EMI Records singles
Gospel songs
Motown singles