"Break Every Chain" is a song performed by American recording artist Tasha Cobbs 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.

"Break Every Chain"
Lead Single from Cobbs' upcoming album 'Grace'
Single by Tasha Cobbs
from the album Grace
ReleasedNovember 27, 2012
RecordedJune 14, 2012 • Montgomery, AL
VenueNorthview Christian Church, Montgomery, AL
GenreContemporary gospel
Length8:18 (Album Version) 4:14 (Radio Edit)
LabelEMI Gospel • Motown Gospel
Songwriter(s)Will Reagan
Producer(s)VaShawn Mitchell
Tasha Cobbs singles chronology
"Smile"
(2012)
"Break Every Chain"
(2012)
"For Your Glory"
(2012)

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 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 song won a Grammy for "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance". Cobbs performed the song at the 44th GMA Dove Awards in October 2013.[1] The Digital Age recorded a version of this song in 2013 off their debut album Evening:Morning.

Background

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Tasha Cobbs began her music career in Atlanta, Georgia 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.[2] The song, along with Grace, was recorded live on June 14, 2012 at Northview Christian Church in Montgomery, Alabama was produced by VaShawn Mitchell.[3]

Reception

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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.[4] Lyrically, "it's a powerful chanting declaration sure to empower believers across the world."[5] The official lyric video for the song contains over 100,009,153 views million views on the video-sharing website YouTube.[6]

At the 55th Grammy Awards, the song won a Grammy for "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance".[7] At the 44th GMA Dove Awards, 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.[8] At the 29th Annual Stellar Awards, 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.[9]

Chart performance

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The song became Cobb's first number one single, displacing Tamela Mann's "Take Me to the King", which had spent nineteen non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Gospel Songs chart.[10] "Break Every Chain" led the chart for seven consecutive weeks.[8]

The song also topped the corresponding gospel charts: the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart,[11] Billboard Gospel Digital Songs chart,[12] and the Billboard Gospel Streaming Songs chart.[13]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[20] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "44th Annual Dove Awards". Event occurs at 1:39. Up (TV network). {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  2. ^ Jeffries, David. "Tasha Cobbs: Biography: Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  3. ^ "Exclusive New Music: Tasha Cobbs - Break Every Chain". Da Gospel Truth. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "Break Every Chain - Tasha Cobbs on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media Incorporated. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  5. ^ "Listen: Tasha Cobb's Newest Single — "Break Every Chain". Gospel Pundit. November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  6. ^ "Tasha Cobbs - Break Every Chain (Lyrics)". YouTube. November 23, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  7. ^ Greene, Dominique (January 31, 2013). "Grammy Watch: See video for Grammy nominated Take Me to the King by Tamela Mann + See list of gospel nominees". 1-800 Gospel. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Music Buzz: Tasha Cobbs' "Break Every Chain" Earns Multiple Dove Award Nominations". EEW Magazine. August 29, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "Stellar Awards: Gospel Music: 29th Annual Nominees". Stellar Awards. Central City Productions. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. ^ Bonner, Gerald (June 19, 2013). "Tasha Cobbs Scores Her First No. 1 Single". Bonnerfide Radio. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  11. ^ "Tasha Cobbs - Chart History: Gospel Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  12. ^ "Tasha Cobbs - Chart History: Gospel Digital Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  13. ^ "Tasha Cobbs - Chart History: Gospel Streaming Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  14. ^ "Tasha Cobbs - Chart history (Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Tasha Cobbs Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  16. ^ "Tasha Cobbs - Chart history (Holiday Airplay)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  17. ^ "Tasha Cobbs - Chart history (Hot Gospel Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  18. ^ "Gospel Songs - Year-End 2013 - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  19. ^ "Gospel Songs - Year-End 2014 - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  20. ^ "American single certifications – Tasha Cobbs – Break Every Chain (Live)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 25, 2019.