Dave Barnes celebrates a career first with his song “God Gave Me You” performed by country superstar Blake Shelton as it jumps to the #1 spot on the Billboard Country Singles chart. Barnes wrote the song for his last studio album, "What We Want, What We Get" released in 2010. “God Gave Me You” is on Blake Shelton’s eighth studio album, "Red River Blue," and is his fastest rising single to date.
Barnes’ version of “God Gave Me You” had a great run at Adult Contemporary radio in 2010, peaking at #21. The song also peaked at #3 at Christian CHR. Barnes’ and Shelton’s versions of “God Gave Me You” have sold close to 600,000 individual tracks combined. Dave Barnes' “God Gave Me You” video here: http://bit.ly/cFA8Hb
Blake Shelton selected the song after hearing it one day on the radio, he tells AOL’s The Boot: "It's no secret, Miranda and I have had our ups and downs over the years and this was definitely at a low point at our relationship. I was flipping through stations and landed on a contemporary Christian station, and that song came on and I almost had to pull the truck over. I felt like I was hearing that song at that moment for a reason."
Dave told AOL’s The Boot: “When I heard that it was making [Blake's] record, I was so excited! Especially in how it got there: it wasn't pitched, it was found. That's the best because the artist has such a different attachment that way. The fact that he heard it on the radio and wanted to record it because it meant something to him and Miranda blows my mind. It's still hard to believe it's on the radio. Writing so much on Music Row and knowing the process of how songs get cut and picked for radio, it's amazing to me that “God Gave Me You” made it through the whole process.”
Barnes is no stranger to having his music plucked by country singers as Billy Currington re-recorded Barnes’ radio hit “Until You” for Currington’s 2010 release. Barnes has been recognized by the industry as a rising songwriter. Billboard Magazine touted “Many of the best pop songwriters come out of Nashville, and Dave Barnes is one such singer/scribe now building momentum."
Barnes adds, “I have been writing a lot on Music Row in the last couple of years. I'm trying to get more songs recorded by country artists, both songs from my previous albums and songs that I'm writing with other Nashville writers. It's a really fun challenge and new discipline.”
Dave Barnes last album "What We Want, What We Get" debuted at #59 on the Billboard top 200 album chart in 2010 and #15 on the digital albums chart. Barnes has sold over 150,000 albums to date and over 510,000 individual song downloads. He is currently on tour and will tour in 2012 as well. Barnes has previously toured with notable acts including John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Bonnie Raitt, and One Republic.
