What Are Words
Encyclopedia
"What Are Words" is a hit song written by Rodney Jerkins
, Andre Lindal and Lauren Christy, and performed by American singer Chris Medina
. It was released on February 25, 2011, the day after his surprising elimination on the reality tv-show American Idol
. The song is a tribute to his fiance who suffered a brain injury as the result of a car wreck and is about promises, commitment and keeping your word.
Lauren Christy said in an interview that It was the pretty, emotional, simple and catchy piano theme that was the spark.
The single was both written and a demo was recorded in the afternoon of January 31 at Jerkins studio in Hollywood with Chris Medina in mind.
Musical Arrangement by Rodney Jerkins & Andre Lindal.
All instruments by Rodney Jerkins & Andre Lindal.
Vocal Production by Rodney jerkins & LaShawn Daniels
Mixed by Rodney Jerkins and Orlando Vitto.
on February 28, 2011 and on Good Morning America
on March 4, 2011 as well as twice in Norway
in June 2011. Once in front of approximately a hundred-thousand people at the free annual concert VG-Lista at Rådhusplassen, Oslo
, being broadcasted on nationwide television. One day later he performed again at ULOBAs (a Norwegian organisation to help disabled people) television-broadcasted show "Stolthetsprisen", where the organisation awarded a prize to a disabled person for helping other people in the same situation to improve their way of living. Medina, as well as other artists performed at the show. Medina also performed the song during the President's Star Charity show in Singapore on 31 July 2011 to raise funds for the handicapped.
in Oslo, Norway where 77 were killed, Medina was contacted by the family of one of the victims where he learned that the victim's last favorite song was his song. They invited him back to Norway to sing at the funeral of Monica Iselin Didriksen who was killed at Utøya Island.
He decided to clear his schedule and without media coverage and with no personal gain of any kind, to travel back to Norway to sing What Are Words at her funeral.
chart, and number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It has since sold 61,000 copies in the States.
The single reached number one on the Norwegian VG-lista
chart on April 29, 2011 and remained at the top for 11 straight weeks. It is certified 4X platinum in Norway.
The single also went to number one in Singapore on May 13, 2011, for a three-week run.
The single went number one in Sweden on July 1, 2011 and remained for 8 straight weeks. It was awarded a 2X platinum certification in Sweden on September 20, 2011.
Rodney Jerkins
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
, Andre Lindal and Lauren Christy, and performed by American singer Chris Medina
Chris Medina
Christopher Edward "Chris" Medina is an American singer born in Chicago, Illinois. Medina is most notable as a former American Idol contestant during the tenth season of Idol and his single, "What Are Words", which went to #1 in Norway and Sweden and spent 19 weeks at number 1 combined...
. It was released on February 25, 2011, the day after his surprising elimination on the reality tv-show American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. The song is a tribute to his fiance who suffered a brain injury as the result of a car wreck and is about promises, commitment and keeping your word.
Composition and credits
The 62/124 BPM single is in the key of C. Jerkins & Lindal made several versions of the music in lower keys in case it was too high, but Chris decided to use the original key. In radio interviews they frequently discuss the high notes.Lauren Christy said in an interview that It was the pretty, emotional, simple and catchy piano theme that was the spark.
The single was both written and a demo was recorded in the afternoon of January 31 at Jerkins studio in Hollywood with Chris Medina in mind.
Musical Arrangement by Rodney Jerkins & Andre Lindal.
All instruments by Rodney Jerkins & Andre Lindal.
Vocal Production by Rodney jerkins & LaShawn Daniels
Mixed by Rodney Jerkins and Orlando Vitto.
Music video
The music video was shot at Atlantis studios in Hollywood and was released days after the single. The video depicts Medina in the actual recording session alongside Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels. Clips from Medina's American Idol audition and personal videos showing Medina and his fiance at their home together are also included.Live performances
Medina performed the ballad on The Tonight Show with Jay LenoThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
on February 28, 2011 and on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
on March 4, 2011 as well as twice in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in June 2011. Once in front of approximately a hundred-thousand people at the free annual concert VG-Lista at Rådhusplassen, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, being broadcasted on nationwide television. One day later he performed again at ULOBAs (a Norwegian organisation to help disabled people) television-broadcasted show "Stolthetsprisen", where the organisation awarded a prize to a disabled person for helping other people in the same situation to improve their way of living. Medina, as well as other artists performed at the show. Medina also performed the song during the President's Star Charity show in Singapore on 31 July 2011 to raise funds for the handicapped.
Humanitarianism
Following the terrorist attacks2011 Norway attacks
The 2011 Norway attacks were two sequential terrorist attacks against the government, the civilian population and a summer camp in Norway on 22 July 2011....
in Oslo, Norway where 77 were killed, Medina was contacted by the family of one of the victims where he learned that the victim's last favorite song was his song. They invited him back to Norway to sing at the funeral of Monica Iselin Didriksen who was killed at Utøya Island.
He decided to clear his schedule and without media coverage and with no personal gain of any kind, to travel back to Norway to sing What Are Words at her funeral.
Chart performance
The song debuted at number 22 on the Billboard Heatseekers SongsTop Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart, and number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It has since sold 61,000 copies in the States.
The single reached number one on the Norwegian VG-lista
VG-lista
VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by...
chart on April 29, 2011 and remained at the top for 11 straight weeks. It is certified 4X platinum in Norway.
The single also went to number one in Singapore on May 13, 2011, for a three-week run.
The single went number one in Sweden on July 1, 2011 and remained for 8 straight weeks. It was awarded a 2X platinum certification in Sweden on September 20, 2011.
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 25 March 2011 | Digital download | 19 Recordings |