As a generalisation, however, "I can only imagine" usually indicates one of two things (which often overlap somewhat in practice). Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. The film was announced in December 2016. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me. I Can Only Imagine is a 2018 American Christian biographical drama film directed by the Erwin Brothers and written by Alex Cramer, Jon Erwin, and Brent McCorkle, based on the story behind the group MercyMe's song of the same name, the best-selling Christian single of all time. ", "Box Office: 'I Can Only Imagine' Revives Faith-Based Genre", "Does 'Pacific Rim: Uprising' Break Even At The Global B.O.? . Now for us, it is safe to assume that most of us are not going to face this situation in our life. [17] It was added to another 395 venues and finished fourth in its third weekend, making $10.4 million (including $3 million on Easter Sunday).[18]. [29] In the refrain, the singer ponders "Will I dance for You Jesus/or in awe of you be still/Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall/Will I sing hallelujah/will I be able to speak at all/I can only imagine/I can only imagine". [64] The song stayed on Christian radio for so long that plans to release a third single from Almost There were cancelled, with the band instead beginning work on a new album. 1 on Hot Gospel Songs", "Aliyah Mouldon I Can Only Imagine Chart History", "MercyMe Chart History - Adult Contemporary", "MercyMe Chart History - Mainstream Top 40", "MercyMe Chart History - Hot Country Songs", "2003 Year End Charts - Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks", "2003 Year End Charts - Hot 100 Singles Sales Titles", "2004 Year End Charts - Hot 100 Singles Sales Titles", "Year End Charts - Christian Digital Songs", "Christian Digital Songs - Year-end 2015", "Christian Digital Songs - Year-end 2017", "Christian Digital Songs - Year-end 2019", "American single certifications MercyMe I Can Only Imagine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Can_Only_Imagine_(MercyMe_song)&oldid=1122729446, CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes), Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Articles with dead YouTube links from February 2022, Articles with dead external links from December 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Certification Table Entry usages for United States, Pages using certification Table Entry with streaming figures, Pages using certification Table Entry with streaming footnote, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Nathan Cochran bass guitar, background vocals, Mike Scheuchzer guitar, background vocals, This page was last edited on 19 November 2022, at 09:04. Bart kept in contact with his father, however, who was later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when Bart was 15. 1s", "Chris Blue, Winner of 'The Voice,' Debuts at No. I commonly see sentences constructed like: "I can only imagine how much time she spent on [something].". Young Bart is handed the U2 album The Joshua Tree (1987) in 1985. As Arthur progressively became more ill, his relationship with his son improved dramatically; by the time Arthur died in 1991, when Bart was 18, the two were very close. How the Actor Became a Regular Guest Host on His 'Dream' N.Y.C. By the time he passed away when I was a freshman in college, not only was he my best friend, he was like the Godliest man Id ever known". One day, Bart's mother drops him off at a Christian camp, where Bart meets Shannon. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. I can only imagine what it will be like when my kids see me after four years. 1 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart and No. [70], "I Can Only Imagine" debuted on the Adult Contemporary chart on May 23, 2003, eventually peaking at No. 5 for the chart week of September 8, 2003. His father's illness eventually brought them closer together and helped Millard see firsthand how dramatically his dad had changed after finding religion. Yes. [16] In its second weekend the film was added to 624 additional theaters and dropped just 19% to $13.8 million, again finishing third. [49] It received mixed to positive reviews from critics,[48] and exceeded initial expectations at the box office, grossing $17.1million in its opening week. 18 Apr. ", At his father's funeral, Millard's grandmother made an off-hand comment. Devastated, Bart quits the band, but Brickell thinks that Bart needs to resolve issues in his personal life, so Bart reconciles with the band and asks them to wait for him, and leaves to return home. -People.com, Yes. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? [4] The film stars J. Michael Finley as Bart Millard, the lead singer who wrote the song about his relationship with his father (Dennis Quaid). "I Can Only Imagine" spent 30 weeks on the chart. [46] "I Can Only Imagine" was named the official inspirational song for the state of Oklahoma in 2018; the measure was passed by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed by Governor Mary Fallin. Almost seven years had passed before he finally wrote the song in 1998. [75] In March 2018, following the release of the film I Can Only Imagine, which was based on the song's story, it appeared on the Billboard Christian Songs chart; because the chart had been created after the song's original run on Christian radio, it was eligible to chart for the first time. Megan Basham of World magazine called Quaid "the real workhorse" and added that he "bears the heavy load of convincingly giving us both a monster and a repentant dad longing to connect with his son. [69] Curb began to promote the song to adult contemporary and Top 40 radio,[68] and INO and Curb released a double A-side physical single, "I Can Only Imagine/Word of God Speak", in September 2003. 8 on the 2018 year-end Christian Songs chart. Bart forgives his father, and the two form a deep bond, but Arthur soon dies of his illness. 5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart while also hitting top 40, adult top 40, and country radio charts. Movies. . The low-budget movie has made over $40 million since coming out in mid-March and continues to do strong business. When it came time to record MercyMe's first album, Millard sat down with his notebook to start writing lyrics but couldn't find a page in any of his journals that wasn't covered with his grandmother's phrase. "The only time I ever got mad at God was not during the abuse but when he died," Millard adds. I can only imagine how my parents all be happy when they know I stood first in my examinations. "But when he woke up, he had the foulest mouth and the worst temper. [91] At the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast, MercyMe performed the song with President Donald Trump in attendance. Yes. Some criticism from reviewers who think it's stacked by friends and family of the movie. I loved this movie and have loved the song. In Nashville, Brickell introduces Bart to established artists Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, but is unable to convince record executives to sign the band, who do not believe the band, now performing as "MercyMe", is good enough. It was his short temper and tendency to take out his frustrations on his son that was at the root of the abuse. [94] MercyMe released a new recording of the song on their iTunes Originals album, which was released in March 2008. In 2004, CCM Magazine ranked it as the fourth-best song in Christian music, and it has since become the most-played song in the history of Christian radio as well as the best-selling Christian song of all time; it has been certified five-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and as of April 2018, it has sold over 2.5million copies. Asked why he believes the song has resonated with so many people, Millard says he thinks its universal message has helped. [39], A music video was released for "I Can Only Imagine". Millard's life changed forever at the age of 3 after his parents got divorced. Bart Millard remembers the first time he realized I Can Only Imagine was a hit.. Nearly two years after his band, MercyMe, released the Christian song as a single in 2001, he got a call from a . WATCH: 'I Can Only Imagine (The Movie Session)' from the Newly Released Album I Can Only Imagine The Very Best Of MercyMe, "So I wrote the song, which was incredibly personal and special to me, but I had no idea the impact it was going to have," he says. "She said, 'I can only imagine what your dad's seeing now,' and I became obsessed with that phrase," he says. So the questions in the song came from me asking God what was so great about Him that my dad would rather be there. [22] Regarding the lyrical theme of "I Can Only Imagine", Millard explained to Fox News that "I was always told that if [my father] could choose, he would rather be in Heaven than here with me. Menu. ", For years, Millard would write the phrase "I can only imagine" on anything he could get his hands on. more , MercyMe is an American Christian rock band founded in Greenville, Texas. It was decided that it would be best for Bart and his older brother Stephen to stay with their father, Arthur (People). I Can Only Imagine: A Memoir Paperback - Illustrated, February 13, 2018 by Bart Millard (Author), Robert Noland 2,767 ratings Teachers' pick See all formats and editions Kindle $11.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Paperback $12.69 Other new, used and collectible from $1.29 Audio CD The I Can Only Imagine true story reveals that Bart's parents divorced when he was just three years old. Written and composed by lead singer Bart Millard, it was originally recorded for the band's 1999 independent album The Worship Project before being included on their 2001 major-label debut album Almost There. We have an official I Can Only Imagine tab made by UG professional guitarists.Check out the tab . Bart's performance earns an enthusiastic ovation, and he reunites with Shannon, who was also in attendance. The woman wants nothing more than to know how I Can Only Imaginehappened. ", While his father didn't drink or have substance abuse issues, he did have a short temper and grew accustomed to taking out his frustrations on his son. There was no denying it" (People). To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Bart: And the guys were like "Did she really say that?" I Can Only Imagine Wynonna Judd | Last.fm Wynonna Judd I Can Only Imagine Play track Love this track More actions Listeners 493 Scrobbles 2,733 Join others and track this song Scrobble, find and rediscover music with a Last.fm account Sign Up to Last.fm Length 3:58 Lyrics Add lyrics on Musixmatch Do you know any background info about this track? "I was like his punching bag" (People). "He got homesick, ended up going home, and married my mom," says Bart. After being released on October 12, 2001, as the second single from Almost There, "I Can Only Imagine" became a major success on Christian radio; it spent two weeks at No. The week Bart received his last check from his father, I Can Only Imagine became the number one Christian song in America. Bart returns home late at night, and is confused to find that Arthur has prepared breakfast for him the next morning. "[25] Michael Foust of the Southern Baptist Texan gave the film 5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "The screenplay is gripping, the soundtrack is perfect, and the performances by Quaid and Finley had me squirming, laughing and crying. Bart received the final check the same week that "I Can Only Imagine" reached No. The song was the last to be written for The Worship Project; in writing it, Millard drew upon his thoughts about his father's death. "I Can Only Imagine" received positive reviews from critics. It all started before Bart was born when his father, Arthur, suffered a head injury when he was hit by a diesel truck while working as the guy who waves traffic through construction sites. [6] His father began to make amends for his actions and started becoming more religiously observant, reading the Bible and going to church regularly. The inspiring and unknown true story behind MercyMe's beloved, chart topping song that brings ultimate hope to so many is a gripping reminder of the power of true forgiveness. . [86] The video features everyday people as well as several music artists including Michael Tait, Tammy Trent, Bob Herdman, and Jesse Katina, each holding an empty picture frame to signify their loss of a loved one; as the video progresses, they are holding pictures of their loved ones including Millard with his father's photograph. [5], The Worship Project was released on October 14, 1999. "And I grabbed a bat and yelled, 'I'm too big to be treated like that! Starring Dennis Quaid, J. Michael Finley, Trace Adkins, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Watch the Bart Millard Interview & the "I Can Only Imagine" Music Video, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. "I'min a great place now but I never thought in a million years it would actually happen," Millard tells PEOPLE. [21] In the song, the narrator wonders what it would be like to stand before God in heaven. ; 'Black Panther' Sets Marvel Record Sunday Postmortem", "How Warner Bros. Sold 'Ready Player One' On The Spielberg Spirit & Beat Tracking With $53M+ 4-Day Sunday Postmortem", "I Can Only Imagine (2018) International Box Office Results", "Faith-based drama 'I Can Only Imagine' doesn't just preach to the choir", "REVIEW: 'I Can Only Imagine' is one of the most powerful films you'll ever see | Texan Online", June 5 Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Releases, I Can Only Imagine Earns Top Spot on Home Video Charts, "I Can Only Imagine (2018) Financial Information", "People's Choice Awards 2018: The Nominees", "Movieguide Awards: 'Mary Poppins Returns,' 'Spider-Verse' Among Nominees (Exclusive)", "Guild of Music Supervisors Nominates 'A Star Is Born,' 'Mary Poppins Returns' for Top Awards", "Plugged In Movie Awards 2019: And The Winners Are ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Can_Only_Imagine_(film)&oldid=1149546651, Dennis Quaid and J. Michael Finley, for their roles in, This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 22:20. 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