View source for Forgiveness (Matthew West song)

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Forgiveness
| cover      = MatthewWestForgiveness.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Matthew West]]
| album      = [[Into the Light (Matthew West album)|Into the Light]]
| released   = July 10, 2012<ref name=AMAZON>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E14JJA|title=Forgiveness|author=Matthew West|date=July 10, 2012|publisher=[[Amazon.com]]|accessdate=July 22, 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2020}}</ref>
| format     =
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Contemporary Christian music|CCM]], [[pop rock]]
| length     = {{duration|m=4|s=26}} (album version)<br>{{duration|m=4}} (radio edit)
| label      = [[Sparrow Records|Sparrow]]
| writer     = Matthew West<ref name=VIDEO>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIbCpy0CQEo|title=Matthew West - Forgiveness (Lyric Video)|author=SparrowRecords|date=July 13, 2012|publisher=[[YouTube]]|accessdate=July 22, 2012}}</ref>
| producer   = Peter Kipley
| prev_title = Strong Enough
| prev_year  = 2011
| next_title = [[Hello, My Name Is (song)|Hello, My Name Is]]
| next_year  = 2013
}}
"'''Forgiveness'''" is a song written and performed by [[Contemporary Christian music]]ian, [[Matthew West]]. It was released as the first single from his 2012 album, ''[[Into the Light (Matthew West album)|Into the Light]]'', on July 10, 2012.<ref name=AMAZON/><ref>{{cite web|url = https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/into-the-light/724606487|title = Into The Light by Matthew West|date = September 21, 2012|access-date = September 8, 2018|publisher = ITunes}}</ref> The song peaked at No. 2 on the US [[Hot Christian Songs]] chart, becoming his eleventh Top 10 single from that chart. The song spent 40 weeks on the overall chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/matthew-west/chart-history/ico/|title=Forgiveness by Matthew West Billboard|date=January 1, 2012|publisher=Tunebat|accessdate=September 8, 2018}}</ref> The song is played in a [[C major]] key, and 89 [[beats per minute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tunebat.com/Info/Forgiveness-Matthew-West/5QuWqlkXNr4X3PrsBYf4l9|title=Key & BPM for Forgiveness by Matthew West|date=January 1, 2012|publisher=Tunebat|accessdate=September 8, 2018}}</ref>
== Background ==
The song was inspired by the true story of Renee Napier, who chose to forgive Eric Smallridge, a drunk driver who took the life of her 20-year-old daughter.<ref name=CCMWITH>{{cite web|url=http://georgia.thejoyfm.com/asheard/2012-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714112626/http://georgia.thejoyfm.com/asheard/2012-07-30 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |title=As Heard Highlights|last=West|first=Matthew|date=August 6, 2012|accessdate=August 10, 2012|page=1}}</ref> As West explained to [[CCM Magazine]], "the story made me take a look at my own life and ask myself if I'd be able to do the impossible, just like she did."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://air1.com/behind/2012-07-23/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104073200/http://www.air1.com/behind/2012-07-23/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 4, 2018 |title=Matthew West- Forgiveness |last=West |first=Matthew |date=July 23, 2012 |publisher=CCM Magazine |accessdate=August 10, 2012}}</ref>
The song was used in a promotional trailer for the release of [[Karen Kingsbury]]'s 2013 novel ''The Chance''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owU5zK8ftQY|title=Karen Kingsbury's The Chance|last=Simon & Schuster Books|date=September 12, 2013|publisher=|accessdate=January 3, 2018|via=YouTube}}</ref> The song is referenced at a key point in the novel, after one of the main characters realizes his harsh, judgmental attitude has left him estranged from his wife and daughter.
==Track listing==
;CD release<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Accompaniment-Performance-Track-Matthew/dp/B0094OFK3A |title=Forgiveness Accompaniment/Performance Track  |accessdate= 8 September 2018}}</ref>
#"Forgiveness" – 4:26
#"Forgiveness <small>(Vocal Demonstration)" – 4:26</small>
#"Forgiveness <small>(High Key With Background Vocals)" – 4:26</small>
#"Forgiveness <small>(High Key Without Background Vocals)" – 4:26</small>
#"Forgiveness <small>(Medium Key With Background Vocals)" – 4:26</small>
#"Forgiveness <small>(Medium Key Without Background Vocals)" – 4:26</small>
#"Forgiveness <small>(Low Key With Background Vocals)" – 4:26</small>
#"Forgiveness <small>(Low Key Without Background Vocals)" – 4:26</small>
*'''Digital download'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Forgiveness - Matthew West|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/forgiveness/1021688072?i=1021689182|publisher=iTunes|accessdate=September 8, 2018}}</ref>
#"Forgiveness"&nbsp;– 4:27
*'''Digital download <small>(acoustic version)</small>'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Forgiveness (acoustic) - Matthew West
|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/forgiveness-acoustic/724606487?i=724607391|publisher=iTunes|accessdate=September 8, 2018}}</ref>
#"Forgiveness"&nbsp;– 4:03
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=== Weekly charts ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Charts (2012)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|align="left"|US [[Christian adult contemporary|Christian AC Indicator]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/matthew-west/chart-history/christian-ac-indicator |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526125618/https://www.billboard.com/music/matthew-west/chart-history/christian-ac-indicator |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |title=Matthew West - Christian AC Indicator History |publisher=Billboard |date= |accessdate=September 8, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"| 1
|-
|align="left"|US [[Christian adult contemporary|Christian AC]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/matthew-west/chart-history/ica/ |title=Matthew West - Christian AC History |publisher=Billboard |date= |accessdate=September 8, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"| 2
|-
|US [[Christian CHR]] (''Billboard'')
|align="center"| 9
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardchristiansongs|2|artist=Matthew West|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 8, 2018}}
|-
|align="left"|US [[Christian adult contemporary|Christian Soft AC/Inspirational]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/matthew-west/chart-history/christian-soft-ac/1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526131217/https://www.billboard.com/music/matthew-west/chart-history/christian-soft-ac/1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |title=Matthew West - Soft Christian AC History |publisher=Billboard |date= |accessdate=September 8, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"| 3
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2013)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| US [[Christian Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-christian-songs|title = Hot Christian Songs - Year-End 2012 - Billboard|access-date = 8 September 2018}}</ref>
| 14
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2013)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| US [[Christian Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-christian-songs|title = Hot Christian Songs - Year-End 2013 - Billboard|access-date = 8 September 2018}}</ref>
| 25
|-
|}
===Decade-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2010s)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US Christian Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.billboard.com/music/matthew-west/chart-history/3AT|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191101000929/https://www.billboard.com/music/matthew-west/chart-history/3AT|url-status = dead|archive-date = November 1, 2019|title = Hot Christian Songs – Decade-End 2010s|work = Billboard|access-date = October 31, 2019}}</ref>
| 42
|}
{{col-end}}
[[File:Matthew West on stage with Forgiveness inspiration Renee Napier.jpg|thumb|right|West on stage with Renee Napier]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Matthew West}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forgiveness}}
[[Category:2012 singles]]
[[Category:Matthew West songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Matthew West]]
[[Category:2012 songs]]
[[Category:Sparrow Records singles]]