I Saw God Today

Infobox Single
Name = I Saw God Today


Artist = George Strait
Album = Troubadour
Released = Start date|2008|02|04cite web |url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,GAC_26063_5806986_,00.html |title=George Strait's Record-Setting Debut |accessdate=2008-02-15 |date=2008-02-14 |work=Great American Country]
Format = CD single
Recorded =
Genre = Country
Length = 3:22
Label = MCA Nashville
Writer = Rodney Clawson Monty Criswell Wade Kirby
Producer = Tony Brown
Certification =
Last single = "Shiftwork" (w/ Kenny Chesney) (2007)
This single = "I Saw God Today" (2008)
Next single = "Troubadour"
(2008)
Misc =

"I Saw God Today" is a single by American country music artist George Strait. Released in February 2008, the song debuted at #19 on the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs chart, giving Strait the highest chart debut of his career to date, a record previously held by his singles "You'll Be There" and "It Just Comes Natural", both of which debuted at #30 on the same chart. "I Saw God Today" is the first single from his album "Troubadour", which was released on April 1, 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=1386&t=George_Strait_sets_record_with_new_single |title=George Strait sets record with new single |accessdate=2008-02-15 |date=2008-02-15 |work=Country Standard Time]

Content

The song is a mid-tempo ballad in which the lead character is walking down the sidewalk after his wife has just had a baby, meanwhile noticing such things as a flower growing out of a crack in the sidewalk, and a couple who are expecting a baby. Finally, the song ends with the central character in the nursery of a hospital, looking at his own newborn baby girl. He cites each thing that he sees along the way — the flower, the couple, and his newborn daughter — as examples of how he saw God that day.

Reception

Matt C., a critic for The 9513, gave "I Saw God Today" a thumbs-up rating. He said that although it was "similar to the [songs] that countless failed nineties hat acts used to 'launch' their short careers", that Strait's vocal performance nonetheless "makes the song listenable and the country pop lyric's contrast to the country-western material that comprises much of Strait's catalog actually makes this single more memorable than some stronger songs in his hits catalog." [cite web |url=http://www.the9513.com/george-strait-i-saw-god-today/ |title=George Strait - "I Saw God Today" |accessdate=2008-09-03 |last=C. |first=Matt |date=2008-02-13 |work=The 9513]

Chart performance

Having reached number one on the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week of May 3, 2008, "I Saw God Today" is Strait's 43rd "Billboard" Number One hit. Counting Strait's Number One hits on all major trade charts in the United States, it is his 56th Number One, succeeding a record previously held by Conway Twitty for the most Number Ones by a solo country act. [cite web |url=http://www.universalmusic.com/artist-news/george-strait-celebrates-his-unprecedented-56th-chart-topper-with-i-saw-god-today |title=George Strait Celebrates His 56th Chart-Topper, "I Saw God Today" |accessdate=2008-09-03 |date=2008-04-21 |work=Universal Music Group Nashville]

References