Skip to main content

Hunter Plake, Dancing In The Courts: Joy in His Presence


'Dancing In The Courts' by Hunter Plake is about the essence of true joy and surrender. It reflects Plake's desire to choose Jesus over everything else, and rejoice in His presence and the promise of an eternal life with Him.

Hunter Plake - Dancing In The CourtsGrowing up in a family of musicians and minsters, Hunter Plake's path to his BEC Recordings debut took a few unexpected detours. As a teen, Plake led worship in his home church, even getting his GED his junior year of high school so he could attend ministry school. But it wasn't until he auditioned for NBC's The Voice that music became a possible career path. 'A friend of mine, Koryn Hawthorne, had just gone to the finale on The Voice. I thought, well, if she can do it,' Plake says with a smile. He ended up placing fifth in his season, opening doors for him to pursue music full-time.

After a few years of recording pop songs, producing and trying to make a go of it in Los Angeles, Plake felt something missing in his life. In June of 2020, his nagging and ever-present sense of emptiness grew into a full-on collpase. 'I hit a breaking point and had a total breakdown,' Plake says. 'I hit the end of myself.' In crisis mode, Plake turned inward, writing songs between himself and God instead of performing for an audience. His realization? If it comes down to choosing between anything and Jesus, Jesus wins every time! This insight has led to his latest song, 'Dancing In The Courts.' 

His commitment is clearly visible in the lyrics, 'I just wanna walk inside the light, 'Cause nothing in this world compares to eternal life.' With this song Plake encourages us to let go of our own burdens and pride, and make it a priority to find joy in God's presence. The chorus, 'Dancing in the courts with you, This life is temporary so I'm not gonna worry,' is a powerful affirmation of faith, a reminder to live fully in the moment, anchored in the unwavering hope of an eternal life with Him.

Plake's music gives listeners in the 'alternative' genre something to listen to but still know what the songs are about. His songs are not vague. It's about Jesus, you can hear that. With music that can carry you away intertwined with lyrics that keep you grounded, Plake's songs are a shining example of a man who's stepped back from the edge. 

Plake shares: 'At the end of the day, if I have to choose between Jesus or something else, I'll choose Him every time. That's what changed for me. That's what makes me excited. That's why I wanna do music.'

(Related scripture: John 8:12; Revelation 21:4; Psalm 84:10)

Listen to a podcast episode about this song

Connect with Hunter Plake


You can listen to the track directly on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0o06o4YM5i8KQSMXfZf57Z

Here is a link to the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1NyPybFxUo

Would you like to hear more CCM music? Then check out our Christian playlists on: https://www.christiandance.eu/playlists

PS: Did you know that the posts we have on Medium.com also contain the backstories that artists have shared with us? Check it out on: https://christianmusictoday.eu/

Popular posts

'Lonely Dirt Road' by Dax: A Journey to Solitude and God

Dax's 'Lonely Dirt Road' is a conversation that Dax has with himself and God. Dax shares his journey of turning mental health walks into healing solitary drives. As you listen, you can almost feel the cruise, where it's just you, your thoughts, and God.  The chorus is so relatable: 'When I need space, that's where I go, a place to escape that nobody knows.' What do you do when life's pressures stack high? Do you also have a space where you can let go? That lonely dirt road that Dax sings about symbolizes solitude, but it is also an incredible opportunity for connecting with God.  Dax's honesty is raw and relatable. 'I didn't want my family to see me cry… dealing with the pressure of trying to provide.' There are times when we all put on a smile to hide how challenging situations may be. Like his father, Dax says that he finds peace on this lonely road, where challenges become opportunities to grow. This shows the core of our faith: that...

Top 2000 Year-End Chart - Best Christian Contemporary Songs Streamed in 2021 - (HOT CHRISTIAN SONGS)

Our Top 2000 Year-End Chart of the most-streamed Christian Contemporary Music (CCM & CEDM) in 2021.  One single playlist with 154 hours and 36 minutes of listening pleasure. Ranking the 2000 most streamed songs of the year. View our Top 2000 Charts Archive You can listen to the playlist on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0eGdkgGmwk5k78RupaYxWx We have synced this playlist to Deezer and YouTube (the majority of the songs from our playlist are also on these platforms). On Deezer:   https://www.deezer.com/playlist/8426311062   On YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSxwvzjqcN_Zy_DopeCUDK8BPxkL8by7e   Don't forget to check out our other Christian playlists on:  https://www.christiandance.eu/playlists

"Hallelujah" by Kensie Breen: Finding Grace in Every Broken Hallelujah

Kensie Breen's "Hallelujah" takes Leonard Cohen's timeless song and gives it a warm, country-Christmas vibe. Kensie, just 14 years old, beautifully emphasizes the reality of faith, the never-ending clash between biblical beauty and human brokenness.  Staying true to Cohen's original lyrics, Kensie traces David and Samson's stories. Stories that remind us that even when we've "done our best, it wasn't much," and still we can stand before the "Lord of Song" with our praises. The song gives us the hope that every hallelujah on our lips, holy or broken, can still rise to God.  So what does that mean for us? It means our imperfect worship still matters. Our mixed-up, mid-December heart still counts. It invites us to stop looking for excuses and just praise, because He is listening. He hears our praises, and He knows our hearts. May Kensie's beautiful rendition of Cohen's "Hallelujah" remind you that true worship isn...