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/

Tags:

Popular posts

"At The Feet (Midnight)" by Action Worship: Surrender and Rest

(by Jasper Tan) After making a review of Action Worship's song "All Praise (Dawn)" early this year (which, by the way, moved me so much), Action Worship is here once more with a beautiful follow-up single called "At The Feet (Midnight)." Continuing their songwriting sessions at a beach house retreat, "At The Feet" is a powerful and once more immersive Christian contemporary worship song that captures a raw and intimate atmosphere of worship. Like their other previously released songs, the track is anchored in a "Beach House" setting, leaning on a warm, organic, and slightly lo-fi feel as compared to the more traditional stadium worship recordings of other Worship songs. This makes the song feel more like a shared spiritual experience rather than a polished studio recording. This has always been Action Worship's greatest strength with their songs. And this creative process has definitely defined the signature sound of the Action Worship te...
More >>

"Lord You Are So Awesome" by Mario Tucker: Turning Everyday Moments into Praise

“Lord You Are So Awesome” by Mario Tucker is a reminder that worship doesn’t have to be complicated in order to be powerful. The song is based on the fact that what matters the most is that God’s greatness deserves our constant praise. Our praise doesn't have to meet any quality standards for it to be pleasing to God. So, ask yourself... when was the last time that you took a moment to say, “Lord you are so awesome / Lord you are so great / Your name is above the Heavens”? This song invites you to be constantly aware of God’s greatness, and that includes awareness outside the walls of church, like during car rides, your quiet time, and those precious triumphs in life. It's an awareness that leads to response. “So let’s praise and magnify your name.” Praise is not a matter of passively observing and responding... it’s a call to turn your admiration into active devotion. Think about it for a moment: what would change in your life if praise became your first reaction instead of ...
More >>

"Psalm 9 (Thank You)" by Red Letter Society: God's Sovereign Justice

Jordan West and the Red Letter Society continue their ambitious journey through the Psalms. "Psalm 9 (Thank You)" is a message of thanksgiving to a sovereign, righteous God who defends the oppressed and judges evil with perfect justice.  The song emphasizes the two core promises found in Psalm 9: "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." And, those who know God's name can trust Him, because He "has never forsaken those who seek Him." So, what do you do when depression fills your heart? Do you feel abandoned? Instead of focusing on pain, this song declares that God remains seated through (your) chaos. He is and always will be a stronghold even when "war" draws near. The lyrics ask: "My trials feel unseen // Have you forsaken me?" , and emphasize that you are not unseen.  The chorus invites us to praise through our fears. "I will thank you," because we trust the promise that our God judges...
More >>