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

"I'm Yours (Radio Edit)" by Avery Stafford: Soaring Faith Like an Eagle

What does it mean to truly surrender? Avery Stafford answers that question with conviction in "I'm Yours (Radio Edit)", a song that's finally getting its own moment in the spotlight. "I'm Yours" was originally released as part of the End of Five album back in 2012. This fan-favorite track blends Avery's characteristic gospel soul vibe with contemporary inspiration in a manner that feels both timeless and personal. It's the kind of song that doesn't just sound good, it continues to touch hearts and encourage our surrender to Him, our Savior. The key message in this song is a simple message of complete devotion to God. From the opening lines, Avery sets the tone: "I give You praise in unexpected ways, from my heart and my soul." This isn't polished religion. It's raw, everyday faith. The kind that shows up at the break of dawn and in the quiet moments in between. "I'm Yours" is a song about letting go of fear an...

"Joy of the Lord (444 Hz)" by Andy & Julie Frame: Eternal Reign and Righteous Love

What does it mean to truly experience joy — not the fleeting kind, but the kind that sustains you? Andy & Julie Frame answer that question beautifully in Joy of the Lord (444 Hz), a song that begins as an intimate Indie pop meditation and builds into full congregational worship. The song opens with a declaration: “The Lord our God shall reign forever.” Simple, powerful, and true. Our God is Truth, a righteous Judge, merciful, and full of love. If our God isn’t worth celebrating, then I don’t know what is! Ask yourself… What does His reign mean for you? Andy and Julie Frame sing: “He’s the God of Love” and “He gives sight so the blind can see // He sets all of the captives free.” And don’t forget, He has given us life! These aren’t just poetic lines! These are just a few of the many promises He has made to you and me! The chorus describes our response: “Praise to our God who’s given us life, the Joy of the Lord and His beautiful light,” and the bridge of the song declares: “Jesu...

"Vine" by Oludee: Fruitfulness Through Surrender

(by Jasper Tan) "Vine" by Oludee is a very beautiful, soulful song that talks about trust, surrender, and putting our Faith in God. What makes this song so beautiful is the musical choice that Oludee chose to produce with the given theme. It's easy listening and soulful, which can be a good song to listen to during our moments of devotion and personal worship with God. The opening lines of the song quickly establish the message that we can't just rely on ourselves in our day-to-day living, but it is important that we learn to recognize God in our lives. By putting our complete trust and faith in Him, we would be able to navigate life's challenges more easily, as we would be experiencing more stability. To know and understand that God is with us, we would not succumb to our hopelessness because we understand that God will always carry us during our times of need. Using Vine as a metaphor, it serves as a symbol of life, nourishment, and protection. This recurring re...