The most popular songs of 2017

As we look back at the year that was, let's take a look at the most popular songs of 2017 as played on CHVN.

20. Lights Shine Bright - TobyMac (ft. Hollyn)

From the album "This Is Not a Test", Lights Shine Bright was released halfway through the year. Hollyn joined TobyMac for the song as well as his tour, which came through Winnipeg in October 2016.

Radio plays: 217

Average plays per month (APM): 45

19. Search Me - Allan Froese 

Allan Froese is a Canadian worship leader. According to his bio, Allen's vision "...is to elevate Jesus and proclaim His Renown through my life and music and to encourage people to worship the creator in spirit and truth both corporately and individually." 

Radio plays: 218

APM: 18

18. If I Don't Have You - Love & the Outcome 

After finishing second in 2016 with their song The God I Know, Love & the Outcome came charging back with If I Don't Have You, which released in August. By December, the song made its way up the Billboard charts, peaking at 36.

Radio plays: 221

APM: 46

17. Rescuer (Good News) - Rend Collective

When Rend Collective first started as an experiment, drummer Gareth Gilkeson described it as "a bunch of us trying to figure out life." They certainly did that, releasing yet another Billboard hit, Rescuer (Good News), in September 2017. This one currently sits in 15 and has been on the charts for 16 weeks.

Radio plays: 244

APM: 61

16. O'Lord - Lauren Daigle

Lauren Daigle has released a best-selling single every year for the last four years. 2017's was O'Lord, released near the end of September to massive success.

Radio plays: 248

APM: 76

15. Warrior - Hannah Kerr

Hannah Kerr didn't just release a best-selling single in 2017. She is also touring with Jason Gray and Chris August, and going to university full-time. Her song Warrior was a huge hit with Christians across North America, landing at number 15 on our charts.

Radio plays: 253

APM: 48

14. A Gift from Above - Franklin McKay 

Franklin McKay is a singer from Toronto who has had success in Christian music as well as the Adult Contemporary genre. His latest single, A Gift From Above, made its way up the charts quickly and found a place in our listener's hearts.

Radio plays: 272

APM: 54

13. God Help Me - Plumb

 Plumb left her record label this year to start her own, called Plumb Music. Under it, she released her first single God Help Me, which peaked at 20 on the Billboard Music Charts. It appears like she made the right choice.

Radio plays: 297

APM: 67

12. Easier - Manic Drive 

Canadian Christian rock band Manic Drive released the single Easier on June 23 in preparation for an upcoming album. The song talks about the difficulty of life and why it kind of makes sense.

Radio plays: 301

APM: 48

11. Control - Tenth Avenue North

The band named after a street in Florida released another hit single in July 2017. Control (Somehow You Want Me) is currently sitting in 10th on the Christian Billboard charts after having been on the charts for 17 straight weeks. 

Radio plays: 303

APM: 55

10. Lions - Skillet

Skillet made their way to Winnipeg back in September for the Unleashed Tour and played an incredible concert. One of their newest singles, Lions, peaked on the Billboard charts at 18.

Radio plays: 306

APM: 49

9. Hear Your Heart - myChurch Music

myChurch Music is the worship expression of myChurch Ottawa, according to their website. What an incredible worship service that would be. Hear Your Heart was released in July and within a month, made it on the air in South Africa.  

Radio plays: 328

APM: 60

8. Extraordinary - Laura Story

Extraordinary was released earlier in the year but amassed a huge amount of plays on CHVN. Laura Story has already had three songs hit the top 10 on Billboard and while this one didn't quite make it, it was loved on the radio.

Radio plays: 423

APM: 60

7. Victory - Jordan St. Cyr 

It's been a great year for the Niverville artist. Jordan St. Cyr was named the Christian category winner for an international songwriting competition that had him competing against artists like Aaron Shust and David Crowder. Victory hit the airwaves back in June, shortly after he won a different songwriting competition.

Radio plays: 452

APM:66

6. May Thy Will - Tim Neufeld & the Glory Boys

From the same band that brought you the Hootenanny! tour and a song that talks about an overhead projector came this beautiful ballad. Tim Neufeld, originally from Manitoba and the local band Starfield, released May Thy Will back in May and was recently nominated for Recorded Song of the Year for it.

Radio plays: 473

APM: 68

5. Holding You - Flood the Stone

Flood the Stone came through Winnipeg in May promoting their brand new single, Holding You, and even shared an acoustic version with us. It paid off, because the song ended up being played 510 times throughout the year.

Radio plays: 510

APM: 64

4. First Day of My Life - The Color

The band from small-town Winkler has been building a solid resume over the past few years. This year, they took their music to the United States where they charted on Billboard for the first time. They also released First Day of My Life which jumped to the top of our list quickly.

Radio plays: 530

APM: 112

3. Word of Life - Jeremy Camp

Jeremy Camp has been around for a while and knows how to produce a hit song. In fact, he has released six number one hits according to Billboard. With Word of Life, Camp added yet another top ten hit and finished top three on CHVN's most popular songs of 2017.

Radio plays: 536

APM: 74

2. Burn Bright - Will Walker 

The final two songs seperate themselves from the rest of the list. Both songs had more than 100 more plays than Jeremy Camp. Will Walker takes the top spot for Canadian artists. The Canadian worship leader continues to be involved with Compassion Canada and speaks across the country.

Radio plays: 648

APM: 74

1. Whole Heart - Brandon Heath

The number one song of 2017 was Brandon Heath's Whole Heart, which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Christian charts back in November. 

Radio plays: 654

APM: 87