CCM EXCLUSIVE: Music Behind the Movie A Week Away Part 3—Amy Grant

Capitol CMG and Netflix are seeing millions of streams for the newly released hit soundtrack for Netflix’s Christian movie, A Week Away. Instantly familiar, yet completely new, the film’s soundtrack features hits from Christian music icons reimagined and revamped to engage today’s listeners. The movie stars former Disney Channel and current Hallmark Channel stars Bailee Madison and Kevin Quinn. Songs featured in the film and on the soundtrack include, Amy Grant’s “Baby, Baby,” Steven Curtis Chapman’s “Great Adventure” and “Dive,” Michael W. Smith’s “Place in this World,” Audio Adrenaline’s “Big House,” Rich Mullins’ “Awesome God,” and for KING & COUNTRY’s “God Only Knows.”

In this interview series, CCMmagazine.com will bring you EXCLUSIVE interviews with many of the original artists whose songs were featured in the Netflix original movie, A Week Away. Next up…Amy Grant.

CCM: How did you first learn about A Week Away? What were your thoughts when you learned that your iconic song(s) would be included in Netflix’s newest original film?
My friend and manager, Jennifer Cooke, heard from Gabriel Vasquez (the producer and creator of the film) that he had been working for a long time on a High School Musical type movie but one that was based around church camp and classic CCM music. Gabe had been part of the Word Records team for years and so Jen and I were excited to hear he was pursuing such a huge creative dream. I went to church camp. I mean, if you grew up connected to a church, chances are you went to church camp. And so when he came up with that idea, we were excited and said, “Oh my gosh, please do it and do it well!”

CCM: The 30th anniversary of “Baby, Baby” is this May. What was it like to hear your classic song reimagined in this film?
I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect time table. We are celebrating the nostalgic side of that song, and I love the fact that it fit into this film in such a fun and fresh way. I love that it came from a male perspective. I thought it was so charming and beautiful. When I was on the set filming that day, I had a chance to hear the recording for the first time, and I could tell the kids were just so proud. And it sounded great.

CCM: Where were you—in life, in your career, etc.—when “Baby, Baby” originally came out? What was going on? What did it mean to you then, and what does it mean to you now?
When “Baby, Baby” first came out, those were some of the most exciting, labor intensive years of my entire life. I was in the middle of probably about fifteen really intense touring years that started in the early eighties, and my whole life felt like I was drinking out of a firehose. I had young kids. I was part of an amazing creative team and a great road crew. I look back on that time and I remember traveling around the world touring. Let me just say, it’s a lot more peaceful and celebratory in a beautiful way from this vantage point. I love looking back on that. If somebody said, “You’ve got to go live that whole thing again right now,” I wouldn’t have the juice for it.

CCM: As a whole new generation is introduced to your music, what do you most hope they take away from it?
I think music is great company. I hope that the right songs find somebody that needs companionship with that music and that lyric. I mean, to me, music is companionship for the journey. And I know the music that I discovered as a kid and from the generation ahead of me—or two generations ahead of me—I would be like, “I’m just mining a gold mine here! How did I not know about this?” And that is the amazing thing about music; it is timeless. We can go back and discover writers and performers who are long gone. And I’m not gone.

CCM: Worship and song can create such a powerful connection to God and to others, reminding us that we are not alone: someone else has been where we are, and God sees us and knows what we’re going through. How do you anticipate those connections to be strengthened through the music of A Week Away?
First off, I thought how that campfire scene was a worshipful experience. How that was captured—they got it. That was killer! It was just so beautiful. I think those experiences have happened hundreds of thousands of times. I think music is probably the portal through which each of us have our first encounter with God. Sometimes it happens with a peer group at a place like church camp—where you go, “How can I be involved in this music and something in me feels better? I feel better on the inside. I feel seen and loved.” And they did such a good job of capturing that.

CCM: The soundtrack and film are releasing almost exactly a year after the start of the pandemic. It has been a year of isolation for so many. What do you think of this unique timing? What do you hope listeners get out of the soundtrack and musical?
I think the pandemic has opened all of our eyes up to see each other maybe more clearly than we have ever had the opportunity to see each other. I think for the audience that this film is geared for, it’s a beautiful step to teach a young audience to see people for who they are. I mean the best things happen sometimes because you didn’t plan them. They just sort of converge in a beautiful way that makes them more powerful. And I think that’s the case with this timing and this movie.

CCM: You also made a cameo in the film. How did you enjoy acting in the film and being on set?
I loved making a cameo in the movie. I have a lot of respect for actors and actresses, and because of the little bit I’ve stuck my toe in those waters I know it is harder than you think. But cameos are not hard. And it was fun. I was so glad to be included. I was really proud to be included.

YouTube Soundtrack Playlist:

Spotify Soundtrack Playlist:

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Soundtrack Track Listing:
1 – Let’s Go Make A Memory
by Kevin Quinn & Bailee Madison & Jahbril Cook & Kat Conner Sterling & Iain Tucker & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

2 – The Great Adventure
by Kevin Quinn & Bailee Madison & Jahbril Cook & Kat Conner Sterling & Iain Tucker & Sherri Shepherd & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

3 – Good Enough
by Kevin Quinn & Bailee Madison & Jahbril Cook & Kat Conner Sterling & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

4 – Dive
by Kevin Quinn & Bailee Madison & Jahbril Cook & Kat Conner Sterling & Iain Tucker & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

5 – Baby, Baby
by Jahbril Cook & Kevin Quinn & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

6 – Place In This World
by Kevin Quinn & Bailee Madison & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

7 – Big House
by Kevin Quinn & Bailee Madison & Jahbril Cook & Kat Conner Sterling & Iain Tucker & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

8 – Awesome God / God Only Knows (Campfire Medley)
by Kevin Quinn & Bailee Madison & Jahbril Cook & Kat Conner Sterling & Iain Tucker & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

9 – Where I Belong
by Kevin Quinn & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

10 – Best Thing Ever (Stage Version)
by Kevin Quinn & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

11 – Best Thing Ever (Reprise)
by Kevin Quinn & Bailee Madison & Jahbril Cook & Kat Conner Sterling & Iain Tucker & The Cast Of Netflix’s Film A Week Away

12 – Best Thing Ever
by JOHNNYSWIM

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