I Just Need U

"I Just Need U" (stylized as "I just need U."^[1]) is a song by American Christian musician TobyMac. It was released as a single on January 5, 2018.^[2] The song debuted at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his sixth No. 1 on the chart.^[3] It spent 30 weeks on the overall chart.^[4]

"I Just Need U"
Single by TobyMac
from the album The Elements
Released	January 5, 2018
Genre	Christian rock Christian pop
Length	3:46
Label	ForeFront EMI CMG
Songwriter(s)	Kevin McKeehan Bryan Fowler Blake NeeSmith
Producer(s)	Bryan Fowler Kevin McKeehan
TobyMac singles chronology
"Lights Shine Bright" (2017) "I Just Need U" (2018) "Everything" (2018)
Music video
"I Just Need U" on YouTube

Background

On December 21, 2017, Toby posted a photo on his Instagram page revealing that he was planning on releasing a new single at the beginning of 2018.^[5] On January 1, 2018, he officially confirmed the release of the single with a tease of the cover.^[6] The song was released on January 5, 2018.^[7]

The song is about finding God rather than relying on his own strength. He wrote the song with Bryan Fowler and Finding Favour's Blake NeeSmith. He expresses how important the song means to him in an interview:^[8]

"'I Just Need U' is where I land time and time again after my futile attempts to handle life on my own. I am a born defector learning every day that the sweetest place and the only right place for me is turning back and falling into the arms of a loving God."

In another interview with Billboard, he told about the story of the song and how it was put together:^[9]

"['I Just Need U'] started in a session writing for the band Finding Favour, but they said it wasn't for them. I thought about [it] and began plowing through my feelings. The world tricks us into thinking certain things will fulfill us, [but] time and again I end up hungry. But when I look to my faith, I begin to find a permanent fulfillment. There's depth and there's soul, which is what you would expect from a seasoned artist."

Music video

A music video for "I Just Need U" was released on March 24, 2018.^[10] The visual features Toby driving through the scenic Southern California desert.^[11] As of November 2021, the video has over 65 million views on YouTube.

Track listing

• Digital download^[12]

1. "I just need U." – 3:46

• Digital download (Capital Kings Remix)^[13]

1. "I just need U." – 3:05

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "I Just Need U" Chart (2018) Peak position US Christian Songs (Billboard)[14] 1 US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[15] 1 US Christian AC (Billboard)[16] 1 US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[17] 31

Year-end charts 2018 year-end chart performance for "I Just Need U" Chart (2018) Peak position UK Cross Rhythms Annual Chart[18] 19 US Christian Songs (Billboard)[19] 3 US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[20] 3 US Christian CHR (Billboard)[21] 1 US Christian AC (Billboard)[22] 4 US Weekend 22[23] 10 Decade-end charts Decade-end chart performance for "I Just Need You" Chart (2010s) Position US Christian Songs (Billboard)[24] 36

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[25]	Gold	20,000‡
United States (RIAA)[26]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "I just need U." Spotify. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
2. "I just need U. – Single". Apple Music. 5 January 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
3. "TobyMac's 'I just need U' Soars to No.1 on Billboard". SpiritSongFest. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
4. "Hot Christian Songs - August 11, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
5. "officialtobymac-HARD AT WORK". Instagram. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
6. "officialtobymac-newyear". Instagram. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
7. "officialtobymac-my new song". Instagram. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
8. "I Just Need U by tobyMac". SongsFacts. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
9. "tobyMac Breaks Down How He Earned His First No. 1 Hit In Over Five Years". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
10. "TobyMac - I just need U." Retrieved May 4, 2018 – via YouTube.
11. "TobyMac Premieres "I Just Need U." Music Video". 23 March 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018 – via TheChristianBeat.
12. "I just need U./TobyMac TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
13. "I just need U. (Capital Kings Remix)". Tidal. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
14. "TobyMac Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
15. "TobyMac Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
16. "TobyMac - Christian AC History". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
17. "TobyMac Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
18. "Cross Rhythms– Year-End 2018". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
19. "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
20. "Christian Airplay - Year-End 2018 - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
21. "Christian Pop Songs - Year-End 2018 - Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
22. "Christian AC - Year-End 2018 - Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
23. "Weekend 22 - Year-End 2018". Retrieved 2 January 2019.
24. "Hot Christian Songs – Decade-End 2010s". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
25. "Brazilian single certifications – tobyMac – I Just Need U" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
26. "American single certifications – tobyMac – I Just Need U". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 15, 2024.