"Desperate" is the debut single by American alternative pop musician Jamie MacDonald. The song was officially released as a single on , through Capitol CMG. It peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and No. 1 on the Christian adult contemporary chart. On June 6, 2025, an extended single was released, featuring four remixed or alternate recordings of the song.
On July 11, 2025, a rendition of the song featuring Lauren Daigle, was released.
The song was written by MacDonald, Jonathan Gamble, and Jordan Sapp with Sapp as producer. Its central theme is the importance of having faith in difficult times. MacDonald said of the song:The song was inspired by the death of MacDonald's father.
"Desperate" is in the key of F with a speed of 70 beats per minute and a time signature of .
"Desperate" was nominated at the 2025 K-Love Fan Awards for Song of the Year and Breakout Single of the Year. At the 2025 GMA Dove Awards, "Desperate" was nominated for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.
Speaking for Jesus Freak Hideout, Josh Balogh awarded the song a 4-out-of-5 star review, stating that the vocals "occasionally blur the line between MacDonald and Daigle, making it tricky to distinguish Daigle's feature", and that "a touch more separation could have highlighted her contribution", but still praised the song as a "heartrending anthem that transforms personal sorrow into collective hope".
"Desperate" debuted at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, later reaching No. 11 on the chart. Additionally, the song reached No. 3 on the Christian Airplay chart, and topped the Christian adult contemporary chart. It peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart.
Taking twelve weeks to reach the top position, Billboard credited the song as being the fastest rise to No. 1 on the Christian Adult Contemporary chart by a female artist, excluding holiday music, since Lauren Daigle's "You Say" in 2018. It became the first leading debut single by a female artist since Jordin Sparks' "Love Me Like I Am" in 2023. Remaining for seven weeks, the song also marked the longest run at No. 1 on the chart, until the record was broken by MacDonald's follow-up single, "Left It in the River".
Adapted from AllMusic.