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ZOEgirl (album)
Encyclopedia
ZOEgirl, released in 2000, is the first studio album from Christian
girl group ZOEgirl
. It was released on August 15, 2000 through Sparrow Records
. "I Believe", "Anything Is Possible", "No You" and "Living For You" were released as radio singles.
When the album's musical content was finished, ZOEgirl traveled to New York City
to meet with a stylist for fashion suggestions regarding a photo shoot. After they agreed on what to wear, they traveled to Los Angeles
, California
for an entire photo shoot day. It is unknown whether the music video was also recorded in this city, but the similarities between the album art and the music video seem to suggest this to be true.
cassette of WOW Hits 2001
.
The album peaked at No. 173 on the Billboard 200, No. 11 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian Charts and No. 8 on the Billboard Heatseeker's Chart. As of October 2003, over 350 000 copies of the debut record were sold.
noted that those who "like to dance but really don't like the secular junk (Britney Spears
) [...] will want to check ZOEgirl out." Meanwhile, Christian Music Today pointed out that the album "still didn't seem to measure up to mainstream quality songwriting and production." This was echoed by American Culture Scope, stating that the "sweet and sour" album was "tasteless" and that "groups such as SHeDAISY
[&] Dixie Chicks
[are] much better."
Nearly a decade after its release, ZOEgirl admits that their debut album was "bashed" by critics.
video game. This single peaked at No. 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart for Christian radio.
"Anything Is Possible", another single, has "haunty storming sound effects and a fast pace beat". It peaked at No. 8 on Christian CHR
.
"Suddenly" is a song featured in Dance Praise.
"Give Me One Reason" is a song written solely by ZOEgirl. It is about a Christian girl who "realizes that […] she was previously leading [a sinful life that] is not right." The lyrics were considered by critics to be "sophisticated, well worked on".
"Living For You" is a worship song. Like "I Believe", it peaked at No. 4 on Christian radio's Adult Contemporary chart.
"No You" is a slow-paced, tender song.
"Little Did I Know" is a song with a country-themed verse. It features an explosive bubblegum pop chorus.
"Stop Right There" is a song similar to, but more upbeat and less popular than, "Give Me One Reason".
"Upside Down" discusses "the shallowness of pop culture" or, more accurately, mainstream media. It also talks about materialism and overconsumption. Critics considered the song to be bizarre because ZOEgirl, as a bubblegum pop group, perceives the pop culture as negative. The lyrics are "not very well written" and "not very clear". Hence, this track is deemed "the worst ZOEgirl song, EVER" and likely led to the debut album's poor reviews.
"Live Life" is a song.
"Constantly", the final track, is written by Kristin Schweain with the help of Michael Quinlan. Schweain says: "[Constantly] most deeply ministers to me [as…] the cry of my heart many times. […] most people can relate to pleading with God to once again forgive and not give up on them. How can He[…?] The one constant […] in my life is God unfailing love, despite my fears and all my faults."
Several products related to this album were released.
:
Additionally, the following remixes can be found on Life
's limited edition single.
Karaoke tracks were also released. Volume one of ZOEgirl's Open Mic Karaoke disc series features "I Believe" and "Anything Is Possible".
, released in 2005, featured two songs from ZOEgirl's debut album: "I Believe" and "Suddenly".
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
girl group ZOEgirl
ZOEgirl
ZOEgirl was a Christian pop rock band. It was formed of singers Chrissy Conway-Katina, Alisa Childers and Kristin Swinford-Schweain. In 2002, ZOEgirl received a GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. Before disbanding, the band released three more studio albums, as well as a remix album and a...
. It was released on August 15, 2000 through Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
. "I Believe", "Anything Is Possible", "No You" and "Living For You" were released as radio singles.
Background
After the ZOEgirl group was formed, they immediately began to work on their self-titled album at a fast pace. They temporarily separated during the Christmas holidays of 1999 to pray about the album and the message they should record on it. After this, they realized that they wanted to talk about their relationships with God and the romantic relationships that people may face in life. Producers remarked that paper, drafting the debut album's content, was scattered all around the studio.When the album's musical content was finished, ZOEgirl traveled to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to meet with a stylist for fashion suggestions regarding a photo shoot. After they agreed on what to wear, they traveled to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for an entire photo shoot day. It is unknown whether the music video was also recorded in this city, but the similarities between the album art and the music video seem to suggest this to be true.
Release
ZOEgirl was released to retail stores on October 15, 2000. It included a link to ZOEgirlOnline.com which served as the group's website. The music video for "I Believe" was released around that time and could be streamed online via this site. A higher quality version of the video was also released on the VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
cassette of WOW Hits 2001
WOW Hits 2001
WOW Hits 2001 is a Canadian compilation album of thirty Contemporary Christian music hits and three bonus tracks that was released on October 24, 2000. It included some music video content accessible with a CD-ROM drive. The album reached #36 on the Billboard 200 chart, and #1 on the Top...
.
The album peaked at No. 173 on the Billboard 200, No. 11 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian Charts and No. 8 on the Billboard Heatseeker's Chart. As of October 2003, over 350 000 copies of the debut record were sold.
Reception
ZOEgirl got negative to average reviews. Jesus Freak HideoutJesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
noted that those who "like to dance but really don't like the secular junk (Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
) [...] will want to check ZOEgirl out." Meanwhile, Christian Music Today pointed out that the album "still didn't seem to measure up to mainstream quality songwriting and production." This was echoed by American Culture Scope, stating that the "sweet and sour" album was "tasteless" and that "groups such as SHeDAISY
SHeDAISY
SHeDAISY is an American country music group founded in the late 1980s by sisters Kristyn Robyn Osborn , Kelsi Marie Osborn , and Kassidy Lorraine Osborn from Magna, Utah...
[&] Dixie Chicks
Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
[are] much better."
Nearly a decade after its release, ZOEgirl admits that their debut album was "bashed" by critics.
Track listing
All the songs from ZOEgirls debut album were written by at least one band member. Some songs were written with the help of non-members.| # | Title | Writers | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Believe" | Alisa Childers Alisa Childers Alisa Childers is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for being in the all female group ZOEgirl. She has had a string of top ten radio singles, four studio releases, and received the Dove Award from being with ZOEgirl... |
4:06 |
| 2. | "Anything Is Possible" | Kristin Schweain, Childers Alisa Childers Alisa Childers is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for being in the all female group ZOEgirl. She has had a string of top ten radio singles, four studio releases, and received the Dove Award from being with ZOEgirl... , Conway-Katina, Joe Priolo |
3:17 |
| 3. | "Suddenly" | Schweain, Childers, Conway-Katina, Tedd T Tedd T Tedd T., born Tedd Andrew Tjornhom , is a Grammy Award–winning music producer, songwriter, arranger, programmer, and engineer. He also launched the independent record label Teleprompt Records in 2003 as a joint venture with Word / Warner Music Group. His interest in the music industry began in his... , Lynn Nichols Lynn Nichols Lynn Arthur Nichols is an American songwriter, producer, and musician from New York who now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.In 1977, Nichols was a member of the Phil Keaggy Band, with Phil Madeira, Terry Andersen and Dan Cunningham. The band released one album together, entitled Emerging... |
4:27 |
| 4. | "Give Me One Reason" | Schweain, Childers, Conway-Katina | 4:53 |
| 5. | "Living For You" | Schweain, Childers, Conway-Katina, Priolo, Shauna Bolton | 3:45 |
| 6. | "No You" | Conway-Katina, Priolo, Bolton, Errol Johnson | 4:44 |
| 7. | "Little Did I Know" | Schweain, Childers, Conway-Katina, Tedd T, Steve Hartley, Nichols | 3:26 |
| 8. | "Stop Right There" | Schweain, Childers, Conway-Katina, Priolo, Johnson | 3:31 |
| 9. | "Upside Down" | Schweain, Childers, Conway-Katina, Michael Quinlan | 3:59 |
| 10. | "Live Life" | Schweain, Childers, Conway-Katina, Quinlan | 4:03 |
| 11. | "Constantly" | Schweain, Quinlan | 4:26 |
Song by song
"I Believe" is the album's first track and lead single. It is written solely by Alisa Childers, during "a time of praise and worship […as…] an anthem […for…] all denominations and backgrounds". A music video was made for this song. Additionally, the track is a playable song on the Original Dance PraiseOriginal Dance Praise
Dance Praise is a Christian dance video game developed and published by Digital Praise.-Development:...
video game. This single peaked at No. 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart for Christian radio.
"Anything Is Possible", another single, has "haunty storming sound effects and a fast pace beat". It peaked at No. 8 on Christian CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
.
"Suddenly" is a song featured in Dance Praise.
"Give Me One Reason" is a song written solely by ZOEgirl. It is about a Christian girl who "realizes that […] she was previously leading [a sinful life that] is not right." The lyrics were considered by critics to be "sophisticated, well worked on".
"Living For You" is a worship song. Like "I Believe", it peaked at No. 4 on Christian radio's Adult Contemporary chart.
"No You" is a slow-paced, tender song.
"Little Did I Know" is a song with a country-themed verse. It features an explosive bubblegum pop chorus.
"Stop Right There" is a song similar to, but more upbeat and less popular than, "Give Me One Reason".
"Upside Down" discusses "the shallowness of pop culture" or, more accurately, mainstream media. It also talks about materialism and overconsumption. Critics considered the song to be bizarre because ZOEgirl, as a bubblegum pop group, perceives the pop culture as negative. The lyrics are "not very well written" and "not very clear". Hence, this track is deemed "the worst ZOEgirl song, EVER" and likely led to the debut album's poor reviews.
"Live Life" is a song.
"Constantly", the final track, is written by Kristin Schweain with the help of Michael Quinlan. Schweain says: "[Constantly] most deeply ministers to me [as…] the cry of my heart many times. […] most people can relate to pleading with God to once again forgive and not give up on them. How can He[…?] The one constant […] in my life is God unfailing love, despite my fears and all my faults."
Related products
Book
A book, titled Backstage Exclusive, was released in 2001, featuring full-colour photos and facts from ZOEgirl.Other music
The following remixes can be found on Mix of LifeMix of Life
Mix of Life is the remix album. This is the fourth album released by ZOEgirl, featuring songs from the Life single and album, as well as their self-titled album.-Track listing:#Dismissed...
:
- "I Believe" [Trip Rock Remix]
- "No You" [H2O Mix]
- "Anything Is Possible" [Madame Lapulse Mix]
- "Living For You" [The Ghost Mix]
Additionally, the following remixes can be found on Life
Life (ZOEgirl album)
Life, released in 2001, is the second album by the American Christian pop rock band ZOEgirl.-Track listing:All the songs from Life were either written or co-written by at least one ZOEgirl member.-Song by song:...
's limited edition single.
- "I Believe" (Riverside Mix)
- "Anything Is Possible" (Riverside Mix)
Karaoke tracks were also released. Volume one of ZOEgirl's Open Mic Karaoke disc series features "I Believe" and "Anything Is Possible".
Video games
Original Dance PraiseOriginal Dance Praise
Dance Praise is a Christian dance video game developed and published by Digital Praise.-Development:...
, released in 2005, featured two songs from ZOEgirl's debut album: "I Believe" and "Suddenly".