Landing in the space where One Direction meets TobyMac, 1 Girl Nation is an exciting blend of upbeat, relevant pop music, with lyrics that are totally focused on living a life for God, even while you're young. 1GN, as they've already been dubbed, stars Carmen, Kayli, Kelsey, Lauryn Taylor, and Lindsey. These five 20-24 year-old girls have a passion for telling their fans about Christ through their music. The first single for Christian radio hits ariwaves in May and a fully integrated online and tour strategy will roll out throughout 2013.
5 Girls, from 5 different places, with 1 message.
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Most upbeat and fun album of the year| Posted August 15, 2013 The mainstream music charts have been dominated by Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Pink and others who make the subject matter of their songs as edgy as possible to draw in listeners. Unfortunately as a father of three young daughters who love dance-pop style music, there haven’t been many edifying songs I can offer as wholesome alternatives to those artists, until now. I literally dance in my chair, my car, or while I’m walking around when I play these catchy songs by 1 Girl Nation.
Electronic pop music has made a big mark on the music scene and 1 Girl Nation’s Kayli, Lindsey, Carmen, Lauryn and Kelsey bring a vocal sincerity to these ultra-catchy pop songs which could easily be featured in mainstream music alongside those top-selling mainstream artists. Fans of mainstream pop singers like Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and Bridgit Mendler looking for a faith-based alternative will enjoy these catchy songs.
“While We’re Young” has catchy dance beats and in the song 1 Girl Nation wants to remind us that while standing up for your faith isn’t always easy, we are told in the Bible to be full of joy: here, now, while we’re young. I love the idea of our youth singing out: “We’re going to save ourselves the heartache, we’re not looking back on what we wish we’d done, we’re going to risk it all for one thing, and live for Jesus while we’re young.”
The evangelistic messages of “Vertical,” “Live For You,” “Invade” and “1 Girl Nation” are great for young girls and boys who struggle with the idea of how to be salt and light. In “Vertical” they boldly proclaim, “We’re going vertical, praying for miracles, want to see Heaven here on Earth…help us be Your feet and hands.” The songs are all super-catchy and have solid lyrics as in “Invade” they belt out, “We will invade this world for You, a sparkling generation with the Truth, we will invade this world for You, with all that we do!”Amen.
The message of finding love and identity from the true source of pure love is found in the songs “In The Eyes” and “Daddy’s Girl.” The songs intimately share the idea that nothing can fill the void of wanting to feel loved and accepted other than the true love from God, such as “The love that you gave me, came from another, Tossed down to me from a Heavenly Father, who chose me as His daughter…You say that I’m the center of your whole wide world, I’ll always be my daddy’s girl.” The songs are both beautiful ballads and confessional love songs to God.
These are great anthems for girls and guys to express what it means to know the biblical truth from 1 John 4:8-“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.“ You can hear the band’s yearning and sincerity in every word.
Closing Thoughts
Recently, Christian music artists Britt Nicole, Group 1 Crew and Press Play also released “dance” style albums and overall this album has several songs that also fit that category, along with standout pop ballads. 1 Girl Nation lists OneDirection, Demi Lovato and TobyMac as their musical influences and those pop musical styles can be found throughout this album. This album is loaded with positive grace-filled messages of hope. The upbeat and heavily produced musical arrangements on this album perfectly accentuate these songs.
You won’t be able to help but dance and sing along with this album. In particular, there are the super catchy “dance” songs, “While We’re Young,” “Vertical,” “Live For You,” “Count Your Rainbows,” “Love Like Crazy,” “Invade” and “1 Girl Nation,” along with the pop ballads, “In The Eyes,” “Turn Around” and “Daddy’s Girl.” 1 Girl Nation features strong vocals, relevant and biblical messages and this is a solid debut album from a talented young band. Don’t miss out on the most upbeat and fun album of the year.
A Not-So Self-Titled Bubblegum Debut Album . . . For EVERYONE! (Long Title, Huh? Whoops, I just made it longer.)| Posted July 21, 2016 THIS REVIEW WAS ADAPTED FORM MY REVIEW OF 1GN’S DEBUT/1 GIRL NATION’S SELF-TITLED ALBUM. TO READ MY FULL SONG-BY-SONG REVIEW, CLICK HERE!
As one who lived in Korea (as of September 2016), I got my eardrums blasted in the stores by K-POP. And I pretty much feel in love with the style (2010-11 were like the glory years), but it wasn’t lyrically clean.
Anyways, I was so excited when I found out about 1GN (back in the olden days, they were known as “1 Girl Nation”). A pure pop look and five girls. How many Christian artists are there with five girls that perform bubblegum pop music? (I think the number is now zero.) Totally reminded me of Girls’ Generation, which had nine members (now eight). So I immediately jumped on this album.
True, not all these songs sound like K-POP songs, but they were a lot of fun! The lead single, “While We’re Young” is a response song to all those secular songs that talk about how they will waste their lives doing worldly things. And that’s one reason why we love Christian music.
“Count Your Rainbows” was one of the stand-out tracks for me, as it put a little spin on the popular phrase “Count your blessings.” "Vertical" is an anthem declaring a vow to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. (IF YOU WANNA SEE MY THOUGHTS ON EACH SONG OF THIS ALBUM, CLICK HERE!)
In sum:
It is a great album and I really enjoyed it. I think it’s perfect for your pre-teen or early teen girl, but I’m sure all ages (who can handle bubblegum) and all genders (did you figure out that I’m a guy yet?) will enjoy it.
I think Unite will have heavier lyrics that are perfect for girls who are entering their teens, so this contains lyrics more on the simpler side. And for these ears that are constantly picking things up, I felt like some things weren’t thoroughly produced. But I enjoyed it and I encourage you to pick up this album, and let’s “Invade” the world for Christ!
We, we will invade this world for you
Spark a generation with the truth
With all that we do
My favorite songs: “Invade” “Turn Around” “While We’re Young” “Count Your Rainbows” “In The Eyes”
The track that is most like K-POP: “Love Like Crazy”
This is a great CD. I love the music. It is amazing that almost the whole CD is digitalized music. (There aren't many instruments,exept vocals and some guitars) I also love that Lindey Ciresi, Lauryn Taylor Bach and Carmen Justice wrote some of the songs (Vertical, Live for You, Count Your Rainbows, Turn Around, Invade, 1 Girl Nation)
Good!| Posted August 23, 2013
I mostly listen to country music, and was flipping through the stations during a commercial break on the radio. I came across our local Christian Station, K-LOVE, and 'While We're Young' happened to be on the radio. I really enjoyed it, reminded me so much of things you hear on Top 40 stations put with a positive, uplifting message! This lead me to check out the rest of the tracks I could find, and they are all just as fun, catching and postiive. I think this is an album, everybody would enjoy across generations. I would def recommend 1GN to friends and family. The album as a whole, is one of the best I have heard this year (this is from all genres).
SO GREAT| Posted August 17, 2013
The girls did an amazing job on this album. Beautiful voices and awesome harmony!(: Seriously the best(:
I love that Royal Tailor is also on a song. 1 Girl Nation is the female version of Anthem Lights. Both groups have amazing voices and are really using their talents to glorify God!
Awesome!| Posted August 15, 2013
Upbeat and appropriate. My 3 daughters and I can't get enough of it. The entire album is full of God's truth about each of our lives. I especially love the song that talks about being perfect in the eyes of the one who made you. Thank you 1 Girl Nation for being creating an album with the kind of music we have been praying to hear.
Positive Role models| Posted August 14, 2013
This group has a nice sound and some solo diversity on their album. For the most part the lyrics are sound and besides some over repetition in a few of the songs (I would have like to have heard a bridge on a couple of songs) they are very encouraging for young listeners. I'll certainly be buying this album for my tween daughters when it is released as these are messages I want them to be influenced by!
I LOVE ME SOME 1GN!!| Posted August 13, 2013
1GN's music is full of encouragement and positive messages! They are so awesome and the album is AMAZING! You need to get this album especially if you have young girls or if teenage girls need some encouragement! 1GN FAN FOREVER!!
Love It| Posted August 13, 2013
I love the sound of these girls!!! I just watched the video on how they all met! This album has a cute pop sound that is sure to be a huge hit!!! Their new song While We're Young is off of this album. That song has been all over the radio lately and I love it!!! I also love the girl that raps!!!
1 Girl Nation| Posted August 13, 2013
All 5 girls work so well together! Love the pace of the music, the voices, the upbeat sound for the age they are mostly appealing towards. Plus, that is so needed for young adults in our Christian world of music. They are energetic, and I can see their smiles in their words! Don't miss this one! It is new group that is going PLACES!!!
Can't hear it| Posted August 13, 2013
I was gonna listen to this album on my tablet, cause it's the only device I have that goes on the internet, but, I was unable to get to the player. If you someone could get the album to play for Samsung Galaxy tablets, I would love that. One Girl Nation rocks!!!