1 Girl Nation made a splash in the CCM market in 2013 with
their self-titled debut album on Reunion Records. At the time, the group had five members. They are now a trio: Carmen from Nashville,
Kayli from Orlando, and Lauryn from Birmingham, Alabama. Former group member Lindsey provides
additional vocals on 1GN’s new album UNITE (2016, Reunion). On the group’s official website you will find
the following: “As 1GN, we are about more than music. Our mission is to encourage each other to
guard our hearts, to protect our lives online, to overcome hate with love, and
to live boldly for Christ. Haters gonna
hate, but Jesus taught us to love them anyway.
Above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART”.
‘Get Hype’ starts things off. It is a peppy pop song meant to rally 1GN’s
fans: “Are you ready, ready, set, go/Get up, get loud, tell everyone you
know/Round the world, from left to right/Are you ready?/It starts
tonight.../Every time we hear that beat drop, we can’t stop/My girls, we got
this on lock, are you with us, say what/Put up your 1’s, lift ‘em up to the
sun/Everybody jump, look alive while we’re young”. ‘The One’ speaks of the Lord’s everlasting
faithfulness: “How could I forget?/You’re the One, the One/Who’s always by my
side/You’re the One (2X)/For me, You gave Your life/You’re the One/Jesus,
You’re the One, the One/You are my, You are my first love”.
‘Cinema’ is an R&B song of reflection: “Some days up
like they’re magic, then some down like Titanic/I can be frozen, tangled, and
broken/But You show me a whole new world.../If my life was a cinema, what would
my story tell?/Would the tickets sell?/Were You in the frame?/If my life was a
cinema/Did You play the lead?/Were You directing me?/Did I bring You fame?” ‘Guard Your Heart’ is an adult contemporary
ballad of encouragement: “Maybe you feel all alone like something’s missing/And
all of your friends have found their prince charming/Believe me, I get
it/You’re so tempted to settle or give up on love/But it’s in God’s timing/You
can’t rush it, don’t believe you are not enough/Know your worth ‘cause you are
precious/More than gold, more than diamonds/Be the light inside the dark/Keep
your faith and guard your heart”.
‘#Nofilter’ is a catchy pop song about self-esteem, with rap
breaks: “This is, this is me, this is me, no filter/Me and my girls when we
wanna take a selfie/Gotta hold the camera at the right angle perfectly/Which
filter, which pose, black and white, how’s my nose?.../I think this has gone
too far/I just want you to see my heart.../We’re beautiful the way we are/God’s
masterpiece is in our scars (2X)”.
‘Haters’ offers advice on how young gals should deal with those who
treat them badly: “Haters gonna hate/Love ‘em anyway/No matter what they
say/Love ‘em anyway.../You be you/If you got haters/That ain’t nothing new/Even
Jesus had haters/Just like you”.
‘Panic’ is a ballad that finds the group ultimately putting
their trust in God: “Though the sky falls and the winds rage/Your power can’t
be tamed/In the shadows, through the valley/I will not be afraid/I will not
stay down, no/I know You’re here now/I
won’t freak out/Don’t panic now, don’t panic”.
‘Impossible’ is a light pop song of great positivity: “Can’t’s not a
word that I’m sayin’/Quit’s not a word that I use/Finally I’m living like I
won’t lose, I won’t lose/Anytime I reach out for a star/You make me
understand/You’re holding every one of them/So I ‘m reaching for Your hand/I
used to say that the sky was the limit/But You’ve opened my eyes to what’s
really true/My dreams can happen as long as You’re in it/Cause there is no,
there is no/Impossible with You, You, no”.
‘Smile’ is a folksy pop song that encourages us to witness
for Christ: “Sing if you believe/Shout for the victory/Dance ‘cause we are
free/Free indeed, free indeed/Don’t be ashamed/Don’t let it hide/Cause Jesus
came and paid the price/Show the world He’s alive.../We’re His hands and His
feet/When we walk down the street/Do they see Jesus/Everywhere that you
go/Every high, every low/Do they see Jesus/Through the words that you
speak/Everybody you meet/Do they see Jesus when they see you smile”. Closing the album off is the title track,
‘Unite’. It is a pop song that asks
girls and young ladies to unite and make a positive stand for Jesus Christ:
“C’mon we gotta stand for what we know is true/With His love inside/No, we
can’t lose/Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith/We’ve got a voice, make some
noise/Let’s shake this place.../Different faces, different names/We’re
different, but we’re all the same/It’s time to let ‘em know/Let’s show the
world tonight/Let’s unite.../You and I/U-N-I-T-E/You and I/Let’s break the
hate”.
On UNITE, 1GN shares their zeal, enthusiasm, and fervor for
the Lord in a way teen girls and ladies into their twenties in some cases, will
be able to relate to. Topics explored
include social media pressures and wanting to find the right guy. This album is not meant to be a deep
theological treatise, but is rather, a guide to facing everyday life challenges
with the Lord by one’s side. If you enjoy
the Christian pop music of Superchick, V. Rose, and Zoegirl, you’ll most likely
find something to like here. I’m rating
UNITE, which runs just shy of 31 minutes, 85%.
For more info visit the group on Facebook and at www.1gnofficial.com.