1 Girl Nation was originally made up of five talented young women but since its formation, Kelsey has left the band. Each lady possesses a strong, distinctive voice and tons of personality. “The really cool thing about the group is all five of us are individual people,” says Lindsey. “We have individual looks and styles and our voices are different. A big part of our message is that five completely different girls can come together and be unified and sound like one. We’re driven by our over-the-top, fun personalities. We have a blast!”
Each member of 1 Girl Nation had been pursuing separate musical careers when they heard about a unique opportunity to audition for a faith based, all-female pop group. They decided to try out and see where the open door would lead, and through a series of events, all were distinctly chosen to make up the group.
“We couldn’t imagine doing this journey alone,” says Kayli, who grew up on military bases all over the world due to her father's career in the Air Force, settling in Orlando, Florida. “I was already an artist on my own and heard about the audition for this group and thought it was the perfect fit. It’s such an incredible experience. We’re sisters. More than friends, we’re family and it’s just amazing.”
The 1 Girl Nation musical family also includes Lauryn Taylor, a 21-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama who heard about the opportunity from a friend who works inside the music industry; Kelsey, a Chicago, Illinois native with a degree in music education; Carmen, a singer/dancer who grew up in the Nashville area and attended famed Belmont University and the youngest member of the group, Lindsey, a pastor’s kid who hails from Jacksonville, Florida. “I was leading worship there and teaching K4,” Lindsey says of life before 1GN. “I’m overwhelmingly honored and blessed to be a part of a group of so many talented people.”
That bold sense of purpose and genuine affection for each other informs the music of 1 Girl Nation. Its influences range from the country sounds of Vince Gill and Alan Jackson that Kayli listened to as a child to Stacie Orrico and Kelly Clarkson, who are among Carmen’s favorites. Lauryn Taylor says her family listened to Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith. Kelsey says those artists were also favorites in her home along with Rachael Lampa, 4Him and ZOEgirl. Lindsey smiles as she recalls being “obsessed with Jump5” and has always been a big Amy Grant fan.
Indeed there’s a sense of fun and a musically adventurous spirit that is pervasive throughout 1 Girl Nation’s debut, self-titled album. The title track, co-written by Lauryn Taylor and Lindsey, is a buoyant anthem sure to get audiences on their feet as the girls declare their mission. “Lauryn and I wrote ‘1 Girl Nation’ with Barry Weeks and this is our theme song,” says Lindsey. “It’s our message. It encourages girls to stop all the gossiping and trash talk, but come together, be strong, and live for their faith. Come together as a 1 Girl Nation. Our message is unifying the generation that’s rising. When we sat down to write the song, we talked about what our name meant to us and thought, ‘Let’s just write it down so no one has a question.
The group co-wrote more than half of the album, collaborating with such noted writers as Jason Ingram, Kipp Williams, Tony Wood and others. “We had a huge hand in the writing and song selection process,” says Lauryn Taylor. “I feel like our hearts are definitely in this album. It’s our stories.”
Those stories evolved into songs that carry powerful messages about finding identity in Christ and not in the things of this world as well as encouraging people to lean on God during times of struggle. “In the Eyes” reminds listeners “You are treasured/You are beautiful/In the eyes, in the eyes/Of the one who made you.” “As a girl group it was really important to us that there be a song that addresses self-image,” says Kelsey. “For our generation, that’s one of the most difficult things that girls face every day. I know that for each one of us, we’ve all been there. We’ve all experienced those feelings. We’ve all looked at those magazines. We’ve all wanted to be that girl in that picture. You don’t need to be defined by the things that the world tells you that you need to be defined by. The message of this song is: ‘You are a treasure. You are beautiful and that’s the truth.’”
“While We’re Young,” the group’s first radio single, encourages young people to make the right choices early in life. “There are a lot of songs on the radio today that say, ‘Let’s live while we’re young, just do whatever and take it day by day. You only live once,’” says Kayli. “It’s fun, but it’s only fun for a short amount of time. We wanted to put our own spin on that idea and say, ‘While we’re young we want to live out our faith and bring the message to young girls that you only live once, so why not live for Christ?”
“Count Your Rainbows” is an uplifting reminder that rainy days don’t last and “beauty begins right after the pain.” “I wrote that one with Casey Brown and Jonathan Smith,” says Lauryn Taylor, who sings lead on the tune. “While writing it, we were thinking about the young girls and their mom’s that are going to be listening to our music so it really took me back in thinking about my mom and the things she taught me growing up. One of the main things she taught me was to think on the things that are good, pure and lovely. Whenever a situation goes bad or there are negative things happening, count your blessings. Another cool way to say that is to count your rainbows.”
Each member gets a chance to shine on its debut. Carmen takes the lead on “Turn Around” while Kayli takes on “Vertical” and Kelsey steps out on “In the Eyes” and throughout the album, each member’s unique talents sizzle. However, even in the midst of all the fun, the dance moves and overall musical joyride that is 1 Girl Nation, the group members hope listeners will also take to heart the messages in their music. “We feel like it’s our job with the platform we’ve been given to inspire girls and give them the courage to stand up,” says Kelsey. “We want to be the voice for those girls who don’t have one. We want to give them the courage to say, ‘I’m strong. I’m empowered to live out what I believe.’ We want to make it cool to be the good girl because it is cool and we want to let them know.”
1 Girl Nation wants to encourage and inspire its audience, but ultimately they want to lead them to the source of all power. “The whole point of everything that we do is to bring more people into the Kingdom of Christ,” says Kayli. “We were given these talents, abilities, tools, opportunities and platforms to get people to know the name of Jesus and that’s the only reason why we do what we do. It’s a fun life and we get to play out our dreams because of the talent God has given us, but it all goes back to Him.”
Daddy's Girl
1 Girl Nation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watched me crawl before I walked
People say I have your eyes
But I've always wanted to have your heart
Ooh one in a million
And I got to be yours
Through tears and all the laughter
You love me like no other
You say I'm the center of your whole wide world
I'll always be my daddy's girl
You danced me across the kitchen floor
And we'll dance the day you give me away
You're the first call when I need advice
You always know the right words to say
Ooh One in a million
And I got to be yours
Our souls are forever tied together
Through tears and all the laughter
You love me like no other
You say I'm the center of your whole wide world
I'll always be my daddy's girl
The love that you gave me came from another
Passed down to me from a Heavenly Father
Who chose me as his daughter
Our souls are forever tied together
Through tears and all the laughter
You love me like no other
You say I'm the center of your whole wide world
I'll always be yours
Our souls are forever tied together
Through tears and all the laughter
You love me like no other
You say I'm the center of your whole wide world
I'll always be my daddy's girl
I'll always be my daddy's girl
The song "Daddy's Girl" by 1 Girl Nation is a heartfelt tribute to the relationship between a father and daughter. The lyrics express gratitude for the many ways in which the father has been a support and role model throughout the daughter's life. The first verse describes how the father has been present for all of the daughter's milestones, from her first words to her first steps. The daughter acknowledges that she has inherited some of her father's physical traits, but what she really desires is to emulate his kindness and generosity of heart. The chorus celebrates the special bond between the father and daughter, referring to her as "one in a million" and declaring that she will always be her "daddy's girl." The second verse highlights how the father has continued to be a source of guidance and comfort even as his daughter has grown up. He is the person she turns to for advice and reassurance, and he always knows just what to say. The bridge of the song brings in a spiritual dimension, recognizing that the love the father has shown her is ultimately a reflection of the love of a higher power. The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the theme of the unbreakable connection between father and daughter.
Overall, "Daddy's Girl" is a poignant tribute to the unique bond between a father and daughter. The lyrics beautifully capture the deep love and appreciation that the daughter feels toward her father, as well as the enduring nature of their relationship. The song speaks to the universal experience of growing up and establishing a sense of identity, while still recognizing the importance of the foundational relationships that shape us.
Line by Line Meaning
You heard me say my first words
You were there to witness and listen as I spoke my first words.
Watched me crawl before I walked
You observed as I first crawled and then took my first steps.
People say I have your eyes
Some people comment that my eyes resemble yours.
But I've always wanted to have your heart
But I aspire and desire to love and care for others with the same kindness and compassion that you do.
Our souls are forever tied together
Our bond is eternal and unbreakable.
Through tears and all the laughter
We have shared moments of both happiness and sadness, but we have always been there for each other.
You love me like no other
Your love for me is unique and unparalleled.
You say I'm the center of your whole wide world
You consider me to be the most important and precious thing in your life.
You danced me across the kitchen floor
You shared a special moment with me as we danced together in the kitchen.
And we'll dance the day you give me away
We will dance together on my wedding day when you walk me down the aisle.
You're the first call when I need advice
I always turn to you for guidance and support when I need help.
You always know the right words to say
You have a way with words and always provide me with the advice I need to hear.
The love that you gave me came from another
The love that you showed me was inspired by the love of a higher power.
Passed down to me from a Heavenly Father
This love was bestowed upon me from a divine source.
Who chose me as his daughter
This higher power selected and chose me to be their child.
I'll always be yours
I will always belong to and be a part of your life.
I'll always be my daddy's girl
No matter where life takes me, I will always be your daughter and your little girl.
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Jason Cox, Jessica Lee Campbell, Keith Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Talion
My daughter just played this song for me, I cried like a baby.
Faith Yesha O. Fabul
Aww
Jecymol K S #SaveSoil
Sooo sweet.
Gerardo Rodriguez
My Daughter play this song to for me
Richard Bean
Same man
Annie Liu
I love this song
Sofia Carson
I lost my father today. This song connects us 😭❤
💎Ella🦋
I’m super sorry
STAY SHRIMPY
Omg I am sorry for your loss 🤧😓
Aubrey Sellman
I’m so sorry may he rest in peace