1 Girl Nation was originally made up of five talented young women but since its formation, Kelsey has left the band.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. βThe really cool thing about the group is all five of us are individual people,β says Lindsey. βWe 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. Weβre driven by our over-the-top, fun personalities. We have a blast!β
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.
βWe couldnβt imagine doing this journey alone,β 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. βI was already an artist on my own and heard about the audition for this group and thought it was the perfect fit. Itβs such an incredible experience. Weβre sisters. More than friends, weβre family and itβs just amazing.β
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 pastorβs kid who hails from Jacksonville, Florida. βI was leading worship there and teaching K4,β Lindsey says of life before 1GN. βIβm overwhelmingly honored and blessed to be a part of a group of so many talented people.β
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 Carmenβs 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 βobsessed with Jump5β and has always been a big Amy Grant fan.
Indeed thereβs a sense of fun and a musically adventurous spirit that is pervasive throughout 1 Girl Nationβs 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. βLauryn and I wrote β1 Girl Nationβ with Barry Weeks and this is our theme song,β says Lindsey. βItβs 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 thatβs rising. When we sat down to write the song, we talked about what our name meant to us and thought, βLetβs 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. βWe had a huge hand in the writing and song selection process,β says Lauryn Taylor. βI feel like our hearts are definitely in this album. Itβs our stories.β
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. βIn the Eyesβ reminds listeners βYou are treasured/You are beautiful/In the eyes, in the eyes/Of the one who made you.β βAs a girl group it was really important to us that there be a song that addresses self-image,β says Kelsey. βFor our generation, thatβs one of the most difficult things that girls face every day. I know that for each one of us, weβve all been there. Weβve all experienced those feelings. Weβve all looked at those magazines. Weβve all wanted to be that girl in that picture. You donβt 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: βYou are a treasure. You are beautiful and thatβs the truth.ββ
βWhile Weβre Young,β the groupβs first radio single, encourages young people to make the right choices early in life. βThere are a lot of songs on the radio today that say, βLetβs live while weβre young, just do whatever and take it day by day. You only live once,ββ says Kayli. βItβs fun, but itβs only fun for a short amount of time. We wanted to put our own spin on that idea and say, βWhile weβre 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?β
βCount Your Rainbowsβ is an uplifting reminder that rainy days donβt last and βbeauty begins right after the pain.β βI wrote that one with Casey Brown and Jonathan Smith,β says Lauryn Taylor, who sings lead on the tune. βWhile writing it, we were thinking about the young girls and their momβs 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.β
Each member gets a chance to shine on its debut. Carmen takes the lead on βTurn Aroundβ while Kayli takes on βVerticalβ and Kelsey steps out on βIn the Eyesβ and throughout the album, each memberβs 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. βWe feel like itβs our job with the platform weβve been given to inspire girls and give them the courage to stand up,β says Kelsey. βWe want to be the voice for those girls who donβt have one. We want to give them the courage to say, βIβm strong. Iβm empowered to live out what I believe.β We want to make it cool to be the good girl because it is cool and we want to let them know.β
1 Girl Nation wants to encourage and inspire its audience, but ultimately they want to lead them to the source of all power. βThe whole point of everything that we do is to bring more people into the Kingdom of Christ,β says Kayli. βWe were given these talents, abilities, tools, opportunities and platforms to get people to know the name of Jesus and thatβs the only reason why we do what we do. Itβs 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.β
Try
1 Girl Nation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Run the extra mile, keep it slim
So they like you, do they like you?
Get your pretty on, Don't be shy girl
take it off, this is what you want to belong
So they like you, do you like you?
You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to give it all away
You don't have to change a single thing
You don't hav to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try
Yoouu don't have try-y
Get your shopping on, at the mall
Max your credit cards
You don't have to choose, buy it all
So they like you
Do they like you?
Wait a second, why should you care what they think of you?
When your all alone, by yourself
So they like you
DO you like you?
You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing
You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to bend intill you break
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try try
Yoouu don't have to try-y
oooh ooh oh oooh ooh oh
You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try try try, try-y-y
You don't have to try
You don't have to tryy
Take your makeup off, let your hair down
take a breath, look into the mirrow at yourself
Don't you like you?
Cause I like you.
The lyrics of 1 Girl Nation's song Try convey an important message about embracing and accepting oneself. The song addresses the pressure many individuals, particularly women, face to conform to societal norms of beauty and perfection. The opening lines of the song urge the listener to "put your makeup on, get your nails done, curl your hair, run the extra mile, keep it slim" in an attempt to fit in and be liked. The lyrics question this desire for approval, asking "so they like you, do you like you?"
The chorus then drives home the message that there is no need to try so hard to be liked or accepted. The repetition of "You don't have to try, you don't have to give it all away" reinforces the idea that it's okay to be yourself, and that you don't need to change or conform to be worthy of love and acceptance. The bridge of the song, "Take your makeup off, let your hair down, take a breath, look into the mirror at yourself, don't you like you? Cause I like you" drives home the message that self-love and self-acceptance should come from within, rather than seeking validation from external sources.
Overall, the song Try is an empowering and uplifting anthem for anyone who has ever felt the pressure to conform or change to be accepted.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your makeup on, Get your nails done, Curl your hair
People often engage in physical beauty standards such as make up, nails, and hair curling to appease others' liking.
Run the extra mile, keep it slim
People sometimes take extreme measures to stay fit and maintain a certain body shape to be liked by others.
So they like you, do they like you?
Many actions and choices are made to please others' preferences and opinions.
Get your pretty on, Don't be shy girl
People are encouraged to appear attractive and confident to be accepted by society.
take it off, this is what you want to belong
In order to conform and fit in with society, people often remove themselves from their true identity.
You don't have to try so hard
Being oneself without altering one's appearance or actions is enough; people do not need to go to great lengths to gain acceptance from others.
You don't have to give it all away
People do not have to sacrifice their true selves to fit into societal norms or to be liked by others.
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
Encouraging people to keep going and stay true to themselves.
You don't have to change a single thing
People should not feel pressured to alter any aspect of themselves to be liked or belong.
You don't have to try so hard
One does not need to try to appease others when being oneself is enough.
You don't have to bend intill you break
People should not feel the need to go against themselves and their beliefs until they break.
Take your makeup off, let your hair down
People should embrace their natural beauty and let go of what they believe others want them to look like.
take a breath, look into the mirrow at yourself
Individuals should take a moment to reflect on their true selves and appreciate their identity.
Don't you like you?
People should accept and love themselves for who they really are.
Cause I like you.
Others, including friends, family, and loved ones, often accept and love people for who they truly are without any need for change.
Contributed by Annabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eden Medina
That was beautiful. I have goosebumps on my arms now. Perfection.
Lidiane Marcelino
Essas meninas precisam voltar novamente, saudades desse grupo incrΓvel π§π·π
SCJ Sims
Loving your music here in Athens, Georgia. Thank you for allowing God to use you in such a mighty way!
chomka
To jest na prawdΔ niesamowite ! Dziewczyny majΔ niepowtarzalny talent ! Prawdziwa piosenka ! Barwy gΕosu sΔ prze piΔkne ! Bardzo mi siΔ to podoba β₯
Elle Miller
This gave me goosebumps :3
Such an amazing song
And so inspirational :)
Great job guys!!!
Everyone should feel happy about them selves without makeup on!!!
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Be happy about yourself :)
Holly Fisher
This is amazing guys!!! U all look so beautiful!
A verse that would fit this is Proverbs 31:30
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she is to be praised."
U r all such an inspiration!! Keep up the good work!!
Special and Separated P
I love the natural look you all have in this video!! It really fits the message of the song! <3
Hatem Khrouf
Is this ironic ?
JustJojoThings
Korewakore SorewasoreΒ It's not song that tell girls to do nothing with their look. For girl something like that is impossible. The message is they don't have to try SO hard... Of course they should try, but just a bit is enough. :)
Nixolay
Korewakore SorewasoreΒ obviously.