Then there's 21:03. Unlike the scores of teenage heartthrobs before them, the group is cut from an entirely different mold. Total Attention, their head-turning second album, proves that their rise to the top rungs of faith-based R&B wasn't manufactured, but a direct result of their rock-solid foundation and exponential growth as artists, performers, and ministers.
When 21:03 first hit the urban gospel scene with its watershed debut, PAJAM Presents Twenty One O' Three, they were slowly finding their voice and place in an already cluttered marketplace. With Total Attention, the trio cements its identity, assuring the world they're not a flash in the pan. They're here to stay.
Things were rough at first. Handpicked by production supergroup PAJAM from hundreds of candidates during a casting call in their native Detroit , then-hopefuls Evin Martin, Torrence Greene, and Jor'el Quinn were three strangers chosen on the basis of their faith, as well as their singing and dancing abilities.
Sensing the young men had great potential, and acutely aware of the short shelf life of assembled, teen-based urban acts, the PAJAM team-Paul "pda" Allen, Walter Kearney, and J Moss-went to great lengths to groom 21:03 into something more substantive: a trio that could really leave a long-lasting imprint for the Kingdom.
To that end, the recruits were subjected to a six-month entertainment boot camp-a grueling period of artist development that harkened back to the glory years of Motown. After an intense season of vocal, physical, and spiritual formation, PAJAM finally cast the definitive vision for its protégés on January 21, 2003-the fateful day that inspired 21:03's moniker.
As Evin, Torrence, and Jor'el matured in their faith and as performers, it wasn't long until they realized that three passages taken from the beginning, middle, and end of the Bible-Genesis, Psalms, and Revelation 21:3, respectively-provided a deeper look into their mission. The near-prophetic verses reinforced in them that their purpose wasn't to just sing, dance, or entertain, but to actually minister and impart truth to anyone with ears to hear.
"We've grown spiritually," Evin says of the period between their first album and Total Attention. "We have a better sense of our ministry and our call. We know that there's a dying world that needs Jesus and they need to see him in music, in the media, in the church, and in us. We want to be those examples."
To get to that point, 21:03 faced its share of uphill battles, but none was bigger than the one Evin had to weather. Unexpectedly, the 21-year-old looked death straight in the eye when he confronted the back-to-back loss of both of his parents-his mother succumbed to multiple sclerosis right as the trio's debut released, and his father lost his bout with cancer in the months leading up to Total Attention.
"The loss of one parent can be crippling. But the loss of two is devastating," Evin says. The singer was not left alone: His unwavering faith in Christ and the unending spiritual and emotional support of his 21:03 and PAJAM brothers carried Evin through the storm, weeping with him and making sure he had a shoulder to lean on.
"That's something you have to be led by God to do," Jor'el, 19, says. "We had to support him because we're accountable for each other. We're brothers. We're family. It was almost second nature."
"People say your misery is your ministry," Jor'el continues. "That's something that's been proven in this group. When Evin opens up his mouth now, you feel a little bit he has been through something. You know it's nothing but the Lord-that God is with him."
Evin concurs: "I can say with all assurance and confidence that I know that I'm called. I know that I'm chosen. I'm now officially known as a living, breathing, walking testimony of the power of Christ. I can definitely say I have more fervency. I have more wherewithal to do what I'm doing."
"It's time to get our lives together," Jor'el says after quoting the Gospel appeal found in Mark 1:15. "It's time to stop playing. Let's get out of the mentality, ‘I'll get right tomorrow.' Tomorrow is never promised. We want to encourage the young and the young at heart that God is coming back. God is not playing with us. He wants our full heart."
"It's not boring to be a Christian," Torrence adds. "To be a Christian isn't wack. It's an exciting experience when you walk with Christ. We can get so easily distracted by things around us, but God wants your total attention. This is a time to stay focused."
now
21:03 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking at me
with those eyes
Looking right though me
Reading every page of me
Everything from a migrane I had
To the very last situation bad.
But that's mama
She has powers and intution(its true)
I could never get anything past her if i wanted to
I told her I was dealing with this thing
I told her I was dealing with some pain
But she's not one of those mamas
Like tell this just tell that
She said don't you believe in God
Theres no poblem that's hard
Baby can't mama can't help you through it
Talk to your father, tell him to do it
(Chrous)Seems like my clock is broken
Even then it's right twice a day
Being in this holding pattern.
Fighting with emotions, What's the matter
You are my souce, my strenght, my sword, my shield.
Lord the miracle I need is right now.
NowLord the miracle I need is right now.
NowShe was like blowin up my cell phone.
Back to back 911 its on
Pick it up and I say whats goin on.
And a real strong voice says come home.
But thats daddy, he and mama they been talkin
So he called me and now I'm double-teamed on a three way call.
And I'm going to lose
Don't you believe in God
Theres no problem that's hard
Baby mama and daddy can't help you through it
Talk to your father, tell Him to do it.
()Seems like my clock is broken
Even then it's right twice a day
Being in this holding pattern.
Fighting with emotions
What's the matter
You are my source, my strenght, my sword, my shield.
Lord the miracle I need is right now.
NowLord the miracle I need is right now.
Now
The lyrics of 21:03's song Now describe a situation where the singer is struggling with something and turns to their parents for help. The first verse talks about the singer's mother, who seems to have a deep understanding of the singer's struggles, even those that they may not have shared with her. The mother is portrayed as someone with powers of intuition and the ability to read her child like a book. The singer confides in the mother and tells her about the pain they are dealing with, and the mother advises them to turn to God for help.
In the second verse, the father enters the scene, having spoken to the mother about the singer's struggles. The father and mother are then both on the phone with the singer, and the father reiterates the mother's advice to turn to God. The singer is shown to be resistant initially but ultimately acknowledges that they need a miracle, and they need it now.
The chorus of the song refers to the feeling of being stuck in a holding pattern, where nothing seems to change, and the struggle continues. The singer is fighting with their emotions, and it is not clear what the problem is that they are dealing with. They turn to God and acknowledge that He is their source of strength, their sword, their shield, and the miracle they need is right now.
Line by Line Meaning
She was like
She had a particular way of behaving or speaking
Looking at me
Gazing attentively at me
with those eyes
Using her eyes to convey a message
Looking right though me
Having an intense look that seems to penetrate my being
Reading every page of me
Understanding me completely
Everything from a migrane I had
Knowing even the smallest details about me, like a migraine I had
To the very last situation bad.
Being aware of my lowest moments
But that's mama
That's how my mother is
She can do that
She has that ability
She has powers and intuition (its true)
She has supernatural abilities to sense things
I could never get anything past her if i wanted to
I could never keep anything from her, even if I tried
I told her I was dealing with this thing
I confided in her about an issue I was facing
I told her I was dealing with some pain
I shared with her that I was experiencing some emotional distress
But she's not one of those mamas
She's not like those other mothers
Like tell this just tell that
Who only give simple advice
She said don't you believe in God
She questioned my faith in God
Theres no problem that's hard
There's no difficulty that can't be overcome with God's help
Baby can't mama can't help you through it
Even my mother can't assist me, only God can
Talk to your father, tell him to do it
To ask God, who is my heavenly father, to intervene
(Chorus)Seems like my clock is broken
It feels like time has stopped or isn't moving forward
Even then it's right twice a day
Despite feeling stuck, there are brief moments of clarity
Being in this holding pattern.
Feeling trapped in a situation with no progress or resolution
Fighting with emotions, What's the matter
Struggling with intense feelings and not understanding why
You are my source, my strength, my sword, my shield.
Acknowledging that God is the source of my power and protection
Lord the miracle I need is right now.
Asking God for an immediate miracle
NowLord the miracle I need is right now.
Reinforcing the urgency and immediacy of my need for a miracle
NowShe was like blowing up my cell phone.
My mother was calling me repeatedly and urgently
Back to back 911 its on
She was calling me urgently and persistently, as if it were an emergency
Pick it up and I say whats going on.
Answering the phone and asking what's happening
And a real strong voice says come home.
My father's voice, sounding determined, told me to come home
But thats daddy, he and mama they been talkin
Explaining that my parents had been discussing my situation
So he called me and now I'm double-teamed on a three way call.
My parents both spoke to me at the same time in a conference call
And I'm going to lose
Feeling helpless in the face of this situation
()Seems like my clock is broken
Repeating the previous chorus to reiterate my feelings of being stuck
Even then it's right twice a day
Repeating the previous chorus to acknowledge that there are still brief moments of clarity
Being in this holding pattern.
Repeating the previous chorus to convey my frustration with feeling trapped
Fighting with emotions
Repeating the previous chorus to show my struggle with my feelings
What's the matter
Repeating the previous chorus to emphasize my confusion and lack of understanding
You are my source, my strength, my sword, my shield.
Repeating the previous verse to reinforce my reliance on God
Lord the miracle I need is right now.
Repeating the previous chorus to reemphasize my need for an immediate miracle
NowLord the miracle I need is right now.
Repeating the previous chorus to drive the point home
Contributed by David L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.