Kierra, 17, is the daughter of Karen Clark-Sheard, a founding member of Gospel legends, the Clark Sisters, and who, since 1997, has been a celebrated solo artist in her own right. She's also the granddaughter of the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, the prodigious conductor, arranger, songwriter, singer, instrumentalist and teacher who is roundly credited as one the defining influences in all of Gospel music.
With Kierra's solo debut album, I Owe You, that incomparable family tradition is carried on in a voice and a sound that respects its roots, while taking the Gospel message to the masses in the cutting-edge urban, R&B and pop music of today.
"You Don't Know," co-written and produced by Grammy winning, superstar producer, Rodney Jerkins (Destiny's Child, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Joe, Kirk Franklin), is a driving, commanding hip-hop statement of God’s power and faithfulness in the lives of His children.
"This is really my testimony of all that God has done for me in my life," says Kierra. "It's important to me to share that with everyone, because it really let's them know where I'm coming from. There was an old traditional song of the church with the same title and idea of sharing our testimonies, and Rodney wrote a completely new song with that as the inspiration, and with a totally modern sound that young people today can latch onto."
"Praise Offering," a soaring, pop-flavored ballad of worship on which Kierra's amazing prowess is dazzlingly displayed, was written and produced by acclaimed producer/artist JMoss ('N Sync, Hezekiah Walker, Patti LaBelle, Ramiyah). The writer or co-writer, and producer of many of the songs on I Owe You, J. himself is part of the Moss/Clark family tree, and long ago enthusiastically committed himself to be an integral of Kierra's career.
J. also contributed the easy, infectiously funky "Church Nite," reflecting the importance of church in the life of Kiki and her teenaged peers. "Sweetest Thing" is a tender, gently grooving statement of love for the Lord. "War," written by Kierra and produced by her 14-year-old brother, J. Drew Sheard II, for his LT Productions, is an aggressive declaration of spiritual warfare, while "Done Did It," produced by Warren Campbell, is a joyous return to the traditional Gospel roots on which Kiki was raised.
Kierra, or "Kiki," as she is affectionately known, was born and raised in Detroit, where she and her family still reside, and grew up with a strong church foundation, surrounded by great music, teaching and preaching. When she began singing at the age of six in the children's choir of Detroit's Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, pastored by her father, Rev. J. Drew Sheard, the full and extraordinary extent of her talents became immediately apparent.
"My mother passed away when Kierra was only seven," Karen recalls, "but before she died she told me that this baby was going to sing, and that I was to raise her in my shoes, and bring her up the way my mother had raised me."
Realizing the responsibility that both God and her mother had given her for Kierra's musical and spiritual development, Karen—herself a world-renowned vocalist—began to coach and nurture her daughter in singing, as well as in the lessons deeply engrained by her own mother of the responsibilities of representing Christ through Gospel music. With both technique and a presence that far surpassed her years, Kierra made her recording debut when she was nine, singing a duet with her mother on "The Safest Place," from Karen's chart-topping album, Finally Karen.
The popularity of "The Safest Place", and the warmth of the mother/daughter interaction conveyed in the accompanying music video, led to Kierra's stage debut when she was only 10, as she would often travel with her mother on tour to join her for the song before audiences that numbered in the thousands.
Though she can see those experiences as a blessing, and important part of the development of her talent at such a young age, "Kiki" also recalls them with a combination of wonderment and a child's natural nonchalance.
"It was exciting, and scary," she says, "and I guess I should have been nervous to be onstage with 'Karen Clark-Sheard,' but to me it was just my mother, and I was just singing along with Mommy, like I did at home, or anywhere."
It's hardly surprising that by that time Kierra had firmly decided upon a career in music. "I would watch the Clark Sisters and see how they touched and moved people," she remembers, "and they always looked like they were having such a good time just singing and praising God. They were always so positive, and happy, and I really paid attention and learned from hearing them and being around them. I saw that and it made me want to sing and minister to people my own age. When I got the chance to sing onstage myself, it just felt natural, like God was telling me that was what He wanted me to do."
While the venerable Dr. Mattie Moss Clark would never have stood for her daughters listening to any "secular" music, Kierra says that she's been given the freedom listen to and develop broad and contemporary musical tastes from a wide range of both mainstream and Gospel music, though always with the caution to never let the content of "worldly" music interfere with her anointing to sing and present the pure Gospel message. With diverse musical influences that run from urban superstar Mary J. Blige, and modern rockers Linkin Park, to Kirk Franklin and a whole host of contemporary Gospel artists, as well as her famous mother and aunts and the pantheon of traditional Gospel artists who preceded them, Kierra's own style creates a fresh mix that puts her in a place all her own.
"I grew up on traditional Gospel, and I always want part of what I do to be songs that my elders, as well as kids my age, can enjoy," she says. "But I really feel a calling to reach kids my own age with the message of Christ with a contemporary sound that they can relate to and get into."
"Kiki" has continued to perform, when her schooling allows, with both her mother as well as on occasional Clark Sisters "reunion" dates. She's also shared the stage with a gamut of musical luminaries that runs from Mary, Mary, and Donnie McClurkin to Mary J. Blige, one of a large and formidable number of secular artists who profess a huge creative debt to the Clark Sisters, and who, herself, finds particular inspiration in Kierra's music as well.
"The night of the Mary J. Blige concert, she asked Mom to join her onstage during her set," Kierra recalls, "and she asked her if I was there, too. When Mom told her that I was, she asked me to join them, and of course I did. It was a powerful moment, and an opportunity to minister to a lot of people who might never come to a 'Gospel' concert."
"And Kierra blew them away," Karen adds, with a mother's unrestrained pride. "Afterwards, Mary couldn't stop talking about how much 'Kiki' had ministered to her. And with I Owe You I think she's going to impact her entire generation that very same way."
"I want to demonstrate to young people that you don't have to live in sin to have fun and enjoy yourself," Kierra concludes. "I think I Owe You will show that there's even greater joy, and lasting joy, in singing and praising God, and in our own voice and our own style of music."
War
Kierra Kiki Sheard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lost are barely finding their way to freedom
Some are blind folded with brilliant demons
Running so fast after air by the missing God
Not protecting our ear gates or our souls
Through the word of God we can fear so much more
Even through relationships you are poor in spirit
Now it's time to gear up so we can get more
Oh It's time to stand upright
(It's time to stand upright)
The mind is a battlefield
But there's guaranteed victory
So let's walk in authority
Ohhh, we gotta get it right
The days are shorter
The time is running
So, what you want, want, want
Cause I want more, more, more
Know devil, devil, devil
We'll win this war hey!
Ohhh, we wanna be right
Sick and tired of battling here & there
So, what you want, want, want
Cause I want more, more, more
Know devil, devil, devil
We'll win this war hey!
Let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Just let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Just let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Pourin' into eachother hate and not love
Peace in our homes In response our hearts bounds
Makes it hard for us to love and understand eachother
So out pour your spirit On ourselves cause there's
No power in prayer Our minds are wondering
If this is all worth it Because we are losing it
But through restoration and more of your spirit
More of your glory There's guaranteed victory, yeah
Ohhh It's time to stand upright
(It's time to stand upright)
The mind is a battlefield
But there's guaranteed victory
So let's walk in authority
Ohhh, we gotta get it right
The days are shorter
The time is running
So, what you want, want, want
Cause I want more, more, more
Know devil, devil, devil
We'll win this war hey!
Let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Just let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Just let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
We want more
We want more
We want more
We want more
Of your spirit
Of your spirit
Of your spirit
Of your spirit
Of your spirit
Of your spirit
We want more, more
More, more
More, more
More, of your spirit
The lyrics of Kierra Kiki Sheard's song "War" emphasize the need for Christians to stand firm in their faith and battle against the temptations and evils of the world. The first verse highlights the struggle of leading a righteous life and remaining focused on the word of God, while others around us may be influenced by negative forces. The lines "Not protecting our ear gates or our souls / Through the word of God we can fear so much more" suggest that it is important to guard our minds and hearts and seek guidance from scripture.
The chorus emphasizes the need for urgency and action, as time is running short and the battle against evil requires strength and perseverance. The lines "Know devil, devil, devil / We'll win this war hey!" are a bold statement of faith and determination.
The second verse addresses the need for love and understanding within relationships and the importance of pouring out our hearts to God for guidance and restoration. The lines "No power in prayer / Our minds are wondering / If this is all worth it / Because we are losing it" acknowledge the difficulty of fighting against temptation and evil, but suggest that with more of God's spirit and glory, there is guaranteed victory.
Overall, the song encourages Christians to stand firm in their faith and battle against the evils of the world, seeking guidance and strength from scripture and the Holy Spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Talk about a stand but are we really on our job
We talk about standing for what's right, but are we actually doing it?
The lost are barely finding their way to freedom
Those who are lost and in need of freedom are struggling to find their way.
Some are blind folded with brilliant demons
Some people are deceived by clever and powerful evil forces.
Running so fast after air by the missing God
People are frantically searching for meaning and purpose without turning to God.
Not protecting our ear gates or our souls
We aren't guarding what we expose our minds and hearts to.
Through the word of God we can fear so much more
By reading and applying God's word, we can grow in our knowledge and awe of Him.
Even through relationships you are poor in spirit
Even if we have relationships, we can still be spiritually bankrupt and in need of God.
Now it's time to gear up so we can get more
It's time to prepare ourselves so we can grow closer to God and receive more from Him.
Oh It's time to stand upright
(It's time to stand upright)
The mind is a battlefield
But there's guaranteed victory
So let's walk in authority
It's time to take a stand for what's right, even though our minds are constantly tempted and tested. However, we can walk in confidence knowing that we will ultimately be victorious through God's power.
The days are shorter
The time is running
So, what you want, want, want
Cause I want more, more, more
Know devil, devil, devil
We'll win this war hey!
Time is fleeting, and we are in a constant battle against evil. Despite this, we should desire more of God's presence and power, and we can be sure that we will ultimately triumph over the devil.
Ohhh, we wanna be right
Sick and tired of battling here & there
So, what you want, want, want
Cause I want more, more, more
Know devil, devil, devil
We'll win this war hey!
We long to be in the right, and are fed up with the constant challenges we face. We want more of God and His strength, and we know that we will ultimately be victorious over the devil.
Let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Just let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
Just let me hear you warcry (Hey!)
We are called to actively fight against evil and declare our trust in God with a determined shout.
Pourin' into eachother hate and not love
Peace in our homes In response our hearts bounds
Makes it hard for us to love and understand eachother
So out pour your spirit On ourselves cause there's
No power in prayer Our minds are wondering
If this is all worth it Because we are losing it
But through restoration and more of your spirit
More of your glory There's guaranteed victory, yeah
Instead of showing love, we often give and receive hate, which makes it hard to build peaceful relationships. We need to ask God to fill us with His Spirit, because prayer alone doesn't have power. We might wonder if it's worth it to keep fighting against sin and evil, but through God's help, we will be ultimately victorious.
We want more
Of your spirit
We want more, more
More, more
More, more
More, of your spirit
We desire to experience more of God's power and presence in our lives.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: J. SHEARD, KIERRA SHEARD, WRITERS UNKNOWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind