The oldest of six siblings, Adams was raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979. After graduating from University of California Berkeley, she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model in Houston, Texas. Eventually she gave up teaching to perform full-time as a lead singer.
Musical career;
Beginnings;
Adams attracted the attention of Thomas Whitfield and Sound of Gospel Records as a lead singer in the Southeast Inspirational Choir. She signed a recording contract with Sound of Gospel which yielded her first album Just As I Am in 1987.[4] In 1990, she signed to Ben Tankard's independent label Tribute Records and released Through The Storm.
Two years later, Adams followed with Save the World, which included her first signature song "The Battle Is The Lord's". Her next release was 1995's More Than A Melody, which featured production work from Ben Tankard, O'Landa Draper, and BeBe Winans. The single "Gotta Have Love," from that album featuring Tony Terry on background vocals, gained mainstream notoriety and was her first single and music video. Yolanda... Live In Washington, released the following year, featured versions of material from her first two albums. The footage from this recording was released as a collection of two videos on VHS initially, and later as a single set on DVD.
Songs from the Heart was her final release for Verity Records and included "Only Believe" which was popular songs on contemporary radio. The album also included "Still I Rise," a dedication to Rosa Parks which was inspired by the Maya Angelou poem of the same name.
"Fragile Heart", was dedicated to the memory of Yolanda's long time road manager who died in 1998. Adams' first significant attention outside the urban contemporary gospel arena came with the release of Mountain High... Valley Low in 1999 on Elektra Records. Several mainstream artists and producers helped in the production of this album including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men), James "Big Jim" Wright (Mariah Carey, Nicole C. Mullen), Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Brandy), and Keith Thomas (BeBe & CeCe Winans). The album went Platinum in 2000 and won her a Grammy Award. Notable singles from the album include Yeah", "Fragile Heart", and "Open My Heart".
In 2000, Adams released a Christmas album, and in 2001 she released a live album (The Experience). The Experience netted Adams a second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Believe, which included the hit "Never Give Up" was released in 2001. She would later go on to perform this song at "The Salute to Gospel Music" at the White House during President George W. Bush's administration. Believe was certified Gold in 2002. The Divas Of Gospel, with Albertina Walker (queen of gospel), was also released in 2001.
Yolanda recorded a song for the 2003 film, Honey titled "I Believe" that played during the last scene in the final dance.
Adams was also a judge for the 2nd annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.
Back after break;
After nearly four years without releasing an album, Adams returned in 2005 with Day By Day. Although charting higher than Mountain High...Valley Low on the Billboard 100, and Billboard R&B Albums Chart, It didn't get a RIAA certification. The album featured the singles "Be Blessed," "Someone Watching Over You," "This Too Shall Pass", and "Victory" which was prominently featured in the movie The Gospel. After ending her long association with Atlantic Records, They released a greatest hits collection entitled The Best of Me in May 2007. Adams signed with Columbia Records in 2007. Columbia released What a Wonderful Time, her second holiday collection in October 2007. "Hold On" was released as the lead single.
2008-Present;
In 2007 after releasing her holiday album with Columbia, She stated in different interviews that she was currently in the planning stages for a new album. Her official website states that it will be a duets project including possible collaborations with Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Natalie Cole, Trin-i-Tee 5:7, and Mary Mary. In a interview with Commercial Appeal. Adams stated that Chaka Khan, and Shirley Caesar might be on the new project also. In March 2009, she was interview by a FOX station in Houston, where she stated that her women's clothing line and new album is still in progress. The new album is currently untitled, and will be out in the last quarter of the year. She stated that the new album will be full of dance tracks. Adams' may do a secular album in the future.
Adams' song "Hold On" is included in a compilation in support of Barack Obama's campaign entitled 'Yes We Can: Voices of a Grass Roots Movement'.
Adams performed the National Anthem at the 2009 BCS National Championship game between the #1 University of Florida and #2 University of Oklahoma in Dolphin Stadium (Miami, Florida).
Personal life;
In 1997, Yolanda Adams married former NFL player Tim Crawford. The couple divorced in August 2004. They had one daughter, Taylor Ayanna, in 2001. Yolanda served as a spokesperson for the FILA Corporation's Operation Rebound, a program that addressed the concern of inner city schoolchildren. On October 15, 2008, Yolanda Adams' mother Carolyn Jean Adams died.
Take Away
Yolanda Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take away anything that stands between you and me
I want to be what you created me to be
It's my desire that you find favor in me
Lord
Take away anything that displeases you
Take away any evil thought within me
I want to be in sweet communion with you
It's my desire to do everything you want me to do
Lord
Take away anything that displeases you
Remove all doubt
All insecurity
Erase all hate
All iniquity
Discard all the fear
Found deep within me
Lord
Take away anything that displeases you
Take away lord
Take away
Take away any desire in me that hurts you
Take it away
The lyrics to Yolanda Adams's song "Take Away" are all about asking God to rid the singer of anything that does not please Him. The singer asks God to take away any desires that may hurt Him and anything that stands between the singer and God. The singer becomes vulnerable and asks God to remove any evil or negative thoughts, and anything that may break His heart. The singer longs to be in sweet communication with God and desires to do everything that God wants them to do.
The song's lyrics suggest that the singer believes that God has created them for a specific purpose, and they want to fulfill that purpose while pleasing God in the process. The singer makes a conscious effort to let go of all feelings of doubt, insecurity, hate, iniquity, and fear, and asks God to take away anything that displeases Him. This act of surrendering everything over to God allows the singer to live a life of fullness and in accordance with God's plan for them.
In general, the song is a depiction of the Christian faith, calling upon God to purify us with His divine power and rid us of anything that does not please Him. The powerful song can serve as a reminder that, when we let go of our fears, doubts, and negativity, we can live lives pleasing to God.
Line by Line Meaning
Take away any desire in me that hurts you
I pray that any selfish desire that causes pain to You, Lord, be removed from me.
Take away anything that stands between you and me
Lord, I ask that everything that hinders my relationship with You be removed from my life.
I want to be what you created me to be
My heart's desire is to fulfill the purpose and plan You have for my life, Lord.
It's my desire that you find favor in me
I long for Your approval, Lord. May everything I do bring glory and honor to Your name.
Take away anything that displeases you
I ask that anything in my life that goes against Your will be taken away, Lord.
Take away any evil thought within me
Lord, please remove any wicked or harmful thoughts that may be in my mind.
Take away anything that proves to break your heart
I want to live in a way that brings You joy, Lord. Anything that causes You pain, please take away from me.
I want to be in sweet communion with you
My deepest desire is to have a close and intimate relationship with You, Lord.
It's my desire to do everything you want me to do
Father, I want to follow Your will and obey Your commands.
Remove all doubt
Remove any uncertainty or disbelief in my heart, Lord.
All insecurity
Take away any self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy that I may have, Lord.
Erase all hate
Lord, please remove any feelings of anger, bitterness, or hate from my heart.
All iniquity
Take away any wrongdoing or sin that may be in my life, Lord.
Discard all the fear
Remove any fear or anxiety that may be weighing me down, Lord.
Found deep within me
These fears and doubts may be hidden deep inside of me, Lord. Please remove them all.
Take away lord
Lord, please take away anything that may displease You in my life.
Take away
May You remove anything in my life that goes against Your will, Lord.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: VARN MICHAEL MCKAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind