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.
Think On These Things
Yolanda Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some from the very throne some origins unknown
I know there's a danger waiting
Thoughts held in captivity
The vain imaginations that long to be set free
I hold the key
With thoughts of purity
(I want to)
Think on these things
Whatever things are filled with virtue
Think on these things
When my mind begins to stray
I want to think the other way
Think on these things
Think on these things
Into the conscious flow the tributaries go
The source from which they start
Abundance of the heart
My mind has a mind of its own
choosing negativity
Only the thoughts of virtue
Withhold the raging sea
I turn the tide
By choosing to abide
Whatever things are honest
Whatever things are just
Whatever things are lovely
I will put my trust
In the things that never cease
To keep my heart in perfect peace
The lyrics of Yolanda Adams' "Think On These Things" emphasize the importance of keeping your mind and thoughts pure in order to maintain peace and harmony within oneself. The song begins with the singer stating how they spend solitary time with their thoughts, some of which are pure, and some that are not. There is a danger present if we let our vain imaginations run wild, so it is important to hold the key to our thoughts with purity. The singer emphasizes the importance of thinking on things that are pure, true, and virtuous to maintain peace within our heart, and whenever our minds start to stray towards negativity or other thoughts, we should remind ourselves to think on these pure thoughts.
The second verse describes the mind as having its own mind, and how it chooses its own path, which is often negativity. The singer emphasizes that the only way to hold back the raging sea of negativity is by choosing thoughts of virtue. The song ends with the singer putting their trust in things that never cease to keep their heart at peace, which are the things that are honest, just, lovely, and pure. The lyrics of this song remind us that while it may be difficult to control our thoughts, we can choose to focus on virtuous thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
In solitary time the thoughts run through my mind
When I am by myself my mind begins to wander
Some from the very throne some origins unknown
Some thoughts are pure and come from God, while others are unknown and may have negative origins
I know there's a danger waiting
I am aware that negative thoughts can be harmful
Thoughts held in captivity
Negative thoughts can be trapped and held captive
The vain imaginations that long to be set free
Negative thoughts can be like illusions that want to be freed
I hold the key
I have the power to control my thoughts
With thoughts of purity
I choose to focus on pure thoughts
Whatever things are pure and true,
I want to focus on things that are good, true and honest
(I want to)
The following lines outline what thoughts I want to focus on
Think on these things
I want to keep my mind focused on these positive things
Whatever things are filled with virtue
I want to focus on things that are filled with goodness
When my mind begins to stray
When my thoughts start to wander
I want to think the other way
I want to change my way of thinking when negative thoughts creep in
Into the conscious flow the tributaries go
My thoughts flow into my consciousness and are like tiny streams
The source from which they start
The starting point of my thoughts
Abundance of the heart
My thoughts are a result of what is in my heart
My mind has a mind of its own
My thoughts can sometimes be uncontrollable
choosing negativity
My thoughts can sometimes be negative
Only the thoughts of virtue
I choose to focus only on virtuous thoughts
Withhold the raging sea
Positive thoughts can help calm the raging sea of negative thoughts
I turn the tide
I can reverse my negative thoughts by focusing on positive thoughts
By choosing to abide
I choose to remain focused on positive thoughts
Whatever things are honest
I want to focus on things that are truthful
Whatever things are just
I want to focus on things that are fair and right
Whatever things are lovely
I want to focus on things that are beautiful
I will put my trust
I choose to place my faith in positive thoughts
In the things that never cease
Positive thoughts are everlasting and unending
To keep my heart in perfect peace
Positive thoughts can help keep my heart and mind at peace
Contributed by Hannah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.