Th… Read Full Bio ↴ZOEgirl was a very successful Christian pop rock band from 2000-2006.
The group was started with the three ladies: Alisa Noelle Girard, Chrissy Conway and Kristin Swinford. The three have each gotten married since then and go by the following names: Alisa Childers, Kristin Schweain, Chrissy Conway-Katina.
With more than 1 million albums sold worldwide and an impressive track record that heralds them as the fastest-selling debut artist in the 26-year history of Sparrow Records, ZOEgirl has managed to create a success story that continues to get bigger and bigger with the release of each new album. Performances at venues like New York's Madison Square Garden, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Walt Disney World have helped ZOEgirl become one of the top female pop groups in Christian musica platform upon which Chrissy Conway, Alisa Girard and Kristin Swinford keep building brick by brick. ZOEgirl exploded onto the scene in 2000 with the group's self-titled debut (ZOEgirl), scoring four Top 5 radio hits. They followed with a sophomore album, Life, which continued to propel the girls' blossoming career. Those first two projects placed ZOEgirl in front of hundreds of thousands of fans on stage with artists such as Newsboys, Plus One, Avalon and Carman. Following the late 2003 release of their last album, Different Kind Of FREE, ZOEgirl hit the ground running as a featured artist on the 25-city Shoutfest tour before heading out on their first headlining tour in early 2004.
The FREE Experience tour, which also featured Superchick, Joy Williams and Focus on the Family speaker Susie Shellenberger, was a huge success with audiences across the country. The FREE Experience tour saw sell-out attendances in many markets during a year when the touring industry was taking a hard hit. Now, with Room To Breathe, their first new album in over a year, ZOEgirl is moving forward with some of the most compelling music of their career. Produced by Mark Heimermann, Double Dutch (Robert Marvin), Josiah Bell, Shawn Shankel, Tedd T and Dan Muckala, Room To Breathe encompasses ZOEgirl's growth as singers, songwriters, artists and women. "I think with each album we've been able to integrate more and more of who we are," Alisa says. "We've really seen a need and have been trying to fill that void for young girls to have a different option when it comes to pop music, and we've done it without trying to fit into any kind of mold or demographic. I think we've just really focused in on who our listeners are and what they want to hear." As every recording artist knows, longevity does not come easily in a fast-paced music industry that is constantly chasing the next big trend. But ZOEgirl's biggest accomplishment is their unending ability to connect with their fans around the world. "Our audience is constantly expanding," says Chrissy. "We've got younger girls, teenagers (including boys!), and parents coming to all of our shows and they are having a great time.
We've had some great conversations with them and we really love getting their feedback."
That feedback whether it comes through letters, after-show meetings or one-on-one time spent with young girls on recent mission trips translates into some of the real life moments Chrissy, Alisa and Kristin write about on their albums. Room To Breathe captures those poignant moments that come straight from the heart. Filled with soaring harmonies and brimming with a personal style that is quintessentially their own, the CD's tracks include the album's first radio single, About You, an up-tempo pop melody about learning to take the focus off yourself and make it all about God. Dead Serious, the track ZOEgirl calls the most fun song on the album, is a tribute to "all of those kids who really are standing up for what they believe, even though it's not always the most popular thing to do", Kristin explains. The album's title is pulled from a song called The Way You Love Me, written by Chrissy and songwriter Lynn Nichols. "This song talks about how it's so unfathomable to realize how much God loves us despite what we do every day", Chrissy explains. "We can't ever fully grasp how he could love us so much that he died for us. The lyrics say, You gave me room to breathe, a place to get away. I'm standing in your presence with a debt I can't repay".
One of the album's most honest and affecting songs is Scream, a lyric and music written by Alisa and inspired in part by some painfully revealing stories told by girls the group met on the road and while on a mission trip. "There are girls out there who admit to all kinds of self-destructive behaviors like eating disorders, drug abuse, drinking and cutting themselves out of a desperate need to numb the pain and cry out for help," Alisa shares. Does anybody know how I feel? Sometimes I'm numb; sometimes I'm overcome...Do I have to scream for you to hear me? Do I have to bleed for you to see me? Because I grieve and you're not listening to me. The song was a shower of emotions for Alisa, who was jointly inspired by hearing the deep hurts shared by the girls she'd met, and in honestly grieving her own personal pain and dealing with depression. "It took me two hours to write the whole song, and it was as if in that two hours I went through the pain of it and the healing of it. It was as if God just poured it out of me. It was so powerful." Having traveled on summer mission trips for the past two years, Chrissy, Alisa and Kristin have gained a renewed passion and vision to reach the world. As part of that effort, they have launched ZOEgirl Missions, a way to partner with their listeners in reaching out to areas in need. The first official ZOEgirl Missions trip took place last summer in Quito, Ecuador. Partnering with Big World Ventures, ZOEgirl took a missions group to visit retirement homes, play with children in orphanages, perform drama and music, and participate in various work and building projects for churches in Quito. This July, ZOEgirl is planning a second trip to Ecuador, partnering again with Big World Ventures, and taking various teams with specific gifts. Chrissy, Alisa and Kristin will bring with them construction teams, music and worship teams, and teams that will visit nursing homes and orphanages. They will spend time with the residents, nurturing and serving them with whatever they need, whether it's a haircut, a hug, or someone to sit with them and hold their hand. It's ZOEgirl's hope that they will touch those who experience so little human touch. "If we hadn't done these trips we wouldn't be the group we are now," says Alisa. "The girls who have gone on these trips have inspired more songs than they know." "These trips have really opened my eyes to the world,"
Chrissy adds. "It has given me a new appreciation for life and has taught me so much in the process." Glancing back, in the rear-view mirror of their career, it's the relationships they build, the lives they touch and the impact they make for Christ that fuels this trio of women more than anything else. "At the end of the day, in 20 years, I want to get a letter that says, I gave my heart to Jesus at a ZOEgirl concert,'" Alisa says. "To me, that's success. It's great to sell albums and win awards, but we aren't truly successful if we aren't leading people to heaven. That's eternal." Chrissy adds, "If we were remembered for anything else it wouldn't seem like we had fulfilled what we know God has called us to do."
ZOEgirl after 2006:
After Chrissy Conway's 2005 marriage to one of the Katinas, she now goes by Chrissy Conway-Katina.
When ZOEgirl announced their disbandment in 2006, Kristin took some time off but in spring of 2007, started working on solo material. Her tentative solo album was set to release on March 1, 2008 but in March 2008 announced that on her official MySpace that she will no longer release a solo album in favor of forming a new musical group ColmanBlue. As of May 2008, the group consists of Kelli Trontell and herself. Chrissy was interviewed by Amy Hagberg in April 2008: The hour long interview can be heard here.
Dead Serious
ZOEgirl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the smile on her face, she doesn't get it
i don't understand.
the way she walks with ehr head in the clouds,
she doesn't care who laughs walks right through the croud
that's right that's me i don't care what you think
you can talk all day i don't care what you say
but aren't you cirious about my satisfaction
maybe you're envoius, a little firious!
you can laugh but i'm dead serious!
watch her as she goes there's something different and she knows it!
ask her why and she'll flash that silly smile
she said she's got a purpose and she's don't with all the games. jesus saved her soul and she'll never be the same!
that's right that's me
i don't care what you think
you can talk all day i'm ok anyway!
(chorus 2x)
eternity won't waitfor me
i've made my choice where i want to be
all i want to be seen is the light of God
shining in me
i may be young but i am free you can't change what i bleieve!
(chorus)
serious, i'm serious, ooo serious i'm serious, ooo, serious i'm serious, ooo.
you can laugh but i'm dead serious!
The song "Dead Serious" by ZOEgirl is about a girl who holds a bible in her hands and walks with her head in the clouds. She is not affected by what people say about her, as she has a purpose and has found her way in life through Jesus. The lyrics also state that people may think she is delirious or crazy, but she is dead serious about her faith in God.
The verses of the song seem to be calling out the contradictions and perplexities that the young Christian girl might face in the face of people who laugh at her beliefs. The lyrics highlight how the girl remains unbothered by what others say or think about her since she has found clarity in the word and path of God. She smiles and walks, radiating confidence in her faith, despite the world's limiting standards.
The lyrics also call on listeners to keep an open mind and be curious about why the girl is so confident about her faith. The chorus delivers the song's central message of unwavering commitment to God, and confidence in one's faith.
Overall, "Dead Serious" is a song that encourages Christians and non-Christians alike to explore faith more profoundly, without holding back on their beliefs due to societal standards.
Line by Line Meaning
who's that girl w/ a bible in her hands?
Who is that girl carrying a bible?
the smile on her face, she doesn't get it
The smile on her face indicates that she is not bothered by negativity
i don't understand.
I am not able to comprehend her behavior and attitude
the way she walks with ehr head in the clouds,
She walks with her head held high, full of confidence
she doesn't care who laughs walks right through the crowd
She is not affected by the opinions of others and bravely moves forward
that's right that's me i don't care what you think
Yes, that is me, and I do not worry about your judgement
you can talk all day i don't care what you say
I am indifferent to your words and opinions
you think i'm delirious a typical reaction
You might perceive me as crazy, which is a common reaction
but aren't you curious about my satisfaction
But, are you not curious about my contentment?
maybe you're envious, a little furious!
Perhaps you are jealous, a little angry!
you can laugh but i'm dead serious!
You can laugh, but I am absolutely serious!
watch her as she goes there's something different and she knows it!
Observe her behavior; she recognizes that she is different
ask her why and she'll flash that silly smile
If you ask her why she is happy, she will smile and say her reason is silly
she said she's got a purpose and she's don't with all the games.
She has found her purpose and will no longer play games
jesus saved her soul and she'll never be the same!
She believes that Jesus has saved her soul and transformed her permanently
that's right that's me
Yes, I am that person
i don't care what you think
I am uninterested in your thoughts and opinions
you can talk all day i'm ok anyway!
You can talk all day, but I am still okay!
(chorus 2x)
Repeated chorus
eternity won't wait for me
I know that time is limited for me
i've made my choice where i want to be
I have made a decision about where I want to go
all i want to be seen is the light of God shining in me
I want people to recognize the light of God in me
i may be young but i am free you can't change what i believe!
I am young, but my beliefs are unshakable!
(chorus)
Repeated chorus
serious, i'm serious, ooo serious i'm serious, ooo, serious i'm serious, ooo.
Repeated line expressing seriousness
you can laugh but i'm dead serious!
You can laugh, but I am absolutely serious!
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing, O/B/O CAPASSO, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: ALISA GIRARD, CHRISSY CONWAY, KRISTIN SWINFORD, MARK HEIMERMANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind