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.
R U Sure About That?
ZOEgirl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's in your heart
What's on your mind
Can you carry on
Like nothing's wrong
Go on and on
Are you sure about that
You've been pushed
You've been shoved
You've been left and unloved
Oh why do you still stay
So many tears that you cry every night
But ya know your life doesn't have to be this way
You got hurts deep inside
It's only right that someone should pay
Can't forget all the scars
He left on your heart
All the promises he made
You've gotta let it out girl
You've gotta let it go
You've got give it up
If you really wanna know
The truth about life girl
The secret of love
Is living inside you
It's dying to break through
The walls around your heart
Can you try to hide
What's in your heart
What's on your mind
Can you carry on
Like nothing's wrong
Go on and on
Are you sure about that
You've been up
You've been down
You've been all around
You broke all the rules
It was good for awhile
You hid behind a smile
But now you're broken
And you're bruised
Have you ever considered
That life is a invitation for you
To decide in your mind
To accept or decline the reality of truth
You've gotta let it out boy
You've gotta let it go
You've got it give it up
If you really wanna know
The truth about life boy
The secret of love
You've done it your way for so long
So tell me when's enough enough
Can you try to hide
What's in your heart
What's on your mind
Can you carry on
Like nothing's wrong
Go on and on
Are you sure about that
Life's been hard now
Don't get me wrong
It's hard to find someone
You can count on
I know that you wanna be strong
But anyone can play it tough
You may have yourself
But is that enough
Are you sure about that
Are you sure about that
Are you sure about that...
Can you try to hide
What's in your heart
What's on your mind
Can you carry on
Like nothing's wrong
Go on and on
Can you try to hide
What's in your heart
What's on your mind
Can you carry on
Like nothing's wrong
Go on and on
Can you try to hide
What's in your heart
What's on your mind
Can you carry on
Like nothing's wrong
Go on and on
Are you sure about that
The song "R U Sure About That?" by ZOEgirl is a powerful message about the importance of honesty and vulnerability in relationships. The song begins by questioning whether a person can truly hide what is in their heart and mind, and continues to explore the consequences of refusing to confront and express one's emotions. The lyrics acknowledge the pain and hurt that can come from past relationships and the scars they leave behind, but also offer hope for healing and a better future.
The song's message is not limited to romantic relationships, but can be applied to any kind of connection between people. It calls on listeners to be honest with themselves and with others, to not hide behind a facade of strength or toughness, and to allow themselves to experience emotions fully. The lines "The truth about life girl/The secret of love" suggest that true fulfillment and happiness can only be found by being true to oneself and opening one's heart to love.
Overall, "R U Sure About That?" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to examine their relationships and their own emotional honesty.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you try to hide
Are you attempting to conceal
What's in your heart
The deep-seated emotions you feel
What's on your mind
The thoughts occupying your mental bind
Can you carry on
Are you capable of proceeding along
Like nothing's wrong
As if nothing has been going awry all along
Go on and on
Continuing unceasingly and strong
Are you sure about that
Are you certain that's what you truly want to do
You've been pushed
You've been pressed upon
You've been shoved
You've been forcefully moved
You've been left and unloved
You've been deserted and not received affection
Oh why do you still stay
Why do you continue to remain in such dismay
So many tears that you cry every night
You've wept tears frequently in the night
But ya know your life doesn't have to be this way
You comprehend that your existence can be different, devoid of the display
You got hurts deep inside
You harbor intense emotional pain inside
It's only right that someone should pay
It's justified that the person responsible compensates in some way
Can't forget all the scars
The marks left behind are impossible to disregard
He left on your heart
The indelible impression in your heart did he impart
All the promises he made
The commitments he pledged but never obeyed
You've gotta let it out girl
You need to express and release it, don't let it curl
You've gotta let it go
The grudges you hold, you must let them go
You've got give it up
You must surrender and abandon the hurt that you uphold
If you really wanna know
If you are genuinely seeking to grow
The truth about life girl
The actuality of existence, oh girl
The secret of love
The mystery behind love
Is living inside you
It abides within you, it's true
It's dying to break through
It aches to find a way through
The walls around your heart
The barriers surrounding your emotional part
You've been up
You've experienced highs
You've been down
You've felt lows and frowned
You've been all around
Your experiences have been diverse and profound
You broke all the rules
You defied the regulations, took matters in your own tools
It was good for awhile
It worked in your favor for a fleeting while
You hid behind a smile
Smiling, but also hiding a conflicting opinion all the while
But now you're broken
However, you're now shattered and unspoken
And you're bruised
Aside from cracking, you're now also bruised
Have you ever considered
Have you ever ruminated and pondered
That life is a invitation for you
That life extends an offer to you
To decide in your mind
You must firmly make up your mind
To accept or decline the reality of truth
To either accept or reject the certainty of truth
You've gotta let it out boy
You must express it and let it out, oh boy
You've got it give it up
You must relinquish and give up that grudge
The truth about life boy
The certitude of existence, oh boy
You've done it your way for so long
You've continued down your personal path for far too long
So tell me when's enough enough
So enlighten me, when will you realize you've had enough
Life's been hard now
Life's been rigorous and demanding, somehow
Don't get me wrong
Don't misconstrue, it hasn't been easy all along
It's hard to find someone
It's challenging to find a confidante
You can count on
To whom you can rely on
I know that you wanna be strong
I realize you desire to be tough all along
But anyone can play it tough
However, anyone can feign and act guff
You may have yourself
You may have your own back to oneself
But is that enough
But is that adequate and sufficient, as such
Contributed by Joseph Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.