BarlowGirl
BarlowGirl |
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BarlowGirl is a Christian rock/Contemporary Christian Music group from Elgin, Illinois. The band has three members: Rebecca, Lauren, and Alyssa Barlow. They have won several awards in their genre; their song "Never Alone" was the longest running #1 song in 2004 on Radio and Records Christian Hit Radio (CHR) and Christian Rock charts,[1] and was the "Song of the Year" on both charts. BarlowGirl became the best selling new artist of 2004.[1]
Their song "I Need You to Love Me" was released at the end of 2005. The single broke the record on Christian Radio & Retail Weekly's (CRW) Christian CHR chart by holding the #1 spot for 13 consecutive weeks.[2] [1] BarlowGirl was the second most played artist CHR artist of 2005 behind Sanctus Real.[1] It was the most played song on Christian Hit Radio in 2006.[3] BarlowGirl was voted the January 2006 winner in Yahoo!'s Who's Next after viewers were shown the video for the song. BarlowGirl is also among the 12 artists selected to be a part of the Big Shiny Planet [UP] Bible Study that was recently released nationwide through LifeWay and Family Christian Stores. The three sisters were youth ambassadors for the National Day of Prayer in 2007. Using their song, "Grey," they elaborate on Romans 12:1-2 and teach on the subject of making godly choices.
History
The Barlow sisters' father, Vince Barlow, created youth CDs at his church, Willow Creek Community Church, in South Barrington, IL. He brought his daughters as his backup band in the late 1990s.[1] BarlowGirl began writing songs and performing them at his performances. The trio stopped touring with their father when Becca and Alyssa began college, but they did perform at his nearby concerts. The trio had written around ten songs by 2002. [4]
The Barlow sisters were given a paid trip to the Gospel Music Association's Music in the Rockies seminar at Estes Park, Colorado, in mid-2002. The sisters were not informed that the seminar was a record industry event for unsigned artists, nor that it was a competition. They reached the finals of the event. Record companies became interested in the sisters after word of mouth spread about the seminar. [4]
The group's name became famous before the group released their first CD. The group Superchic[k] included a song titled "Barlow Girls" on their initial release, Karaoke Superstars, as a tribute to the actual Barlow sisters and their stand for purity, and effectively introduced the sisters to the music world.[5] [1]
The sisters were signed to Fervent Records on October 14, 2003. [6]
Musical Style
BarlowGirl is known as a Christian rock group. Their style includes three-part harmony mixed with rock guitars. Their songs run the range from ballads to guitar rock.
BarlowGirl's philosophy
The band has gained a following with their message from Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV) The band advocates waiting on God's timing concerning romantic relationships. They were quoted as saying, "We believe that God has one perfect man already chosen for us; therefore we have no need to worry ourselves in searching for him. When the time is right, we know God will bring us together. In the mean time, we are not hiding in a closet avoiding all males, we are still living our lives, just without the pressure of having to have a boyfriend." [7]
Albums
BarlowGirl released their first album BarlowGirl on February 24 2004. [6] The album included the longest running number-one song in 2004 on R&R's CHR and CRW's Rock charts, "Never Alone" was named Song of the Year on each of these charts. The CD had sold over 250,000 units by April 2005, and featured the singles "Never Alone" and "Mirror". These number-one songs earned the trio four 2005 Gospel Music Association (GMA) awards (formerly the Dove Award) nominations, including the Best New Artist award, Best Rock Song, and Rock Album. The trio was the best-selling new Christian artist of 2004. BarlowGirl received a 2006 GMA award nomination for Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year for "Mirror". "Never Alone" was also featured on the WOW Hits 2005 CD.
The CD also featured a hidden track titled "Image", which listeners could only find by loading the CD into their computers. To date, it's the only track where oldest sister and guitarist Becca sings a solo. She sings the middle part of each verse.
Their second album, Another Journal Entry, was released on September 27, 2005.[6] The album debuted at number three on Soundscan's Christian album chart, and had reached eighty-five on Billboard's Top 200 Current Albums chart by October 10, 2005. The trio was nominated for three additional 2006 GMA awards - 'Group of the Year', 'Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year', and 'Rock Recorded Song of the Year' for Let Go.
The first single from the album, "Let Go"', was a free download of the week from iTunes. Their next single from the album, "I Need You to Love Me", quickly climbed to number one on the Weekend 22 countdown in April 2006. The single held on to the #1 position on the R&R Christian Hit Radio chart for 9 weeks, and the CRW Christian Hit Radio chart for a record 13 weeks.[2] The single was the most played song of 2006 on Christian Hit Radio as played on the Weekend 22.[8]
They prepared a video for their hit song "Never Alone" for release for mainstream radio, but it did not chart on the mainstream charts.
Another Journal Entry: Special Edition
This special edition features a remix of "Never Alone".
The re-release was released in August 2006. It features all 11 tracks from Another Journal Entry and five bonus tracks consisting of: one brand new song ("For The Beauty of the Earth", which was also featured on the soundtrack to the movie The Nativity Story), three acoustic versions of BarlowGirl hits ("I Need You To Love Me", "Porcelain Heart", and "On My Own"), and a radio edit of "Never Alone". Also included on the disc was their "Never Alone" music video in QuickTime format. A "Fan Pack" was also released, with a bonus More Than Music book and sticker.
BarlowGirl's third studio album was released on July 24, 2007. How Can We Be Silent debuted at #1 on Billboard's Christian Chart, and #40 on Billboard's Top 200 albums. The CD was also released in a special edition format that comes with a DVD that features the music videos for their earlier hits "Never Alone" and "I Need You To Love Me", over 90 minutes of bonus footage, and personal interviews with the three girls. BarlowGirl partnered with longtime producer Otto Price. Tracks on the album include “Here’s My Life,” “I Believe In Love,” and “I Don’t Regret.”
The first single off of the album is "Here's My Life". It was released in June 2007. There was a second single released to rock radio a few weeks later, titled "Million Voices". The third single, "I Believe In Love", was released on October 8, according to allaccess.com.
Singles
Year | Title | Album |
---|---|---|
2003 | Harder Than the First Time | BarlowGirl |
2004 | Never Alone | BarlowGirl |
2004 | Mirror | BarlowGirl |
2005 | On My Own | BarlowGirl |
2005 | Let Go | Another Journal Entry |
2005 | I Need You to Love Me | Another Journal Entry |
2007 | Grey | Another Journal Entry |
2006 | Enough | Another Journal Entry |
2007 | Here's My Life | How Can We Be Silent |
2007 | Million Voices | How Can We Be Silent |
2007 | I Believe in Love | How Can We Be Silent |
Music videos
- I Need You To Love Me (2005)
- Grey (2005)
- Never Alone (2006)
Studio series performance tracks
- Never Alone (2005)
- Mirror (2005)
- Enough (2005)
- I Need You To Love Me (2005)
- For The Beauty of The Earth (2006)
Daywind Performance Tracks
- Never Alone
- Mirror
- I Need You To Love Me
- Enough
National Day of Prayer 2007
In 2007, Becca, Alyssa and Lauren Barlow were the youth ambassadors for the National Day of Prayer. They recorded the song "We Pray" (written by Clint Lagerberg and Otto Price) along with other artists, such as Rebecca St. James for this event.
See also
- Becca Barlow
- Alyssa Barlow
- Lauren Barlow
- Superchick, the mainstream band that introduced BarlowGirl to others with their song Barlow Girls from the album Karaoke Superstars.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Biography at YourMusicZone.com, Retrieved July 16 2007
- ^ a b [1] "BarlowGirl's 'I Need You To Love Me' Breaks Radio Record" June 19 2006 on 1Cubed.com
- ^ As played on the January 7 2007 Weekend 22 countdown
- ^ a b Biography at yahoo.com
- ^ Review of self-titled debut CD at Jesus Freak Hideout
- ^ a b c Profile at christianmusic.about.com
- ^ Weekend 22 countdown, weekend of Sept. 24, 2006
- ^ As played on the January 7, 2007 Weekend 22 countdown