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Ciara Bursting onto the radar of millions of adoring fans
with her debut album Goodies in the fall of 2004, Ciara has
blossomed into one of the most popular young stars of the twenty-first
century. The 18-year-old beauty from Atlanta is the latest multi-talented
scene-stealer to nudge her way to center stage with attention-grabbing
vocals, irresistible songwriting and killer dance moves. |
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Ciara was born into a military family stationed in Austin, Texas. Because of the military ties, Ciara’s family was relocated many times to places such as Germany, New York, and California before finally settling in Atlanta towards the end of her childhood. Since that time, Ciara has found herself in the mix with some of the city’s biggest and brightest producers. One in particular, Jazze Pha, signed Ciara to his Sho’ Nuff label, after hearing her perform in a local girl group, and produced the singer’s lead single “Goodies” with the assistance of Lil’ Jon. Dubbed as the First Lady of “Crunk & B”,
Ciara is only the second artist (the first was Usher with his hit single
“Yeah”) to release a Crunk & B song. Says Lil’ Jon of the
newly-formed genre, “Crunk & B songs are R&B songs that get you
crunk. They make you wanna wild out. [Goodies] is a female
empowerment record. The female has the power. The female is in control on
this song. This is one of those records for the ladies.” Jon says he was
impressed by Ciara’s approach to the song, which she co-wrote with
“Yeah” songwriter Sean Garrett. “She did an excellent job on it,”
says Jon. “With this record, it’s the way she rides over the track,
the way she freaks the beat and the stuff that she says to connect her
with other women. She’s saying stuff that women can relate to. Guys are
always trying to get some from a girl and she’s like you can’t have
it. That’s what makes her stand out and this is one of those records
with that undeniable energy where as soon as the beat comes on it catches
you and makes you move. You can’t sit still when that song comes on.
Crunk music, you can’t fake because it’s all about the energy. It’s
gotta be real.” With the assistance its title track, Ciara’s Sho’
Nuff/LaFace/Zomba Label Group debut has been a huge success, already
attaining platinum status. In
songs such as “Thugstyle,” “Looking at You,” and “And I”,
Ciara showcases her song writing abilities as she conveys real life issues
through everyday language and extraordinary vocal delivery. The album is a
complete work of art and a masterful mixture of messages for the young and
not so young. In her own words, her songs “for all demographics, all age
ranges. They’re not as personal as I want to be. I’d rather be more
personal on the second album, once I grow a little more.” |
