This Is Me

Infobox Album
Name = This Is Me
Type = studio
Artist = Kierra "Kiki" Sheard


Released = June 6 2006 (Japan)
June 27 2006 (Worldwide)
Recorded = 2006
Genre = Urban contemporary gospel
Length = 44:17 (Original LP),
66:24 (Special Edition)
Label = EMI Gospel
Producer = Fred Jerkins III, Warryn Campbell, J. Moss (PAJAM), Tommy Sims, PJ Morton, Antonio Neal, etc.
Reviews =
Last album = "This Is Me EP"
(2006)
This album = "This Is Me"
(2006)
Next album = "Bold Right Life"
(2008)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate Covers
Type = studio


Lower caption = The online special edition album coverExtra album cover 2


Lower caption = The retail special edition album coverExtra album cover 2
Type = studio


Lower caption = Japanese Edition

"This Is Me" is the second studio album from American contemporary gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard. It was released June 27 2006 by EMI Gospel. A special edition of "This Is Me" was simultaneously released with six bonus tracks as well as an exclusive photo booklet.

Album Background

Upon announcing the (then-) future release, Sheard made the following statement [ [http://www.kierrakikisheard.com/default.aspx Kierra Sheard Official Biography] ] :

Criticism

"This Is Me" was met with mixed reaction from Sheard's core gospel fanbase. Where traditional gospel enthusiasts had a few tracks of that style to appease them on Kiki's debut project, her second album adopted an even more slick, contemporary sound. The only place the more trademark traditional "churchy" vocals appear are in the vamp of "No, Never". Nonetheless, scores of youger fans have been introduced to both traditional and contemporary gospel influences through Kiki Sheard's work. The artist herself stated that her goal with this album was to take the gospel message to a younger generation through songs that have a "beat they can associate with." [cite web|url=http://gospelflava.com/articles/kierrasheardinterview2006.html|title=An Interview With Kierra Sheard|publisher=GospelFlava.com]

Chart Performance

Upon its release "This Is Me" debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts. [cite web|url=http://www.gospelcity.com/dynamic/music-articles/new_music/288|publisher=GospelCity.com|date=July 10, 2006|title=Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's ‘This Is Me’ debuts at #1] Other chart peak positions include #3 on the Billboard Top Christian charts. [cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3cftxqejldhe~T5|title=Chart History for Kierra "Kiki" Sheard|publisher=All Music Guide]

The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel album in December 2006. [cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx|title=49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List|publisher=Grammy.com]

Track listing

# "You're the Only One" (Fred Jerkins III, Fred Jerkins IV, Lashawn Daniels, Keyetta Jerkins) – 3:42
# "Yes" (Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, J. Campbell Erica Campbell) – 2:56
# "It Is What It Is" (Fred Jerkins III, Lashawn Daniels, Keyetta Jerkins) – 3:36
# "This Is Me" (Fred Jerkins III, Delisha Thomas) – 4:23
# "Wrong Things" (James Moss) – 3:58
# "Faith" (Kierra "Kiki" Sheard) – 2:47
# "Why Me?" (Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, Lashawn Daniels, Keyetta Jerkins) – 3:26
# "Have What You Want" (Kierra Sheard) – 4:07
# "You" (Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Erica Campbell, Trecina "Tina" Campbell) (aka, Mary Mary) – 2:49
# "Change" (Kierra Sheard, PJ Morton, Tony Sims) – 3:28
# "No, Never" (Kierra Sheard) – 3:44
# "Hear This" - Intro – 0:28
# "Hear This" (Kierra Sheard, Dwayne Wright, Avriele Crandle) – 4:49
#:Special Edition Bonus Tracks
# "Hands Up" (Fred Jerkins III, Kierra Sheard) – 3:47
# "Always by My Side" (Kierra Sheard) – 3:02
# "Scream" (Paul D. Allen, Wille Wood, Rodney Levens, Brian Bradley, James Moss, Walter Kearney) – 3:55
# "Here I Am" (PJ Morton) – 3:05
# "It's Not Over" (Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Keyon Harrold) – 3:43
# "This Is Me (Live)" (Fred Jerkins III, Delisha Thomas) – 4:32

Japanese Import

This Is Me (Japanese Edition) (Toshiba-EMI, released June 6, 2006)
This Japanese Edition of "This Is Me" bears several notable differences to the US version. First, the Japanese version was released several weeks earlier than the US version with markedly different artwork than the domestic version. Though with a radically different tracklisting, it contains nearly all of songs on the US Special Edition except for "Change", "Always By My Side", "Here I Am", and the live session version of "This Is Me". The Japanese Edition does however include "Get Yours", a song similar in feel to Kierra's first big hit "You Don't Know". The tracklisting is as follows:

Track listing

# "Yes" – 2:56
# "You" – 2:49
# "You're the Only One" – 3:42
# "Get Better - It's Not Over" – 3:43
# "This Is Me" – 4:23
# "It Is What It Is" – 3:36
# "Have What You Want" – 4:07
# "Wrong Things" – 3:58
# "Why Me?" – 3:26
# "Faith" – 2:47
# "Hands Up" – 3:47
# "Get Yours" - 3:34
# "Scream" – 3:55
# "Hear This" - 6:18
# "No, Never" – 3:44
# "Rise" - 3:49

References