UB Anniversary ReVisit: The Debut of Ciara + T M H Interview

June is Black Music Month, and once again UB is gearing up for special features to celebrate our favorite subject, Black Music!

This year we celebrate Women of R&B, we’ll talk to some of the women who have helped shape melody, grace and style in the genre over the past four decades. Plus we speak and feature some ladies who are on their way, to longevity in the industry.

UB is also spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.

As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty, as well Hip Hop Legends.

20 years ago on June 8th, 2004 — a new single was released entitled “Goodies,” the debut single from Ciara.

Ciara Princess Harris is an Austin, Texas-born self-described army brat who lived in Germany and California before settling in Atlanta, Georgia. The ambitious, self-starter scored a publishing deal when she was barely out of high-school.

After a brief stint in a girl group, she ventured out on her own. Producer Jazze Pha signed Ciara to his Sho’ Nuff label after working with her for a mere five days — and his royal crunkness Lil’ Jon, who produced the singer’s lead single, the “Crunk & B” cautionary wrist-slapper “Goodies.”

Ciara also linked up with Lil Jon, resulting in her debut #1 hit single, “Goodies” and the 4 million-selling worldwide debut self-titled album.

With the release of “Goodies,” Ciara nudged her way to center stage with attention-grabbing vocals, irresistible songwriting and killer dance moves.

Dubbed as the First Lady of “Crunk & B”, Ciara was only the second artist (the first was Usher with his hit single “Yeah”) to release a Crunk & B song. Stated Lil’ Jon at the time 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.” “I’m so happy I wrote ‘Goodies’,” Ciara stated. “I pray everybody gets it the way they’re supposed to.”

In the hook, Ciara warns, “If you’re looking for the goodies keep on looking ‘cause they stay in the jar.” “I think we all run across this problem,” she explained. “A guy thinks you’re gonna be with him because he’s got the iced out chain, he’s popular and all that. But that ain’t it. That ain’t gonna make me give you my number and that’s definitely not gonna make me go home with you. It’s the truth.”

“I remember watching Destiny’s Child perform on TV one day. That’s when I made up my mind: ‘Hey I wanna do this.’ I watched my peers around me and they were worried about who’s wearing what, going to school, trying to talk to somebody and I was like ‘I’m trying to be somebody. What can I do to get there as soon as possible?’”

LiL 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,” he stated. “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.”

Ciara‘s self-titled Sho’ Nuff/LaFace debut is conveyed through everyday language and extraordinary production and vocal delivery. The album is a complete work of art and a masterful mixture of messages for the young and not so young.

On “Thugstyle,” a song she wrote with songwriter Johnta Austin, Ciara displays her true ‘round the way girl’ nature. “It’s kinda how a guy would talk to a female, always spittin’ game,” she said. “To me, it’s a little slick. It’s just a fun record. Everyone loves to sing along with it.”

“Looking at You” and “Pick up the Phone” with their groove-heavy tracks and sassy vocals, are signature Ciara, “I love this record because it’s so real. I say, ‘You know it would be nice if you could call somebody and let somebody know that you’re alright….I know you see me on the caller I.D. so pick up the p-h-o-n-e.’”

The album also produced two additional #1 singles, the 5X platinum “1,2 Step” with Missy Elliot and double platinum “Oh” with Ludacris.

The final single released from the album, “And I,” a ballad Ciara did with producer Adonis, is about “loving someone for who they are and not what they have.” The song reached #27 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Other tracks from the debut include; “Ooh Baby,” written by Sean Garrett and Keri Hilson, about good old-fashioned infatuation. “I’m just really into this guy,” Ciara explained, in character. “I consider myself a ‘round-the-way girl, down to earth and basically the kind of guy I like is like this guy who pulls up in the F-150 pickup with the crazy banging system. He’s a ‘round-the-way dude, kinda ‘hood. But I’m like really into him.”

With its easy-to-relate-to subject matter. “The songs are very catchy,” stated Ciara. “They’re 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.”

“I remember watching Destiny’s Child perform on TV one day. That’s when I made up my mind: ‘Hey I wanna do this.’ I watched my peers around me and they were worried about who’s wearing what, going to school, trying to talk to somebody and I was like ‘I’m trying to be somebody. What can I do to get there as soon as possible?’”

Ciara set her sights on her dream and went after it. “I wrote down on paper that I had a goal to be a professional singer and I wanna be there soon….I had to sacrifice a lotta things and I think that was the key thing to get me there. I cut out going to the movies, I cut out hanging with my friends, I actually told some of my friends ‘This month we’re not gonna hang out or talk on the phone.’ I don’t have too many friends anyway – less is better for me. I cut out the boyfriend – actually I had my heart broken so I was really like, ‘I’m ‘bout to do this. I’m ‘bout to be on top.’”

From there, things moved swiftly: She joined a girl group, left the group to go solo, nabbed a publishing deal and eventually hooked up with Jazze Pha, whom she refers to as her “music soul mate.” “God really put him in my life for a reason,” she said. “Our vibe is incredible.”

Ciara won a Grammy for “Lose Control” with Missy Elliott & Fatman Scoop and numerous ASCAP Songwriting Awards, during that era. Ciara also toured with superstar Gwen Stefani and with label-mate Britney Spears on the “Circus” tour in Europe.

For the 20th Anniversary, Ciara will release the 20th Anniversary Edition re-release along with a 2LP, Hot Pink Vinyl.

Aries from T M H/UBG spoke with Ciara in 2004, before the release of her single “Oh” and talked to her about her breakout success and her workout routine.

Plus Ciara shows love to Aaliyah, Monica, Janet Jackson and Shanice.

UrbanBridgez.com: You’ve already surpass the title of a one hit wonder with the success of “Goodies” and now “1,2,Step” Did you expect all of the success so fast?
Ciara: I didn’t expect all of the success so fast. But I did believe in my music and I believed in my talent.

UrbanBridgez.com: When I watch your videos, I see a mixture of Janet, Shanice and Aaliyah. Three of my all time favorites. What type of influence, if any did they have on you coming up wanting to be an entertainer?
Ciara: Oh God, thank you. When I was coming up I thought Shanice was so beautiful, she is so pretty and that girl be singing, she can blow! Janet & Aaliyah were the ones that I got a lot of my dancing influences from. I would see them in interviews and could just see how beautiful they were inside and out.

UrbanBridgez.com: Which song can you relate to most on your album?
Ciara: Which song? Wow, let me see. I would have to say the whole album, I can’t pick one. Every song I can relate to.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s going to be the next single?
Ciara: “Oh” with Ludacris.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s your workout routine, you have an amazing body?
Ciara: Oh no, don’t say that, no I don’t (laughs). Thank you so much. Truthfully, I just really started going back to the gym and working out. I do my crunches and things like that everyday. Plus doing shows and dancing on top of that.

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you have a role model?
Ciara: Oprah, because she has accomplished so much and she is a beautiful person.

UrbanBridgez.com: Any touring plans in the near future?
Ciara: Defiantly, I have some big tour plans in the works. Who I’m going with is a secret, so I can’t tell you yet (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: What the craziest thing a fan has done to you so far?
Ciara: Wow, let’s see that is hard. Let me think. You know the craziest so far was following me to my hotel room.

UrbanBridgez.com: What is the most frustrating aspect of being a recording artist?
Ciara: That’s easy, not getting any sleep (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: Any plans to work with Monica in the near future?
Ciara: Defiantly, that is in the works. That will happen.

UrbanBridgez.com: If you could form a group sort of an LSG, with two other R&B; female artists, who would they be and why?
Ciara: Wow, now that is a hard question. Well let’s say Monica of course and umm….

UrbanBridgez.com: My suggestion for a third could be Shanice, I like that element of you all (laughs).
Ciara: I think that would be hot!

UrbanBridgez.com: What other projects do you have coming up?
Ciara: More shows coming up. I will go back into the studio in January and I will shoot the video to “Oh” in January as well. Oh yeah & I’m going to London.

UrbanBridgez.com: What are your plans for the holidays?
Ciara: To spend it with my family and friends. Spread some of my love I have to share (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
Ciara: I would say I appreciate everything they have done for me and all of the support they have showed me. I love my fans!!!

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with “Goodies!”