This Is Me (album)

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Kierra "Kiki" Sheard chronology
This Is Me

Studio album by Kierra "Kiki" Sheard
Released	June 27, 2006 (worldwide)
Recorded	2006
Genre	Gospel
Length	44:17 (Original LP), 66:24 (Speical Edtion)
Label	EMI Gospel
Just Until... (2005)	This Is Me (2006)
Alternate cover

The promotional caption reading "12 songs + 6 makes an exclusive special edition" does not actually appear on the retail version of the album cover.

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.

Upon its release This Is Me debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts.^[1] Other chart peak positions include #3 on the Billboard Top Christian charts.^[2]

The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel album in December 2005.^[3]

1 Tracklisting
2 Japanese Import
3 Early Criticism
4 References

[edit] Tracklisting

"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
"Hands Up" Bonus Track (Special Edtion) (Fred Jerkins III, Kierra Sheard) – 3:47
"Always By My Side" Bonus Track (Special Edtion) (Kierra Sheard) – 3:02
"Scream" Bonus Track (Special Edtion) (Paul D. Allen, Wille Wood, Rodney Levens, Brian Bradley, James Moss, Walter Kearney) – 3:55
"Here I Am" Bonus Track (Special Edtion) (PJ Morton) – 3:05
"It's Not Over" Bonus Track (Special Edtion) (Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Keyon Harrold) – 3:43
"This Is Me - Live" Bonus Track (Special Edtion) (Fred Jerkins III, Delisha Thomas) – 4:32

[edit] 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:^[4]

"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

[edit] Early 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 sophomore effort 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." ^[5]