Tamyra Gray, “God Bless the Dreamer” | Music Lifts 🎶 🏋

In the 3^rd edition of Lit Music That Lifts, we’re uplifted by American Idol alum Tamyra Gray performing, “God Bless the Dreamer.”

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elcome to Lit Music That Lifts (LMTL), or Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 for short! This column picks up where Sunday Refresh 🙏 leaves off, yet it hits different.  Like its predecessor, Music Lifts seeks to highlight songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 3^rd edition of Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 (2022), we highlight 🎵 “God Bless the Dreamer” as performed by 🎙 Tamyra Gray.

“So many problems that you felt in your life / And it cuts like a knife / But remember to look for tomorrow / It’s not long now.” It’s safe to say that American Idol season one alum 🎙 Tamyra Gray sought to inspire and uplift on 🎵 “God Bless the Dreamer”, a cover of a 🎙 Simone Hines cut from 💿 The Soul Train Christmas Starfest Album released in November 1997 (not currently available for digital purchase or via streaming). “God Bless the Dreamer” serves as the closing cut on her 2004 debut (and sole) studio album, 💿 The Dreamer.  Sadly, The Dreamer didn’t produce any commercial hits for Gray or muster up big sales.  Nonetheless, there are some great records, with this gospel-infused R&B closer being one of them.

Essentially, there are hardships, trials, and tribulations that make things look bleak. Because the perception is bad, naturally, we as humans find ourselves wallowing in pessimism and find it difficult to muster up optimism.  In “God Bless the Dreamer,” Tamyra Gray is our cheerleader, informing us there are brighter days ahead:

“Put some love in your heart, put some heart in your love

And don’t let the doubt steer you wrong

There’ll be something, out of nothing

When love comes along.”

Thoughtful, thoughtful lyrics sung by Gray.  The record was penned by 🎼 ✍ Louis Biancaniello, 🎼 ✍ Sam Watters, 🎼 ✍ Mark Calderon, 🎼 ✍ Bryan Abrams, 🎼 ✍ Kevin Thornton, and 🎼 ✍ H Lee. Gray is the ‘presenter,’ and her presentation is flawless with a mix of controlled, poised vocals and more dynamic, commanding ones.  Of course, the biggest moments for Gray are the choruses (“God bless the dreamer / God bless the child /… There’ll be freedom, sweet freedom / When love comes along”) and the bridge.  During the chorus, she gets a lift from a gospel choir – you can’t beat ‘em, folks! The bridge allows Gray to truly show off the pipes that made her the perceived frontrunner on American Idol.  All told, 🎵 “God Bless the Dreamer” is a perfect example of Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 because the encouragement is on OVERDRIVE!

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🎙 Tamyra Gray • 💿 The Dreamer • 🏷 19 Recordings • 📅 2004

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Tamyra Gray, “God Bless the Dreamer”: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 No. 3 (2022) [📷: 19 Recordings, Arek Socha, Benjamin Balazs, Brent Faulkner, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Curb, Ketut Subiyanto, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Word Entertainment]

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