Customer Reviews

Dare to Dream

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

About a year ago my then eight-year old daughter kept bringing me a CD to listen to. It was Billy Gilman's "One Voice". I listened and shoved it aside. Then I noticed my wife frequently listening to it. Having a great deal of respect for my wife's opinion, I listened to the album more closely. It really was good.
Shortly after that my wife bought tickets to a Billy Gilman concert where he would be appearing with Jessica Andrews at a local county fair. The concert was fun and very upbeat, with all age-groups enjoying themselves. After the concert everyone wanted to see Jessica Andrews, but one couldn't unless one purchased a certain dollar amount of Jessica Andrews' merchandise. Unbeknownst to most of the crowd, on the other side of the rodeo grounds Billy Gilman was signing autographs. My daughter rushed over and waited in line to have Billy sign a photo. I watched from the side as child after child (mostly young girls with their mothers) visited with Billy. Billy was the perfect gentleman, spending as much time with them as any fan wanted. After signing my daughter's photo of him, he hugged my daughter in a moment so tender that a lump formed in my throat. Now, this kid was number one in my book.
We purchased "Dare to Dream" and over the last few days I've given it some close listenings. Being a musician myself, I am impressed with not only Billy's voice, but also with the high production values in his albums; the orchestrations and instrumentations in both albums are complex and sophisticated. The choice of songs, which can be described as country pop, cover a wide range. Many, by necessity, are geared towards youngsters, but there are a few that transcend any generation gap and should have univeral appeal. (I have learned the song "My Time On Earth" on his "Dare to Dream" CD. The song is particularily poignant and I find myself easily relating to it as I am middle-aged.)
Many will say that Billy's singing voice sounds like a woman's, and that may very well be taken as a compliment. After all, a woman's voice is a mature voice. Critics who say he sounds girlish have a unsophisticated ears. Billy Gilman has a boy's voice. It is a very pleasant but powerful voice with astounding control. His phrasing is nearly flawless, though occasionally he tends to yell. (He describes himself as a belter.) I look forward to his next album. It will be interesting to hear a changed voice.
Any parent who has a child who idolizes Billy Gilman should count their blessings.

Billy Gilman, a strong singer and inspirational performer, has done it again! Dare to Dream includes selections of beautiful songs appropriate for a young boy with an awesome voice. The songs are of first kisses, my girl, almost in love, and mom. The ballads include beautiful, simple lyrics. Perfect choices for Billy's flawless voice. There are some jazzy, fun songs as well, sung with enthusiasm and a style unmatched by any other performer. All of the songs have grown on me, as I'm sure they will for anyone who listens to the CD a few times. You'll love it!!

While not the caliber of "One Voice", selected songs such as "You Don't You Won't" and "Shamey, Shamey, Shame", do demonstrate the wonderful dynamics of Billy's voice, which is why I rated it 4 stars instead of 3. I tend to agree with certain aspects of Alanna Nash's review. The producers can't seem to decide whether to promote Billy as a child or young man. I think their indecision confuses the fans. I wish they would just pick good songs and let Billy sing them. And a good crossover song would allow more people access to this greatly talented young singer.

I feel the editoral review above is horrid! This is a great CD!!! Some of us like the youthfulness of Billy Gilman's music and image. Why expect the kid to grow up too fast?! Anyway, this CD displays Billy's immense talent. Many of the songs will either bring a tear to your eye or a smile to your face! "God's Alive and Well" and "The Woman in My Life" are extremely well performed. If it's true (which I don't think it is) that Billy's musical career will be short lived, it will all be worth it, because of the joy he has brought to others through his music!! I'll be the first one running to the store when he comes out with a new album!

It has been one year since Billy Gilman took the music world by storm with his electrifying performance on the 2000 Academy of Country Music Awards show, followed up by the release of his million selling debut album, One Voice. Now, one year later, a more mature Billy (at age 12) proves he still has the magic with the release of Dare To Dream. This young country phenom did just that when he set out on his career, and those of us who have been treated by his talent over the past year are so happy that he did have that dream. There is one very important thing that sets Billy apart from so many of the young artists performing today....this boy really can sing!!! Now, Billy Gilman could make singing the phone book sound great, but fortunately Dare To Dream has a fine collection of a variety of types of songs, all of which Billy performs flawlessly. This album has it all: upbeat rock-a-billy tunes, doo-wop, and powerful, sensitive ballads. The highlights include the album's first single, an infectious upbeat rocker called "She's My Girl" and a wonderful tongue twisting dance number named "You Don't You Won't." If your heart isn't jumping after listening to this song, see your cardiologist. Then there are the ballads. The song that closest resembles Billy's classic "One Voice" is the extremely emotional "Elisabeth." It is a song of both sadness and hope about a girl born with a life threatening illness who has defied the odds and is still alive, though still in peril. Billy's perfect voice drives this song and its message right into your soul. One of the greatest tributes to motherhood I have ever heard is the song "The Woman In My Life." This song could easily be the national anthem for Mother's Day. Other great ballads include "My Time On Earth" and "God Is Alive And Well." The best love song is "I've Got To Make It To Summer", which will certainly make his legion of teenage girl fans swoon.

Billy even gets to shift gears and perform a great little song that is totally out of character for him. Billy pulls it off perfectly with his performance of the catchy "Shamey, Shamey, Shame." I won't spoil it for you, but you've got to hear this one.

Billy Gilman is an exceptional singer, a natural born entertainer, and one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet (and I [...] had that pleasure.) You cannot go wrong with the purchase of Dare To Dream. I'd go on further, but I've got to get back to listening to this album!

If you haven't listened to the clips above, DO SO! IF you need convincing, Billy's voice will do it without the aid of reviews! Astounding control, well placed inflection, professional insertion of vocal emotion, a strong unwavering voice, clear as a bell tones. . . Billy Gilman is not just another child artist. He stands out with his ability to actually SING, truly SING, and far from playing it safe, he tackles tough songs and adult endeavors with gusto and success. A real winner. I'm not a fan of ballads, but Some Things I Know could not do a better job showcasing his beautiful voice. You Dont You Wont shows better breathing control than most adults have mastered, and Elisabeth & The Woman In My Life are sweetly touching. I personally really enjoyed Almost Love and She's Everything You Want. Our First Kiss may appear to just be a cute song, but listen close and hear the strength in his voice, and the careful control of each note.

Billy truly makes everyone of his songs get heard. I really respect this 12 year-old kid(at the time. He's now fourteen, and I'm waiting for his next CD which is due to go out in stores sometime before Christmas) Anyways, all of these songs are great. My favorite on the album is "Elisabeth", about a girl struggling an illness. They said she wouldn't live to be 16, but she recently passed away at the age of 21. Now when I listen to "Elisabeth", I cry. All of the songs are as inspriational as this one. I definetely make this a five stars. It's just as good as Billy's other two albums. I hope you check them out! God Bless Ya'll!

Oh Billy, Oh My!.... He opens with the first single She's My Girl and just rides right on from there, fearless and honest and free.... It's Billy Gilman. And it ain't anywhere else. Spirit and soul... and some rock and roll.... Two__ the tempo primer Our First Kiss, a vocal extravaganza that gives you the taste of what this voice can do. Can you do it? No. Can ya love his? Ya betcha.... Elizabeth, a tribute to a challenged person, for real, enters the get-the-sense get-the-feel period, warming you up like an opening act, and the sweet lyrics and soaring vocal performance of My Time On Earth touches and powers ya... then, the first hint__ but no hint, you're slammed!.... You Don't You Won't.... Ya just Gotta hear this! no one, no record, no artist, no other, no day, no way... gives ya this__ they musta rolled their faces around tracing circles in the air chuckling, Oh This Is Billy, this one right here really is!.... How can one put this? the vocals are challenging for anyone and yet from his small frame rip right out in a staccato summoned from some unseen (yet we all see it's there) nuclear power plant deep inside. Who else? who where, how why, not I! no, this one is his, all His! You want jazzy fun? O sure. You ain't heard it like this!.... Then the party turns to gentle cuts like the soothing God's Alive and Well, and this soft vocal-in-front-of-guitar The Woman In My Life, and ode that sweeps you along on Billy's special trip. A little window into some angle of himself? Oh, That's what that photo is, with him staring out the window pane on the cd booklet!.... There are also rousing songs like the rocking She's Everything You Want__ catch the way his vocals match the new yet old guitar rifs evoking the best of the true blue old rock and roll? did ya?.... Then a perfectly paced teen essay that is really no kid's stuff, Almost Love You, the foot-tapping tempo and rolling melody of this just screams Radio Cut. Why don't they? and, can't imagine anyone but Billy nailing this tune. Billy's timing can't be beat.... You know what? the first times you hear She's My Girl you think, Teen Pop tune, run of the mill. Now, listen the third time. See it? this actually is a Country cut__ and fun. Now I know why they made it the first single. He does too. How much does he like singing, 'angel baby'? I wanna too.... All in all this collection is smooth and rousing, often country and sometimes a bit jazzy, but honest and open and__ Billy. Now I have to admit that no track here totally dropped my jaw and made me, Wipe Out! like he did with Spend Another Night Without You In My Dreams on his first album. But then, that is a one of a kind. Did ya have to pick up the broken glass? I couldn't see for two minutes after the last note of that faded out the first time I heard it. And don't Even get me started on his classic christmas thing, the best vocal holiday disc this side o Santaland. No one was ever more born for singing holiday songs.... But that's not the point. The point is this:.... __This is Billy Gilman. This is his Dream. And he gives it to us, besides himself. And even when his producers are having fun with him, like on the last track, Shamey Shame__ that is so cool I have to chuckle with it__ you still get the sense__ this kid is Just Billy. And Billy is for real.... There is no other. There will never be. So jump on in Now! This is only now, only once this century, you will never see this again in your whole life. No teasing. This is BILLY. So... __Jump on this Billy Bandwagon. And get this thing. Right now!... RCS__

Being a huge, huge BG fan, I couldn't hardly wait for this new cd to hit the stores! Being a fellow Rhode Islander is one of the many, many reason's why I love this little guy with the huge, huge voice! My favorites on this cd are She's my girl, it's such a fun dancable song. It has a great beat to it! I also love Elisabeth, the true story behind the song is very touching. I love the melody and the power in his voice when he sings this! Our first kiss is a cute uptempo song that has a great bluesy type feel to it. I love the lyrics, they're catchy too. Everything you want is such a great song. When you hear it you have to get up and groove and move to this one! It's totaly groovy! Shamey, shamey, shame is another favorite of mine on this cd! I can just see him singing this on Broadway! Again he shows us the abilities in his vocals! It has a jazzy, big band, bluesy, broadway feel to it. this is one song that would be great to see him sing live! You don't you won't is another favorite! How someone so young can sing such a tongue twister is beyond me! This is a fun rockin' song, like an old Elvis rockabilly song! This is one you might want to jitterbug or swing dance to! I've got to make it to summer is a light breezy song that reminds me of Steve Warners early songs he wrote. Almost love has the same feel, it has the feel of an old Eagles tune too. Some thing I know is a pretty song that shows his voice off too. The woman in my life is for all the mothers out there! Sure to melt anyone's heart. My time on earth is great too, with a great, meaningful message. God's alive and well has a great message too, that we should all live by. Again this little guy shows us his god given talent! Anybody who appreciates a big soulful voice should listen to this kid sing! He's a one in a million talent that we have the privilege to hear, and hear you have to, live! His voice can go right through you, right down to your toes! He'll leave you with goosebumps and wanting to hear more! Please give this cd a chance, it's worth it!

Billy Gilman's Dare to Dream is the best CD I've ever listened to. I own it, and since I first put the disk in my CD player, I have not taken it out once. It normally plays constantly when I'm home, and when I stay at my aunts house, I just take the plug out of the outlet, and take my CD player with me.