“There Will Come a Day” is the new single from longtime Christian music vocalist Billy Gaines. Winner of two prestigious Dove Awards, Gaines has endured an over forty year career in a world and genre that every day devours lesser artists than him. No one ever opting to build their vocal career around religious-themed music ever harbored ambitions of mainstream fame and fortune. It isn’t about the spotlight, it isn’t about money. Instead, Gaines and his musical brethren are testifying, celebrating, and offering comfort to their fellow human being. It’s difficult, if not outright impossible, to dislike Billy Gaines’ “There Will Come a Day”.
His voice is reassuring, physical, and a part of our experience rather than merely commenting on it. Gaines paints a dire picture of the modern world, without question, and his religious beliefs inform the lyrics every step of the way. The ultimate point, however, is that Gaines’ song envisions a day when our troubles will end and humanity will live as it should – not because it must, but because it is what all of us want at last.
He never states his “case” in explicitly religious terms, but the intelligent songwriting has ways of touching on biblical concerns without broadcasting them. Couple this with the music’s modern R&B sound and it is abundantly clear Billy Gaines wants his music to reach the broadest possible audience. It’s important to note, however, that it isn’t a compromise. Instead, it’s artistry marrying a sometimes grim lyric with such a musically sweetened arrangement.
Some of the most important elements sweetening the song are the piano and the backing vocals. Neither is a constant presence during the song, but Gaines knows when to bring their contributions into play for maximum effect. The backing vocals are particularly tasty and complement his lead vocal well without ever overshadowing it.
The energy derived from such contributions provides “There Will Come a Day” with an extra boost. Gaines never loses the wonder in his voice even when he’s cataloging troubles as if he’s both awed by the momentousness of what he’s describing and the beautiful musicality of her voice. There’s a musical hook in this song, the chorus, and it’s there’s where Gaines shines brightest.
The song’s drumming deserves mention. Many listeners will enjoy the rolls placed at all the right places within the song and it gives a little added momentum without ever speeding things up too much. It’s held back some, as are the vocals, by atmospherics applied in post-production. It’s a light echo, but many may come away from this song longing for a more straight-forward style for both the drums and the vocals.
Many more, however, won’t have a problem with it because, frankly, Gaines has the sort of voice that’s capable of overcoming even perceived limitations. He has an appealing upper and mid-register alike and one can only ascribe it to God’s grace, genetics, and smart living, but his voice shows no wear and tear from decades of singing for the public. He sounds forever young.
Jodi Marxbury