Carlisle Cathedral Choir
Johnston joined the Carlisle Cathedral Choir aged six when Kim Harris, a teacher at his primary school, heard his voice and recommended he try out. He later became the cathedral's head chorister. Performances with the choir included appearances in Hungary, Poland, Ireland and a solo in the Basilica in Budapest. In September 2008, shortly before the release of his debut album, he embarked on a tour performing in Norwegian cathedrals. The idea of the tour was conceived because the diocese of Stavanger is a partner to the diocese of Carlisle. This was Johnston's last tour as a member of the choir, as choristers can only stay as members until the end of year eight.
Britain's Got Talent
Aged 13, Johnston tried out for the second series of Britain's Got Talent singing "Pie Jesu" and passed the audition. He was tipped as one of the favourites to win the show. Later, Johnston described his initial audition as daunting, saying that "it was scary singing in front of 2,500 people. I had never sang on stage before – then there was also Simon, Amanda and Piers". He was then put through to the live shows, the next stage of the competition, he won one of the semi-finals on 27 May, receiving the most public votes on the night, thereby qualifying for the final. He sang the Eric Clapton ballad "Tears in Heaven", with judge Amanda Holden saying to him that "you are truly gifted, you have a gift from God in your voice." At the final, on 30 May, he again sang "Pie Jesu". However, he finished in third place, losing out to the winner street dancer, George Sampson, with dance group Signature in second place. The day after the final, Max Clifford, who works as publicist for Simon Cowell, said that it was "quite possible" that Cowell would be signing some of the finalists, including Johnston.
During his initial audition, Johnston claimed that he was bullied and victimised from the age of six because of his singing. When asked by Simon Cowell how he deals with the issue at hand, he stated that he "carries on singing." There were claims from writers in the Daily Mail that the show's producers were deliberately misleading the viewers and enhancing his situation as a "sob story", and that his real "vote-winner" was the story of his bullying, rather than his singing. After the news of his debut album was released, Johnston was quoted as saying that "those bullies do not bother me now. I have my own life and my own album."
One Voice
On 12 June 2008 it was announced that Johnston had signed a record deal with Syco Music, Simon Cowell's division of Sony BMG, with an album to be produced after the Britain's Got Talent Live Tour. It is to be named One Voice and is due to be released on 29 September 2008. It includes a cover of Aled Jones's "Walking in the Air", performed with Faryl Smith, which has been tipped as a potential Christmas number one. After signing with Syco, Johnston made public appearances including performing at Andrew Lloyd Webber's birthday celebrations on 14 September, and at Carlisle United's Brunton Park.The album was recorded over a six week period in London, and the track listing was chosen by Simon Cowell.
Official homepage : http://www.andrewjohnstonmusic.com
I Have a Dream
Andrew Johnston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A song to sing
To help me cope
With anything
If you see the wonder
Of a fairy tale
You can take the future
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream
I have a dream, oh yeah
I have a dream (I have a dream)
A fantasy (fantasy)
To help me through (help me through)
Reality (reality)
And my destination (destination)
Makes it worth the while (worth the while)
Pushing through the darkness (through the darkness)
Still another mile (another mile)
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream (cross the stream)
I have a dream
I have a dream (oh yeah)
A song to sing (song to sing)
To help me cope
With anything
If you see the wonder (if you see the wonder)
Of a fairy tale (of a fairy tale)
You can take the future
Even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know this time is right for me (right for me)
I'll cross the stream (cross the stream)
I have a dream (have a dream)
I'll cross the stream (cross the stream)
I have a dream
The song "I Have A Dream" by Andrew Johnston is an uplifting and hopeful anthem about having faith in oneself and the future. The lyrics speak of a dream that helps the singer cope with anything and provide the strength to push through the darkness and adversity. The dream is described as a song to sing and a fantasy to help the singer navigate reality. The fairy tale imagery in the song suggests that even when faced with difficult situations, a hopeful outlook can still lead to success. This message is reiterated in the lyrics "You can take the future even if you fail."
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I believe in angels" which serves as a metaphor for believing in something greater than oneself. When the singer knows the time is right for them, they will cross the stream and achieve their dream. The song suggests that having faith in oneself is essential in achieving one's goals, even if the journey is challenging.
Overall, "I Have A Dream" is a song of optimism and resilience, with a message of hope and encouragement for those facing adversity. It encourages listeners to keep faith in their dreams and keep pushing forward toward their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a dream
I have a vision for my life that I am working towards
A song to sing
My dream is like a melody that I can use to motivate and inspire myself
To help me cope
My dream gives me strength and resilience to face any challenge
With anything
No matter what I face in life, my dream is a constant source of comfort and guidance
If you see the wonder
If you have the ability to imagine beyond the ordinary and see the extraordinary
Of a fairy tale
Like the magical and impossible stories we read as children
You can take the future
Your imagination can help you shape your future
Even if you fail
You can still move forward and achieve your dreams, even if you experience setbacks and failures
I believe in angels
I have faith in the goodness of the world and the existence of benevolent forces
Something good in everything I see
I have a positive outlook on life and can always find something good in any situation
When I know the time is right for me
I trust my intuition and believe that opportunities will present themselves when the time is right
I'll cross the stream
I am willing to take risks and overcome obstacles to achieve my dreams
A fantasy
My dream may seem unrealistic or fantastical to others, but it is still valid and valuable to me
To help me through
My dream is a source of motivation and guidance when I feel lost or uncertain
Reality
My dream is not just a fantasy, but something I strive to make a reality
And my destination
The end goal of my dream, the place I am striving to reach
Makes it worth the while
The journey towards my dream is difficult, but the destination is worth the effort
Pushing through the darkness
Even when things are difficult or uncertain, I am determined to continue forward
Still another mile
There is always another step to take, another challenge to overcome on the path towards achieving my dream
I have a dream
My dream is a constant and powerful force in my life that motivates and inspires me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind