Stella Mwangi is a new Kenyan artist who reminds me of a young Faith Evans, and whose phrasing is reminiscent of Tupac. I have not heard other cuts from her album as I only happened upon her when searching the net for contemporary African musicians; however, what I find most inspiring about her song "Dreamer" are the lyrics.

Stella is young and in an industry that promotes excessive materialism, but this does not diminish the power of the lyrics. This is an anthem, a call from East Africa to awaken to the dreams of our youth and to not succumb to the burdens of life. I do not advocate materialism depicted in this video, but that is the nature of the music business and the marketing machine that fuels it.

That said, this song is a reminder that there is more to life than the workaday, and whenever we encounter a moment that brings this into focus, we should try to savor it and reclaim the dreams we once dreamt.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLfFeKdTPBw]

Dreamer Lyrics

What are stars for if not to be aimed at? What are we here for if not to believe that? are you comfortable behind the limit and always turning back around so fit in people scared to go after what they want they just wanna walk on where the light on too scared they might fall that’s why nothing ever happens at all, so I ain’t letting- go no days without me scheming I get lost for a while without caring who see me think where I wanna be and let my mind lead me If I can feel it, why can’t I live it? don’t wanna drawn in life I wanna elevate I’m baking a bigger cake, so need a bigger plate but when you aim high, they call you a dreamer They called Oprah the same, but now have you seen her

Chorus: I don’t wanna wake up I feel this more than life What I feel is more than life They call me a dreamer

I don’t wanna wake up I feel this more than life What I feel is more than life They call me such a dreamer

Yeah, so I’m a dreamer alright let me go nuts, let me jump up high I wanna touch the sky and fly can’t tell me hush, this is my life cause what you know about what I’ve been through or what I’m hoping to achieve when I’m twenty two if you knew you’d be like “yeah right” so I ain’t saying nothing but “yeah right” cause have you noticed when you tell people about dreams that you have what you will get is doubts man, no one wanna help you out they see what they wanna see, inside out then you hear what they had to say and fall all out what you really wanted to, end up not trying out they messed it up saying what you can and can not so I won’t say nothing, to you check it out

Chorus: I don’t wanna wake up I feel this more than life What I feel is more than life They call me a dreamer

I don’t wanna wake up I feel this more than life What I feel is more than life They call me such a dreamer

Bridge: Yeah damn right I have dreams I said Way much bigger than the once you have in bed Been having them for years so mine don’t fade They with me everywhere so I ain’t afraid

Chorus: I don’t wanna wake up I feel this more than life What I feel is more than life They call me a dreamer

I don’t wanna wake up I feel this more than life What I feel is more than life They call me such a dreamer

I don’t wanna wake up I feel this more than life What I feel is more than life They call me a dreamer

I don’t wanna wake up I feel this more than life What I feel is more than life They call me such a dreamer.