Covered with lushness and splattered with beauty are heartfelt words deepened in appreciation. They are expressions that lift not only the soul but also pause the hands of time. They are irresistible paintings of celestial artwork. Men fall for them, and even God rises for them. “Gratitude,” by Brenique Adams, a song of appreciation and worship of the Most High, cuts these stakes. With a mellowed rhythm, the song crests on the clouds, the magnificence of Him.
Brenique Adam, a Nigerian-born singer, composer, and vocalist is based in the UK. This song, “Gratitude,” starts with a gentle piano chord, and it is followed immediately by the strummed guitar and a vocal intro which makes the listeners prepared. This beginning dips carefully into the mind of every listener into introspection of the goodness and mercies of God. The tone of her voice and her choice of words, starting the song, bring calmness, which tells of her creativity and understanding of moments, sounds, and essence.
In the first verse, Brenique sways amid time, one of God’s magnificence, talking to Him in the morning through prayer, then adores His allure in the evening through praise. She deeply knows that He is the only one whom she can call on and who shall never fail. Giving out her heart the more, Brenique notes that just like the sun rises, she too will rise and, in every situation, vows to praise Him. This leads to the chorus, “You’ve been so good to me / You’ve been so kind to me / You’ve been faithful / Yes, you’ve been…” after a marrow-rending pre-chorus.
The second verse continues with professing her love for Him and laying at His feet, literally, all her idols, and notably, she said, “From this altar, I’ll raise gratitude.” Brenique knows the God she serves, converses with through her prayers, and showers encomiums at his quintessence. Her audacity as to no one being able to be against her as He is for her shines through her voice, and any listener can feel her faith, which is given only by God. After this, there is the repetition of the pre-chorus and the chorus, which affirms His goodness to her.
“You’ve been that good to me…” starts the supposed third verse. The pause at the 2:55 mark before this and the combination of the cymbal and bass kick before it starts all make the transition so powerful. Thereafter, the solemnity and the rise in the pitch and modulation at about the 3:12 mark and the rush of emotions as the beat intensifies. A little from the sonic climax, at the 3:35 mark, Brenique’s transition to singing, “I will tell the whole world of your goodness,” is similar to the start of Sia’s “Unstoppable,” especially around the 0:10 mark. This shows a legendary move even though it may not be deliberate. It adds colors to the end of the song as, again, tranquility and fulfillment of worship prevail.
The beat adds to the depth of her gratitude, especially the use of the violin at some intervals towards the end of the song. All flow effortlessly. The instruments really come together so perfectly, and they envelop the message with ease and treasure. Brenique has got the voice. Just like Mercy Chinwo, Sinach, among others, Brenique is on that path of greatness in her career. The arrangement and style employed contribute to the song’s resonant feel. Brenique has shown her singing prowess, her spiritual depth, and her appreciation on “Gratitude.”
