I never dreamt that we would still be dreaming after four days but such is the songwriter’s fascination with the world of dreams that nnothing seems to stop them creating new music on a regular basis. So here we go again!
“Dreaming” is a song by American band Blondie. Released in 1979, the song was the opening track from their fourth album Eat to the Beat. Written by guitarist Chris Stein and Debbie Harry, the song was inspired by ABBA’s hit single “Dancing Queen.” The song also features an active drum performance by drummer Clem Burke, who did not expect the final recording to feature his busy drum track. “Dreaming” was released as a single in September 1979, reaching number two in the UK and number 27 on the US Billboard.
“I Have a Dream” is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in December 1979 as the sixth and final single from the group’s sixth studio album, Voulez-Vous. Anni-Frid Lyngstad sang lead vocals. It was a major hit, topping the charts in many countries and peaking at No. 2 in the UK over the Christmas week of 1979. Twenty years later, Irish pop group Westlife released a version that reached No. 1 in the UK over the Christmas week of 1999.
“The River of Dreams” is a song by American musician Billy Joel. It is the title track and first single from his 1993 album River of Dreams. The song was a hit, peaking at number 3 on the United States and UK charts, making it Joel’s best charting single of the decade as well as his final top ten in either country to date. It also hit the top spot in Australia, New Zealand, and on the Canadian and US Adult Contemporary charts.
“Sweet Dreams My LA Ex” is the debut single of English singer-songwriter Rachel Stevens. It was released in September 2003 as the lead single from her debut solo album, Funky Dory. Originally written for Britney Spears, the song was produced by Swedish duo Bloodshy & Avant. The single is Stevens’s most successful single to date, peaking at number two in the UK. It was the 22nd-best-selling single of 2003 in the United Kingdom.
“Teenage Dream” is a song by American singer Katy Perry. It was released as the second single from her third studio album of the same name in July 2010. This song was written by Perry, Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Benny Blanco. McKee describes “Teenage Dream” as a throwback song to the euphoric feelings of being in love as a teenager while Perry described the song as reminiscent of her youth. Perry starts the song in a high-pitched voice while her vocals grow stronger as the song progresses. Lyrically, “Teenage Dream” discusses being with a lover who makes one feel young again. The song topped the US Billboard, becoming Perry’s third number-one single on that chart, and her second consecutive number-one single.
“Dreams” is yet another take on the the Fleetwood Mac composition, this time by Bastille (stylised as BĪSTILLE) who are an English band formed in 2010. The group began as a solo project by lead vocalist Dan Smith, but later expanded to include keyboardist Kyle Simmons, bassist and guitarist Will Farquarson and drummer Chris “Woody” Wood. This version features Gabrielle Aplin on vocals. The song opens with a quotation from Ode by Arthur O’ Shaughnessy. “We are the music makers,. And we are the dreamers of dreams“.
