Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Don't Dream It's Over

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
October 1986 (1986-10)

Genre
  
Rock pop

Format
  
7-inch single

Length
  
3:55

B-side
  
"That's What I Call Love"

Recorded
  
1986 Capitol Recording Studios Sunset Sound Factory (Los Angeles, California)

"Don't Dream It's Over" is a song by the Australian rock band Crowded House, recorded for their 1986 self-titled debut studio album. The song was written by band member Neil Finn, and released in October 1986 as the fourth single from the album.

Contents

The song, described by AllMusic as a "majestic ballad", became the band's biggest international hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in April 1987. "Don't Dream It's Over" was also a great success in Neil Finn's native country New Zealand where it peaked at No. 1; it also topped the charts in Canada, while in Australia it peaked at No. 8. In Continental Europe, it reached No. 6 in Norway, No. 7 in the Netherlands, and No. 13 in Germany. In America the single was topped only by "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" by Aretha Franklin and George Michael.

In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) celebrated its 75th anniversary by naming the Best New Zealand and Best Australian songs of all time, as decided by APRA members and an industry panel. "Don't Dream It's Over" was ranked second on the New Zealand list and seventh on the Australian list.

Music video

The music video, directed by Alex Proyas, features some surreal special effects such as household objects – including shattering crockery – and film reels that float in the air, with lead singer Finn playing a guitar and walking through the same house during different time periods while his bandmates are either performing household chores or playing various backing instruments. It was nominated for Best Group Video, and Best Direction at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and earned the group a Best New Artist award.

Track listing

"Don't Dream It's Over" written by Neil Finn. "That's What I Call Love" written by Neil Finn and Paul Hester.

7-inch vinyl
  1. "Don't Dream It's Over" – 4:03
  2. "That's What I Call Love" – 4:22
12-inch vinyl
  1. "Don't Dream It's Over" (Extended version) – 6:10 (only in 12-inch vinyl single)
  2. "Don't Dream It's Over" – 4:03
  3. "That's What I Call Love" – 4:22
7-inch US vinyl (American Pie label)
  1. "Don't Dream It's Over" – 4:03
  2. "Something So Strong" – 2:51
1995 UK CD1
1995 Netherlands CD
  1. "Weather with You" (live) – 4:35
  2. "Into Temptation" (live) – 4:48
  3. "Locked Out" (live) – 2:04
1995 UK CD2
  1. "Four Seasons in One Day" (live) – 3:08
  2. "In My Command" (live) – 4:14
  3. "Pineapple Head" (live) – 3:40

Personnel

  • Neil Finn: vocals and guitar
  • Nick Seymour: bass guitar
  • Paul Hester: drums and backing vocals
  • Mitchell Froom: keyboards

    • Paul Young version

    In 1991, Paul Young covered "Don't Dream It's Over" on his compilation From Time to Time – The Singles Collection. Young's version featured Paul Carrack.

    Track listing

    1. "Don't Dream It's Over" (Neil Finn) – 3:56
    2. "I Need Somebody" (Paul Young) – 4:00

    Sixpence None the Richer version

    "Don't Dream It's Over" was the second radio single released in promotion of the album Divine Discontent by Sixpence None the Richer. The commercial single release features the B-side "Don't Pass Me By," which was recorded during the sessions for Divine Discontent. Their version was also included in the 2003 compilation album Smallville: The Talon Mix.

    Track listing

    US Commercial Single
    1. "Don't Dream It's Over" (Radio Edit): 3:39
    2. "Don't Pass Me By": 3:26
    Radio Promo Single
    1. "Don't Dream It's Over" (Radio Edit): 3:39
    2. "Don't Dream It's Over" (LP Version): 4:04

    Other cover versions and uses

    Diana Krall covered the song for her twelfth album, Wallflower, which contains mostly cover versions of 1970s pop songs and was released on February 3, 2015. In May 2015, American pop singers Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus covered the song as part of Cyrus's series of "Backyard Sessions" collaborations to raise awareness for Cyrus's Happy Hippie Foundation, which helps homeless and LGBT youths.

    Rapper Classified has sampled the riff on the song "It Ain't Over", as have Irish R&B trio Dove on their hit "Don't Dream", which became one of Ireland's biggest songs of that year and also reaching the UK Top 40. Chris Martin and Eddie Vedder, covered "Don't dream it's over" at Global Citizen Festival 2016 in NYC.

    References

    Don't Dream It's Over Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA