Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Dream Weaver

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
B-side
  
"Let It Out"

Recorded
  
1975

Released
  
December 1975

Label
  
Warner Bros.

Genre
  
Progressive pop soft rock

Length
  
4:17 (album version) 3:15 (single version)

"Dream Weaver" is a song by the American singer Gary Wright, released as the first single from his third studio album The Dream Weaver (1975) in December 1975. The song became a hit in the US, reaching #2 in the Billboard charts while it reached #1 in the Cash Box charts in 1976.

Contents

The song features Wright on vocals and keyboards and Jim Keltner on drums. According to Gary Wright, the song was inspired by Autobiography of a Yogi, which was given to him by George Harrison. Paramhansa Yogananda's poem "God! God! God!" made reference to "the idea of the mind weaving dreams." The expression "Dream Weaver" was popularized by John Lennon in 1970 in his song "God", taken from his solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. This song depicts Lennon's declaration that he was the dream weaver of the 1960s, breaking away from the influences and dogmas that influenced his life. The song was a hit song, with all instrumentation created using a synthesizer, except for Keltner's percussion. In 1992, Gary Wright re-recorded a longer version of "Dream Weaver" for the Wayne's World movie soundtrack.

In advertising

  • The song was used in a 2015 CiCi's Pizza TV commercial.

    • In films

  • This song, and its keyboard intro/outro, according to Wes Craven, inspired the concept behind the film A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
  • The song was later re-recorded for the soundtrack of the 1992 film Wayne's World. A re-recorded version by Wright appears in the 2016 movie Ghost Team.
  • The song was also used in the 1996 film The People vs. Larry Flynt.
  • The song was also used in the 2003 film Daddy Day Care.
  • The song was also used in the 2010 Pixar film Toy Story 3.
  • The song also appeared in the 2016 Blue Sky Studios film Ice Age: Collision Course twice. First when Sid meets Brooke and later during the end credits sequence.

    • In television

  • Portions of "Dream Weaver" were first sampled in a short film appearing in the 1990 Wayne's World episode of Saturday Night Live, in which guest star Wayne Gretzky appears, and Wayne is picturing that song playing as he imagines himself defeating Gretzky in street hockey and then winning his wife, Janet Jones.
  • "Dream Weaver" was featured over the closing credits of the sixth episode of the fourth season of the classic HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David.
  • "Dream Weaver" was featured in the Fox That '70s Show episode, "The First Time".
  • "Dream Weaver" was featured in CheekiiChaps' "Battle for MLG Island" videos with an airhorn remix, titled "Meme Weaver".
  • "Dream Weaver" was featured in the Fox black comedy "Scream Queens" in the episode, "Lovin' the D".
  • A Japanese version of "Dream Weaver" was featured in the Fox animated comedy "Family Guy" in the episode, "Carter and Tricia".

    • Use by other musical artists

    "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive" are sampled in "Wordz of Wisdom", a single from 3rd Bass's release, The Cactus Album (1989).

    Dance artist Erin Hamilton covered it for her album One World (1999).

    It was featured prominently in the gay love story film Trick (1999).

    Crowbar recorded a doom metal version of "Dream Weaver" for their album Equilibrium (2000).

    Electronic rock artist JES covered it as a single release (2015).

    References

    Dream Weaver Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA