Dream On (Christian Falk song)
Encyclopedia
"Dream On" is an electronica
song written by Christian Falk
, Robyn
, and Klas Åhlund
. The song is produced and performed by Falk, with vocals from Robyn and The Ark
's Ola Salo
. The song appears on Falk's 2006 album People Say and was released as a single in Sweden, and later, the United Kingdom.
n release of Robyn
without Ola Salo's vocals. Robyn was re-released in a number of territories with the addition of "Dream On". It was the lead single from the UK special edition of the album. In a November 2008 interview with Digital Spy
, Robyn said that while the song was written in 2006, "these lyrics make a lot of sense now. The lyrics are about anyone who's a little bit on the outside - it doesn't have to be thugs, criminals, drug addicts or crazy people [...] It's about how people who are different in society are often discriminated against or bullied."
Digital Spy
called the song "a lovely, melancholy piece of electropop that maintains the high standards Robyn set with 'Be Mine', 'Who's That Girl' and 'With Every Heartbeat'." The song has been named a "slice of credible dance-pop, one that combines genuinely heartfelt lyrics [...] with stirring strings and a hands in the air, tripping off your tits chorus." Pitchfork Media
said that "Falk [...] concocts a gorgeous, shimmering backing track upon which Robyn and the Ark's Ola Salo rest their weary heads." A later review praised Robyn's "throaty, tremulous performance" as "verging on the evangelical as it crowds out everything else" - the "looped breakbeat, trembling electroclash bass, and winsome synth arpeggios" which Pitchfork described as a "pretty, bittersweet background to Robyn's sermonizing lyrics." Pitchfork placed it at number ten on their Top 100 Songs of 2006.
star. The video opens with Christian Falk and his daughter lying on a bed together, flipping through a book. They stop at a page which is filled with an illustration
of two persons walking through a forest. The video then cuts to this scene. They continue walking through the forest while singing. There are interpolated shots of various things: trees with spray painted
images, jacket
s and t-shirt
s with images moving across them, shadows falling on the trees, drawings in the dirt, and so on. At the end of the video, they both look up to the sky. Shadows of birds flying are seen upon the trees, and the video ends.
" and "Be Mine!
", Robyn recorded a brand new video for the international release of "Dream On". The video was added to Data Records
' official YouTube
account on October 17, 2008. It begins with footage of the daytime rush hour
in metropolitan
New York City
. Robyn is then shown in a gold Laitinen dress singing while various images from New York at nighttime are shown. She is also shown in a black blazer and white turtleneck as she sings in front of daytime images. A number of people who seem to be in trouble or under stress are also shown: an hooded
African American
male standing in an alley
under police lights, a woman crying while a man pulling on a shirt moves away from her, implying that she is a prostitute, a man yelling and chasing somebody down a street. As the video goes on, it turns out that good things are actually happening to the characters. The camera pans out on the African American man as he slowly pulls down his hood, and it turns out he is actually a police officer
. The woman is crying because her boyfriend proposed
to her, and he is awaiting her answer. She eventually smiles at him and says yes. The man running down the street was actually saving his target from an oncoming taxicab
that would have hit him. Near the end of the video, various characters (such as the man being saved from the taxi, and the girl's reflection) transform into Robyn for a moment.
Like the music video for Oasis
' "Stand By Me
", the video is based on a famous series of adverts for The Guardian
. Entitled The Whole Picture, the adverts showed people appearing to be engaging in criminal and/or anti-social
acts yet they are actually helping someone else.
Maxi single
12" single
Side A
Side B
On November 23, 2008, the song entered the UK Singles Chart
at #29.
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
song written by Christian Falk
Christian Falk
Christian Falk is a Swedish record producer and musician.Falk released the hit single, "Make It Right", in 2000. In 2008, he released a new version of "Calling You" with Jevetta Steele's vocals...
, Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
, and Klas Åhlund
Klas Åhlund
Klas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
. The song is produced and performed by Falk, with vocals from Robyn and The Ark
The Ark (band)
The Ark was a Swedish glam rock band formed in 1991 by Jepsson Mikael , and Lasse Ljungberg, when Ola Salo and Leari were only fourteen years old. Martin Axén officially joined the band in 1997, and Sylvester Schlegel in 1999. In late 2005, Jens Andersson joined The Ark as an official member...
's Ola Salo
Ola Salo
Ola Salo, born Rolf Ola Anders Svensson on 19 February 1977 in Avesta, Sweden, is the Swedish rock vocalist of the Swedish glam rock band The Ark. Salo lived in Rottne, Växjö Municipality, in Sweden when he was a child. It was while living in Rottne, in 1991, that he and his friends Jepson and...
. The song appears on Falk's 2006 album People Say and was released as a single in Sweden, and later, the United Kingdom.
Release and reception
The song was originally released on Christian Falk's second album People Say in 2006, and was released as a single in Sweden. "Dream On" later appeared on the North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n release of Robyn
Robyn (album)
Robyn is the fourth studio album by Swedish recording artist Robyn. It was released by Konichiwa Records on 27 April 2005 in Sweden. The album represented a change in Robyn's musical style, and featured pop and electronic dance music; inspirations were electronic duo The Knife and rock band...
without Ola Salo's vocals. Robyn was re-released in a number of territories with the addition of "Dream On". It was the lead single from the UK special edition of the album. In a November 2008 interview with Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, Robyn said that while the song was written in 2006, "these lyrics make a lot of sense now. The lyrics are about anyone who's a little bit on the outside - it doesn't have to be thugs, criminals, drug addicts or crazy people [...] It's about how people who are different in society are often discriminated against or bullied."
Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
called the song "a lovely, melancholy piece of electropop that maintains the high standards Robyn set with 'Be Mine', 'Who's That Girl' and 'With Every Heartbeat'." The song has been named a "slice of credible dance-pop, one that combines genuinely heartfelt lyrics [...] with stirring strings and a hands in the air, tripping off your tits chorus." Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
said that "Falk [...] concocts a gorgeous, shimmering backing track upon which Robyn and the Ark's Ola Salo rest their weary heads." A later review praised Robyn's "throaty, tremulous performance" as "verging on the evangelical as it crowds out everything else" - the "looped breakbeat, trembling electroclash bass, and winsome synth arpeggios" which Pitchfork described as a "pretty, bittersweet background to Robyn's sermonizing lyrics." Pitchfork placed it at number ten on their Top 100 Songs of 2006.
First version
The original music video for "Dream On" was directed by Tobias Annerhult and Fredrik Skogkvist. As opposed to Robyn and Salo appearing in the music video, two students from a high school in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
star. The video opens with Christian Falk and his daughter lying on a bed together, flipping through a book. They stop at a page which is filled with an illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
of two persons walking through a forest. The video then cuts to this scene. They continue walking through the forest while singing. There are interpolated shots of various things: trees with spray painted
Spray painting
Spray painting is a painting technique where a device sprays a coating through the air onto a surface. The most common types employ compressed gas—usually air—to atomize and direct the paint particles. Spray guns evolved from airbrushes, and the two are usually distinguished by their size and the...
images, jacket
Jacket
A jacket is a hip- or waist-length garment for the upper body. A jacket typically has sleeves, and fastens in the front. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear...
s and t-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
s with images moving across them, shadows falling on the trees, drawings in the dirt, and so on. At the end of the video, they both look up to the sky. Shadows of birds flying are seen upon the trees, and the video ends.
- Directors: Tobias Annerhult and Fredrik Skogkvist
- Editor: Tobias Annerhult
- Camera: Kenneth Svedlund
- Hair/Make-up: Erika Svedjevik for Mikas
- Styling: Jenny S.
- Telecine: Anikka Pehrson for STOPP
- Production Company: Mulufilm
Second version
Like "Handle MeHandle Me
"Handle Me" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her self-titled fourth studio album. It was written and produced by Klas Åhlund. The song was initially released as a promotional single in Sweden in 2005. It received a proper single release on 22 October 2007, as the album's...
" and "Be Mine!
Be Mine!
"Be Mine!" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, written and composed by herself and producer Klas Åhlund for her self-titled fourth studio album...
", Robyn recorded a brand new video for the international release of "Dream On". The video was added to Data Records
Data Records
Data Records is a record label based in London, the record label is full owned by Ministry Of Sound. Releases by Data Records are often said they are released by Ministry Of Sound.-Albums:-Singles:*Some releases Infomation is From Discogs....
' official YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
account on October 17, 2008. It begins with footage of the daytime rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
in metropolitan
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Robyn is then shown in a gold Laitinen dress singing while various images from New York at nighttime are shown. She is also shown in a black blazer and white turtleneck as she sings in front of daytime images. A number of people who seem to be in trouble or under stress are also shown: an hooded
Hood (headgear)
A hood is a kind of headgear that covers most of the head and neck and sometimes the face. They may be worn for protection from the environment, for fashion, as a form of traditional dress or uniform, to prevent the wearer from seeing or to prevent the wearer from being identified.-History and...
African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
male standing in an alley
Alley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
under police lights, a woman crying while a man pulling on a shirt moves away from her, implying that she is a prostitute, a man yelling and chasing somebody down a street. As the video goes on, it turns out that good things are actually happening to the characters. The camera pans out on the African American man as he slowly pulls down his hood, and it turns out he is actually a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
. The woman is crying because her boyfriend proposed
Proposal of marriage
A marriage proposal is an event where one person in a relationship asks for the other's hand in marriage. If accepted, it marks the initiation of engagement. It often has a ritual quality, sometimes involving the presentation of an engagement ring and a formalized asking of a question such as "Will...
to her, and he is awaiting her answer. She eventually smiles at him and says yes. The man running down the street was actually saving his target from an oncoming taxicab
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
that would have hit him. Near the end of the video, various characters (such as the man being saved from the taxi, and the girl's reflection) transform into Robyn for a moment.
Like the music video for Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
' "Stand By Me
Stand by Me (Oasis song)
"Stand by Me" is a song by the English rock band Oasis, written by lead guitarist, Noel Gallagher. It was the second single to be released from the band's third album, Be Here Now, and peaked at number two in the UK charts in September 1997...
", the video is based on a famous series of adverts for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. Entitled The Whole Picture, the adverts showed people appearing to be engaging in criminal and/or anti-social
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
acts yet they are actually helping someone else.
UK single
2-track single- "Dream On" — 2:53
- "Dream On" (Wez Clarke Edit) — 2:45
Maxi single
- "Dream On" — 2:52
- "Dream On" (Wez Clarke Remix) — 7:19
- "Dream On" (Moto Blanco Vocal Mix) — 8:23
- "Dream On" (Tiger Stripes Remix) — 6:06
- "Dream On" (Ashley Beedle's Insomniac Ballroom Vocal Recall) — 7:15
- "Dream On" (Mr Virgo Remix) — 5:19
- "Dream On" (Music Video)
12" single
Side A
- "Dream On" (Wez Clarke Remix) — 7:19
- "Dream On" (Moto Blanco Vocal Mix) — 8:23
Side B
- "Dream On" (Ashley Beedle's Insomniac Ballroom Vocal Recall) — 7:15
- "Dream On" (Tiger Stripes Remix) — 6:06
Official versions
- Original Version — 3:10
- Original Instrumental — 3:09
- 2008 Album Version — 3:13
- 2008 Radio Edit — 2:52
- Ashley Beedle's Insomniac Ballroom Vocal Recall — 7:15
- Mr Virgo Remix — 5:19
- Moto BlancoMoto BlancoMoto Blanco is an English DJ and electronic music duo consisting of Danny Harrison and Arthur Smith.They are also regularly joined by british record producer Jon Cohen.-History:...
Dub — 7:47 - Moto Blanco Radio Edit — 3:21
- Moto Blanco Vocal Mix — 8:21
- Wes Clarke Club Mix — 7:19
- Tiger Stripes Remix — 6:06
Chart positions
"Dream On" spent three weeks on the Swedish singles chart in 2006, entering the charts at number 46 and peaking four places higher, at number 42.On November 23, 2008, the song entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at #29.
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Flanders Ultratip | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 42 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
29 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
May 5, 2006 | Bonnier Music | CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |
334 22831 |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
November 17, 2008 | Data Records Data Records Data Records is a record label based in London, the record label is full owned by Ministry Of Sound. Releases by Data Records are often said they are released by Ministry Of Sound.-Albums:-Singles:*Some releases Infomation is From Discogs.... |
Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
|
| CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |
DATA208CD | |||
| LP LP album The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry... |
DATA208T | |||
Credits and personnel
- Vocals performed by RobynRobynRobin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
and Ola SaloOla SaloOla Salo, born Rolf Ola Anders Svensson on 19 February 1977 in Avesta, Sweden, is the Swedish rock vocalist of the Swedish glam rock band The Ark. Salo lived in Rottne, Växjö Municipality, in Sweden when he was a child. It was while living in Rottne, in 1991, that he and his friends Jepson and... - Cello performed by Cecilia Linné
- Percussion performed by Christian Falk and KleerupKleerupAndreas Kleerup, known professionally by his last name, is a Swedish record producer, drummer, and member of the Swedish group The Meat Boys, from Stockholm, Sweden. His first mainstream collaboration was as the producer of fellow Swedish artist Robyn's #1 UK single, "With Every Heartbeat", also...
- Strings arranged by Carl Bagge
- Synthesizer performed by Pål Svenre
- Viola performed by Hanna Ekström
- Violin performed by Johanna Tafvelin and Karin Liljenberg
Production
- Lyrics by Klas ÅhlundKlas ÅhlundKlas Frans Åhlund is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is the founding member of the Swedish rock band Teddybears...
- Music by Christian FalkChristian FalkChristian Falk is a Swedish record producer and musician.Falk released the hit single, "Make It Right", in 2000. In 2008, he released a new version of "Calling You" with Jevetta Steele's vocals...
, RobynRobynRobin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
, and Klas Åhlund - Produced by Christian FalkChristian FalkChristian Falk is a Swedish record producer and musician.Falk released the hit single, "Make It Right", in 2000. In 2008, he released a new version of "Calling You" with Jevetta Steele's vocals...
- Mastered by Peter Doell
- Mixed by Ronnie Lahti (additional mixing by Ollie Olson)
- Recorded by Christian Falk and Jacob Myrman
- Published by EMI Music Publishing/Sony Music Publishing
External links
- Dream On lyrics at Yahoo!Yahoo!Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...