Only in Dreams (song)
Encyclopedia
"Only in Dreams" is a song by the band Weezer
. It is the 10th and final track on their 1994 self-titled debut album. At nearly eight minutes it is currently the longest song by Weezer. It is most noteworthy for its three minute long crescendo
of the two guitars, bass, and drums, in which the dynamics gradually increase and the timbre builds up layers until the climaxing guitar solo at the end.
"Only in Dreams" is about a dream Rivers Cuomo
he has about a girl he wants to be with and how he doesn't want to mess it up.
The song has a prominent bass line played by Matt Sharp
(although written by Cuomo) which refuses to resolve to the tonic of the key until the final note of the entire track.
When played live at indoor arenas, a dove, made of light, is flown above the floor audience . Weezer has also shot "=w=" confetti all over the audience during this song, giving the illusion of multi-colored rain falling on the crowd during the final guitar solo.
When asked in 2006 which Weezer guitar solo
he is the most proud of/likes the most, Rivers Cuomo answered, "I'd have to go with 'Only in Dreams' and [Make Believe track] 'Haunt You Every Day' for sheer length. Epic, epic, epic. So few people play these kinds of solos anymore."
IGN
included "Only in Dreams" on their "Weezer Ultimate Mix" list, where they listed what songs they want to be compiled into a Weezer collection and called the song "the "Stairway to Heaven
" for Generation X.". They also listed the song on their "Top 10 Ambiguously Inspiring Songs" list, where they called it one of Weezer's best songs.
Roling Stone regarded the song as a "real gem". PopMatters
calls the song a ""Bohemian Rhapsody
"-worthy conclusion.".
has covered the song as a B-side of their 2001 single Burn Baby Burn
.
Mock Orange
has covered the song on the album Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer
.
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
. It is the 10th and final track on their 1994 self-titled debut album. At nearly eight minutes it is currently the longest song by Weezer. It is most noteworthy for its three minute long crescendo
Crescendo
-In music:*Crescendo, a passage of music during which the volume gradually increases, see Dynamics * Crescendo , a Liverpool-based electronic pop band* "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue", one of Duke Ellington's longer-form compositions...
of the two guitars, bass, and drums, in which the dynamics gradually increase and the timbre builds up layers until the climaxing guitar solo at the end.
"Only in Dreams" is about a dream Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
he has about a girl he wants to be with and how he doesn't want to mess it up.
The song has a prominent bass line played by Matt Sharp
Matt Sharp
Matthew Kelly Sharp is a founding member and former bassist for the band Weezer. In 1994, he started a band called The Rentals and released their debut album shortly after Weezer's first release, their second album in 1999, and an EP in 2007...
(although written by Cuomo) which refuses to resolve to the tonic of the key until the final note of the entire track.
Live performances
"Only In Dreams", in recent years, has typically been played at the end of a regular set (before the encore). However this is not true for the Summer of 2002 Enlightenment tour, when the set lists were determined by the roll of a 20-sided die. In 2002, they've also played a 20 minute version of the song live.When played live at indoor arenas, a dove, made of light, is flown above the floor audience . Weezer has also shot "=w=" confetti all over the audience during this song, giving the illusion of multi-colored rain falling on the crowd during the final guitar solo.
Reception
The song was rated #8 in Q Magazine's "20 Greatest Guitar Tracks" in September 2007. It was also rated #43 on Digital Dream Door's "100 Greatest Rock Basslines".When asked in 2006 which Weezer guitar solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
he is the most proud of/likes the most, Rivers Cuomo answered, "I'd have to go with 'Only in Dreams' and [Make Believe track] 'Haunt You Every Day' for sheer length. Epic, epic, epic. So few people play these kinds of solos anymore."
IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
included "Only in Dreams" on their "Weezer Ultimate Mix" list, where they listed what songs they want to be compiled into a Weezer collection and called the song "the "Stairway to Heaven
Stairway to Heaven
"Stairway to Heaven" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in late 1971. It was composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the band's untitled fourth studio album . The song, running eight minutes and two seconds, is composed of several sections, which...
" for Generation X.". They also listed the song on their "Top 10 Ambiguously Inspiring Songs" list, where they called it one of Weezer's best songs.
Roling Stone regarded the song as a "real gem". PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
calls the song a ""Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
"-worthy conclusion.".
Covers
AshAsh (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
has covered the song as a B-side of their 2001 single Burn Baby Burn
Burn Baby Burn (song)
"Burn Baby Burn" is a song by Ash, released as the second single from the Free All Angels album on 2 April 2001, reaching number 13 in the UK singles chart. It was released as a single CD and as a 7" vinyl, and was also released for the first time on DVD format...
.
Mock Orange
Mock Orange (band)
Mock Orange is an indie rock band from Newburgh, Indiana, USA.-Overview:Mock Orange first introduced their sound in 1998 with “Nines & Sixes.” The record immediately established Mock Orange on the national scene and received critical acclaim in the press along with a spot on the CMJ Top 60 college...
has covered the song on the album Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer
Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer
Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer is an album released by Dead Droid Records. As the album title implies, it is a series of Weezer songs covered by a wide range of bands. The vinyl version contains two versions of "Say it Ain't So", covered by Further Seems Forever. One with the band's original...
.
Personnel
- Rivers CuomoRivers CuomoRivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, lead vocals - Patrick WilsonPatrick Wilson (musician)Patrick "Pat" George Wilson is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band Weezer. He joined the band in 1992. In addition to his work in Weezer, he also fronts his own band, The Special Goodness....
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Brian BellBrian Bell (musician)Brian Bell is an American guitarist and songwriter. Active since 1989, he is best known as the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for the American alternative rock band Weezer. Bell joined Weezer in 1993 following the departure of founding member Jason Cropper...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Matt SharpMatt SharpMatthew Kelly Sharp is a founding member and former bassist for the band Weezer. In 1994, he started a band called The Rentals and released their debut album shortly after Weezer's first release, their second album in 1999, and an EP in 2007...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Ric OcasekRic OcasekRic Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band, The Cars....
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...