Don't Dream It's Over

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Australian release
Single by Crowded House
from the album Crowded House
B-side	"That's What I Call Love"
Released	October 1986
Format	CD vinyl cassette
Recorded	1986 Capitol Recording Studios Sunset Sound Factory (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	New wave, alternative rock
Length	3:55
Label	Capitol
Writer(s)	Neil Finn
Producer(s)	Mitchell Froom
Crowded House singles chronology
"Now We're Getting Somewhere" (1986) "Don't Dream It's Over" (1986) "Something So Strong" (1987)
Audio sample file info · help

"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.^[1] The song was written by band member Neil Finn, and released in October 1986 as the fourth single from the album.

"Don't Dream It's Over", described by AllMusic as a "majestic ballad",^[2] became the band's biggest international hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in April 1987.^[3] "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^[4] and seventh on the Australian list.^[5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7]

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

"Weather with You" (live) – 4:35

The only B-side track in other UK editions

1. "Into Temptation" (live) – 4:48
2. "Locked Out" (live) – 2:04

1995 UK CD2

"Four Seasons in One Day" (live) – 3:08
1. "In My Command" (live) – 4:14
2. "Pineapple Head" (live) – 3:40

Personnel

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

Release history

Chart performance

Paul Young version

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Single by Paul Young
from the album From Time to Time – The Singles Collection
Released	19 September 1991
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	1990
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:56
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Neil Finn
Producer(s)	Dan Hartman
Paul Young singles chronology
"Both Sides, Now" (1991) "Don't Dream It's Over" (1991) "Come On In" (1991)

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

Charts

Sixpence None the Richer version

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Single by Sixpence None the Richer
from the album Divine Discontent
Released	2003
Format	CD
Recorded	2001
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:03
Label	Reprise Squint
Writer(s)	Neil Finn
Sixpence None the Richer singles chronology
"Breathe Your Name" (2002) "Don't Dream It's Over" (2003) "My Dear Machine" (2008)

"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.^[12]

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

Charts

Other cover versions and samples

British dance act Less Stress recorded the song in 1990, with Katherine Wood on lead vocals.^[15] In 2005, Sarah Blasko recorded the song for the tribute album She Will Have Her Way. The next year in 2006, Blasko sang the song during the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.^[16] Other artists who have covered it include Donny Osmond,^[17] Teddy Thompson,^[18] Howie Day, Aiden Grimshaw,^[19] Susan Boyle,^[20]Hitomi Yaida,^[21] G4^[22] and Diana Krall.^[23]

Rapper Classified has sampled the riff on the song "It Ain't Over",^[24] 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.".^[25] Italian singer Antonello Venditti included his own re-written version of "Don't Dream it's Over" – "Alta Marea" – on his 1991 album Benvenuti in Paradiso, which became a hit in Italian charts; Angelina Jolie, who was then sixteen, played a seductress in the video.^[26]

Under the solo moniker Flock of Dimes, American singer Jenn Wasner, of indie rock duo Wye Oak, performed a version of the song in June 2015 with indie pop duo Sylvan Esso for The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover series.^[27]

Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande performed the song in animal themed onesies as part of Happy Hippie Foundation's Backyard Sessions.^[28]

References