I Have a Dream (song)

"I Have a Dream" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was featured on the group's sixth studio album Voulez-Vous and released as a single in December 1979. The single became a big hit, topping the charts in many countries and peaking at No. 2 in the UK over the Christmas week of 1979. Twenty years later, Irish pop group Westlife released a version of the song which reached No. 1 in the UK over the Christmas week of 1999.

Overview

The song was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and was taken from the group's 1979 album, Voulez-Vous. Anni-Frid Lyngstad sang the lead vocals. It was released as a single in December 1979 with a live version of "Take a Chance on Me" as the B-side. The recording is notable for being the only ABBA song to include vocalists other than the four band members; the final chorus features a children's choir from the International School of Stockholm. In the UK, "I Have a Dream" was held off the No. 1 spot by Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" which also features a children's choir. "I Have a Dream" is included on the ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits album, as well as in the Mamma Mia! musical.

In the UK, the single was issued in a lavish gatefold sleeve, intended as a souvenir for UK fans who had attended the Wembley concerts (the live recording of "Take a Chance on Me" being from one of them). The inner gatefold made use of the pyramid/mountain/iceberg designs similar to those used in the inner sleeve of Greatest Hits Vol. 2. The inner gatefold was effectively an advert for ABBA's existing albums released in the UK, but the back cover featured a message from ABBA themselves regarding the Wembley concerts, together with their signatures. The front cover used the same live photo of ABBA as the worldwide release, but artwork and fonts were different. This was only Epic's second picture sleeve for an ABBA single.

The live version of "Take a Chance on Me" on the B-side was one of three mixes of the same recording to be issued. Released soon after the concerts, this version is thought to be the genuine recording. A very slightly extended version, featuring spoken introductions from the group, was used as the B-side in Australia. This extended version has been released internationally on the deluxe edition of ABBA: The Album. Finally, a third mix was included on ABBA Live issued in 1986.

Chart performance

Chart (1979/1980)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[1]	64
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[2]	1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[3]	1
Canada Adult Contemporary Chart^[4]	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[5]	1
Ireland (IRMA)^[6]	2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[7]	1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[8]	2

Cover versions

In 1981, American country-gospel music singer, Cristy Lane recorded a cover of the song and released it as a single to the Billboard Country Chart, peaking at Number 17 that year.
In 1983, Greek singer Nana Mouskouri recorded a French cover of this song entitled "Chanter La Vie" for her album Quand on revient. She also recorded an English version, which was released as a single in 1986 and included on her 1990 album Alone,as well as a German version of the song, "Ich leb´im Traum" - "I live in a dream".
In 1985, Croatian singer Tereza Kesovija recorded a cover of the song entitled "Pronađi put" with lyrics in Croatian by Željko Sabol for her album of the same name
In 1987, a recording by the dansband Streaplers, with lyrics in Swedish by Ingela Forsman, "Jag har en dröm", was Number 1 on the Swedish Svensktoppen radio chart for 17 weeks from 31 May – 6 December of that year.^[9]
In 1994, Hawaiian singers the Makaha Sons covered this song on their album Ke Alaulau
Swiss chef/singer Dan Daniell recorded a cover as a duet with original ABBA member Anni-Frid Lyngstad for his album Lieber Gott^[10]
In 2004, Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell covered the song for his double album Songs of Inspiration/I Believe
In 2005, Irish folk music duo Foster & Allen have covered the song for their album Sing The Number 1's
In 2005, a duet version was recorded by German celebrity Barbara Schöneberger and American singer Sydney Youngblood for the German ABBA Mania compilation, which coincided with a TV special
In 2006, Italian-American singer Al Martino included a cover of the song for his album Come Share The Wine
In 2006, German AC/DC tribute band Riff Raff recorded a cover in AC/DC style for their album Rock 'N' Roll Mutation Vol. 1: Riff Raff Performs ABBA
In 2007, Connie Talbot covered the song on Over The Rainbow
In 2008, the song was covered in a jazz/lounge music style by American group BNB on the album Bossa Mia: Songs of ABBA^[11]
The song is featured in the Mamma Mia! musical as a recurring musical theme sung by the character of Sophie. It is also featured in the trailer for the film based on the musical. At the beginning of the musical, the context of the song is interpreted that Sophie dreams about her real father coming to the wedding when she sends the invitations, to her potential fathers, away. At the end of the musical, Sophie sings this song when she and Sky set off the Island to go around the world. The context of the song is used in this case as Sophie, now knowing what she really wants, hopes to achieve her dream as she goes around the world with Sky. The song is included on the 2008 movie soundtrack and is sung by actress Amanda Seyfried.
The song features prominently in episode 2, season 1 of the British TV show "Black Mirror."

Westlife version

"I Have a Dream"

Single by Westlife

from the album Coast to Coast

A-side

"Seasons in the Sun"
(double A-side)

Released

6 December 1999

Format

Recorded

1999

Studio

PWL, London

Genre

Teen pop

Length

4:06

Label

BMG

Songwriter(s)

Producer(s)

Dan Frampton
Pete Waterman

Westlife singles chronology

"Flying Without Wings"
(1999)

"I Have a Dream"
(1999)

"Fool Again"
(1999)

Music video

"I Have a Dream" on YouTube

Irish boy band Westlife released a cover of "I Have a Dream" in December 1999, twenty years after ABBA's original release. The song became the group's fourth UK number-one single. The release was a double A-side, also featuring "Seasons in the Sun". The release became the UK's Christmas number-one single of 1999, beating Cliff Richard's charity single "The Millennium Prayer" into the No. 2 spot. Westlife's version of "I Have a Dream" was later included on their second studio album Coast to Coast in 2000. It then extended its peak into January 2000 and spending seventeen weeks in the UK chart.^[12] The song was the 26th best-selling single of 1999 in the UK and it was also the final number one single of the 1990s.

In 2001, as part of a UNICEF fund-raising campaign, the song was re-recorded with additional vocals by Indonesian child singer, Sinna Sherina Munaf. The song has received a Platinum sales certification in the UK for over 650,000 copies sold.^[13]

Music video

The music video for the Westlife version of "I Have a Dream" features the band exiting out of a car and into a dark street where a group of children are. The children start singing with the band members and play with toys lying nearby before the band head back to the car and drive away.

Track listing

"I Have a Dream" (Single Remix) – 4:06
"Seasons in the Sun" (Single Remix) – 4:10
"On the Wings of Love" – 3:22

Chart performance

Country (1999-2000)	Peak position
Denmark (Tracklisten)^[14]	11
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[15]	7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[16]	10
Germany (Official German Charts)^[17]	24
Ireland (IRMA)^[18]	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[19]	10
Norway (VG-lista)^[20]	10
Scotland (Official Charts Company)^[21]	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[22]	15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[23]	18
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[24]	1

End-of-year charts

End-of-year chart (1999)	Position
UK Singles Chart	26

Preceded by "Goodbye" by Spice Girls	UK Singles Chart Christmas number-one single (Westlife version) 1999	Succeeded by "Can We Fix It?" by Bob the Builder
Preceded by "I Try" by Macy Gray	Irish IRMA number one single 18 December 1999 (5 weeks)	Succeeded by "Born to Make You Happy" by Britney Spears
Preceded by "Kiss (When the Sun Don't Shine)" by Vengaboys	Scottish Singles Chart 18 December 1999 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "The Masses Against the Classes" by Manic Street Preachers
Preceded by "The Millennium Prayer" by Cliff Richard	UK Singles Chart number-one single (Westlife version) 18 December 1999 – 8 January 2000 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "The Masses Against the Classes" by Manic Street Preachers

References

↑ "Australian-charts.com – Abba – I Have a Dream". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 Jan 11.
↑ "Austriancharts.at – Abba – I Have a Dream" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 Nov 10.
↑ "Ultratop.be – Abba – I Have a Dream" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 9 Sep 16.
↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Abba – I Have a Dream" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 Nov 10.
↑ "All there is to know". Irish Singles Chart. IRMA. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009.
↑ "Swisscharts.com – Abba – I Have a Dream". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 Nov 10.
↑ "December 1979/ Archive Chart: 22 December 1979" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 Nov 10.
↑ Svensktoppen - 1987
↑ Dan Daniell
↑ Archived 5 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
↑ "WESTLIFE | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
↑ "Westlife | Official Top 20". MTV. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
↑ "Danishcharts.com – Westlife – I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun". Tracklisten. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
↑ "Billboard - Google Books". 2000-01-29. Retrieved 2014-04-01 – via Google Books.
↑ "Westlife: I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
↑ "Musicline.de – Westlife Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
↑ "Chart Track: Week 51, 1999". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
↑ "Charts.org.nz – Westlife – I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Westlife – I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun". VG-lista. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
↑ "Archive Chart: 1999-12-19". Scottish Singles Top 40.
↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Westlife – I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
↑ "Swisscharts.com – Westlife – I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
↑ "Archive Chart: 1999-12-25/" UK Singles Chart.

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

ABBA
Agnetha Fältskog Björn Ulvaeus Benny Andersson Anni-Frid Lyngstad Core albums catalogue highlighted in bold
Studio albums	Ring Ring Waterloo ABBA Arrival ABBA: The Album Voulez-Vous Super Trouper The Visitors
Compilations	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Gracias Por La Música The Singles: The First Ten Years Thank You for the Music The Songbook – Australian Chart Hits Gold: Greatest Hits Oro: Grandes Éxitos More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits Thank You for the Music (box set) Love Stories The Definitive Collection 18 Hits The Complete Studio Recordings Number Ones The Albums
Other albums	Live Albums ABBA Live Live at Wembley Arena Mamma Mia Mamma Mia! Original Cast Recording Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack
Tours and TV specials	Eurovision Song Contest 1974 European & Australian Tour (ABBA) ABBA: The Tour Dick Cavett Meets ABBA Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest
Films and musicals	ABBA: The Movie The Girl with the Golden Hair ABBAcadabra Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! (film) Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!
Video games	SingStar ABBA ABBA: You Can Dance
Related music	Discography Awards and nominations Songs "Just Like That" Unreleased songs ABBA: The Museum Music of Sweden List of ABBA tribute albums
Related individuals	Stig Anderson Ola Brunkert Rutger Gunnarsson Janne Schaffer Michael B. Tretow Lasse Hallström A-Teens Björn Again Linda Ulvaeus
Book:ABBA

Westlife singles
Discography
Westlife	"Swear It Again" "If I Let You Go" "Flying Without Wings" "I Have a Dream"/"Seasons in the Sun" "Fool Again"
Coast to Coast	"Against All Odds" "My Love" "What Makes a Man" "I Lay My Love on You" "Uptown Girl" "When You're Looking Like That"
World of Our Own	"Queen of My Heart" "Evergreen" "World of Our Own" "Bop Bop Baby"
Unbreakable	"Unbreakable" "Tonight/Miss You Nights"
Turnaround	"Hey Whatever" "Mandy" "Obvious"
Allow Us to Be Frank	"Ain't That a Kick in the Head" "Fly Me To The Moon" "Smile"
Face to Face	"You Raise Me Up" "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" "Amazing"
The Love Album	"The Rose" "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Back Home	"Home" "Us Against the World" "Something Right"
Where We Are	"What About Now"
Gravity	"Safe"
Greatest Hits	"Lighthouse" "Beautiful World"
Book Category

UK Christmas number-one singles in the 1990s

"Saviour's Day" (Cliff Richard, 1990)
"Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (Queen, 1991)
"I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston, 1992)
"Mr Blobby" (Mr Blobby, 1993)
"Stay Another Day" (East 17, 1994)
"Earth Song" (Michael Jackson, 1995)
"2 Become 1" (Spice Girls, 1996)
"Too Much" (Spice Girls, 1997)
"Goodbye" (Spice Girls, 1998)
"I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" (Westlife, 1999)

Complete list
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s

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