A Dream's a Dream

"A Dream's a Dream" is a song by British musical collective Soul II Soul, released in 1990 by Virgin Records as the second single from the collective's second album, Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade (1990). The song features American-born British singer Victoria Wilson-James and received favorable reviews from music critics. It was written by Jazzie B and Simon Law, and produced by the first with Nellee Hooper. "A Dream's a Dream" was successful all over Europe, reaching number-one in Greece and the top 10 in Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. Additionally, it was a top-20 hit in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland. Outside Europe, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the US, number eight in New Zealand and number 27 in Australia.

"A Dream's a Dream"
Single by Soul II Soul featuring Victoria Wilson-James
from the album Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade
Released	1990
Genre	Downtempo R&B swingbeat
Length	4:13 (single version) 5:38 (album version)
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Jazzie B Simon Law
Producer(s)	Jazzie B Nellee Hooper
Soul II Soul singles chronology
"Get a Life" (1989) "A Dream's a Dream" (1990) "People" (1990)
Music video
"A Dream's a Dream" on YouTube

Critical reception

Alex Henderson from AllMusic described the song as "haunting".^[1] Bill Coleman from Billboard named it one of the "special moments" from Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade.^[2] He also called it a "seductive, sleaze-speed club track with house overtones [that] is (gratefully) less derivative of previous efforts. Vocals by Victoria Wilson-James excite."^[3] Ernest Hardy from Cash Box complimented its "operatic touch".^[4] Ian Gittins from Melody Maker wrote, "It's no "Back to Life", never so entrancing or alluring, but still there's that loping, dance-compulsory beat which lets them get away with anything before Jazzie muzzles in to growl his hopeful, dreamy creed."^[5] David Giles from Music Week stated, "All the trademarks are there — shuffling rhythm, sweeping strings and wailing female vocals — and these should ensure another substantial hit for Jazzie B and his crew."^[6]

A reviewer from The Network Forty described it as "Jazzy B's soul-jazz-African-operatic single".^[7] Paolo Hewitt from NME remarked Wilson-James' "operatic technique".^[8] Davydd Chong from Record Mirror felt that only one track from the album, "A Dream's a Dream", "warded off the bite of the critic, with a garland of garlic and a majestic arrangement."^[9] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits complimented the singer's voice as "marvellous".^[10] Adam Higginbotham from Select viewed the song as "insubstantial fluff".^[11] Steven Daly from Spin concluded that it "won't dictate this summer's tempo the way "Movin'" did last year, but this gentle house sway will nonetheless build a little birdhouse in your soul. (In case you were concerned, yes, Jazzie manages to stop by for his usual lecture.)"^[12]

Track listing

• 12" single, US (1990)

1. "A Dream's a Dream" (A Night at the Opera Mix) — 5:45
2. "A Dream's a Dream" (Club Dub) — 4:25
3. "Courtney Blows" — 4:32

• CD single, UK (1990)

1. "A Dream's a Dream" — 4:13
2. "A Dream's a Dream" (A Night at the Opera Mix) — 5:49
3. "A Dream's a Dream" (Club Dub) — 4:28
4. "Courtney Blows" — 4:33

• CD single, Europe (1990)

1. "A Dream's a Dream" — 4:13
2. "A Dream's a Dream" (A Night at the Opera Mix) — 5:49
3. "A Dream's a Dream" (Club Dub) — 4:28
4. "Courtney Blows" — 4:33

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 27 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 16 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 20 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 13 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 7 Germany (GfK)[18] 15 Greece (Pop + Rock) 1 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 12 Italy (Musica e dischi)[20] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 6 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 8 Norway (VG-lista)[24] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 19 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 14 UK Singles (OCC) 6 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 85 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[28] 3 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 19

Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 78 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 80

References

1. Henderson, Alex. "Soul II Soul – Vol II: 1990 - A New Decade". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
2. Coleman, Bill (9 June 1990). "Dance Trax: U.K. Rap Phenom Rebel MC Keeps Rockin' With Brand-New 'Rebel Music' Album" (PDF). Billboard. p. 35. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
3. Coleman, Bill (26 May 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 83. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
4. Hardy, Ernest (2 June 1990). "On The Dancefloor: New Grooves" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 14. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
5. Gittins, Ian (28 April 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
6. Giles, David (5 May 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
7. "Top 40: The Next 40" (PDF). The Network Forty. 6 July 1990. p. 34. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
8. Hewitt, Paolo (19 May 1990). "Long Play". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
9. Chong, Davydd (6 April 1991). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 17. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
10. Doyle, Tom (16 May 1990). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. No. 299. p. 54. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
11. Higginbotham, Adam (January 1994). "New Old Albums". Select. p. 81. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
12. Daly, Steven (1 August 1990). "Singles". Spin. p. 84. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
13. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
14. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
15. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 20. 19 May 1990. p. IV. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
17. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Soul II Soul". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 242. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
18. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Dream's A Dream". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
20. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Soul II Soul".
21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
22. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
23. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
24. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". VG-lista. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
25. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
26. "Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
27. "Soul II Soul Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
28. "Soul II Soul Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
29. "Soul II Soul Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
30. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
31. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 15 May 2020.