Don't Dream It's Over

"Don't Dream It's Over" is a song by rock band Crowded House, recorded for their 1986 self-titled debut studio album.^[6] The song was composed and written by New Zealand frontman Neil Finn and released in October 1986^[2] as the fourth single from the album.

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Original 1986 Australian single[1]
Single by Crowded House
from the album Crowded House
B-side	"That's What I Call Love"
Released	20 October 1986 (1986-10-20)[2]
Studio	Capitol Recording, Sunset Sound Factory (Los Angeles)
Genre	Rock[3] pop[4] blue-eyed soul[5]
Length	3:55
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(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)
Music video
Don't Dream It's Over on YouTube

"Don't Dream It's Over" became the band's biggest international hit, reaching No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1987. The song reached No. 1 in Canada and in Finn's native New Zealand, while in Australia, it peaked at No. 8. In continental Europe, it reached No. 6 in Norway, No. 27 in the Netherlands, No. 13 in West Germany, and No. 25 in the United Kingdom. At the 1986 Countdown Australian Music Awards the song was nominated for three awards, winning Best Video.^[7][8]

In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) ranked "Don't Dream It's Over" second on its list of the Top 100 New Zealand songs of all time^[9] and seventh on its list of the Top 100 Australian songs of all time.^[10] In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Don't Dream It's Over" was ranked number 65.^[11] The song has been recorded by other artists, including Paul Young, Sixpence None the Richer, and New Zealand artist Stan Walker—the latter producing a Māori version titled Moemoeā ("Dream").^[12][13]

Composition

"Don't Dream It's Over" is written and composed in the key of E-flat major^[14] and is set in the time signature of common time with a tempo of 82 beats per minute.

Reception

AllMusic described the song as a "majestic ballad".^[15] Cash Box said "The easy going and pretty song camouflages a pained longing. Neil Finn's voice, recognisable from his stint with Split Enz, is reedy and expressive and full of irony."^[16]

Music video

The music video for the song was produced by Australian film production company Meaningful Eye Contact and was directed by Alex Proyas.The video features some surreal special effects such as household objects—including shattering crockery—and film reels that float in the air, with lead singer Neil 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. The video was nominated for Best Group Video and Best Direction at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and earned the band a Best New Artist award.^[17]

Track listings

"Don't Dream It's Over", written by Neil Finn. "That's What I Call Love", written by Neil Finn and Paul Hester. All tracks on vinyl, from the album Crowded House except the extended version of "Don't Dream It's Over". All live tracks, recorded on Phil Jupitus Show at BBC GLR, 21 June 1996.

• 7-inch vinyl

1. "Don't Dream It's Over" – 4:03
2. "That's What I Call Love" – 3:39

• 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" – 3:39

• 7-inch US vinyl (American Pie label)

1. "Don't Dream It's Over" – 4:03
2. "Something So Strong" – 2:51

• 1996 UK CD1

1. "Don't Dream It's Over" – 3:53
2. "Weather with You" (live) – 4:35
3. "Into Temptation" (live) – 4:48
4. "Locked Out" (live) – 2:04

• 1996 UK CD2

1. "Don't Dream It's Over" – 3:53
2. "Four Seasons in One Day" (live) – 3:08
3. "In My Command" (live) – 4:14
4. "Pineapple Head" (live) – 3:40

Personnel

• Neil Finn: lead vocals, guitars
• Nick Seymour: bass guitar
• Paul Hester: drums, backing vocals
• Mitchell Froom: keyboards and organ
• Tim Pierce: guitar
• Jorge Bermudez: percussion
• Noel Crombie, Jim Gilstrap, Andy Milton and Joe Satriani: backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986–1987) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 6 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[21] 22 Ireland (IRMA)[22] 19 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 7 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[26] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[27] 27 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 2 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[29] 9 US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[30] 11 West Germany (GfK)[31] 13 Chart (1996) Peak position Scotland (OCC)[32] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[33] 25 Chart (2024) Peak position Global 200 (Billboard)[34] 130 Lithuania (AGATA)[35] 86 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 6 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[37] 15

Year-end charts Chart (1987) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[38] 54 Belgium (Ultratop)[39] 77 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[40] 34 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 26 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 44 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[43] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[44] 13

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45]	9× Platinum	630,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46]	5× Platinum	150,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[47]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[48]	Platinum	600,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Paul Young version

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Single by Paul Young
from the album From Time to Time – The Singles Collection
B-side	"I Need Somebody"
Released	14 October 1991 (1991-10-14)[49]
Length	3:56
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(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, British musician Paul Young covered "Don't Dream It's Over" on his first compilation album, From Time to Time – The Singles Collection (1991). Young's version, released by Columbia, was produced by Dan Hartman, and featured Paul Carrack singing the fourth chorus and performing the keyboard and synthesizers.

Track listing

• UK 7-inch and cassette single^[50][51]

1. "Don't Dream It's Over" (Neil Finn) – 3:56
2. "I Need Somebody" (Paul Young) – 4:00

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1991) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[52] 48 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[53] 30 France (SNEP)[54] 27 Germany (GfK)[55] 71 Ireland (IRMA)[56] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[57] 67 Norway (VG-lista)[58] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[59] 25 UK Singles (OCC)[60] 20

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Europe (European Hit Radio)[61] 77

Sixpence None the Richer version

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Single by Sixpence None the Richer
from the album Divine Discontent
B-side	"Don't Pass Me By"
Released	21 January 2003 (2003-01-21)
Length	4:03
Label	Reprise Squint
Songwriter(s)	Neil Finn
Producer(s)	Rob Cavallo
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.^[62]

Track listing

• US CD single^[63]

1. "Don't Dream It's Over" (radio edit) – 3:39
2. "Don't Pass Me By" – 3:26

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003) Peak position Romania (Romanian Top 100)[64] 24 US Billboard Hot 100[65] 78 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[66] 12 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[67] 9

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[68] 30 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[69] 39

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	21 January 2003	Hot adult contemporary radio	Reprise Squint	[70]
	17 February 2003	Contemporary hit adult contemporary radio		[71]

Antonello Venditti version

Italian singer-songwriter Antonello Venditti interpreted an adaptation in Italian entitled Alta marea (High tide), inspired by Monte Argentario^[72][73] and recorded for his 1991 album Benvenuti in paradiso (Welcome to Heaven), which remains one of his most-remembered songs to this day. A 16-year-old Angelina Jolie appears in the video.^[74][75]

In popular culture

"Don't Dream It's Over" was prominently featured in the 1994 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Stand.^[76][77][78]

References

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