I Have a Dream (song)

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I Have a Dream (Westlife song)
)
This article is about the ABBA song. For other uses, see I Have a Dream (disambiguation).

"I Have a Dream"
Single by ABBA
from the album Voulez-Vous
B-side
Released7 December 1979 (1979-12-07)
Recorded15 March 1979
Pop Music[1]
Length4:45
LabelPolar Music
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Benny Andersson
  • Björn Ulvaeus
ABBA singles chronology
"As Good as New"
(1979) 		"I Have a Dream"
(1979) 		"The Winner Takes It All"
(1980)
Lyric video
"ABBA - I Have A Dream (Official Lyric Video)" on
YouTube

"I Have a Dream" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in December 1979 as the sixth and final single from the group's sixth studio album, Voulez-Vous. Anni-Frid Lyngstad sang lead vocals. It was a major 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 that reached No. 1 in the UK over the Christmas week of 1999.

Overview

The song was written by

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.

As of September 2021, it is ABBA's 12th-biggest song in the UK, including both pure sales and digital streams.[2]

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.

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[19] Gold 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cristy Lane version

"I Have a Dream"
Don Grierson
Cristy Lane singles chronology
"Sweet Sexy Eyes"
(1980) 		"I Have a Dream"
(1980) 		"Love to Love You"
(1981)

American

Don Grierson. In the same recording session, the songs "Rio Grande" and "You Make It Easy" were also cut.[23]

Lane's cover was released as a single in December 1980 via

New Zealand, where it reached number 34 in 1981.[25] The song was later released on her 1981 studio album of the same name. The album included the original single's B-side as well.[21] Lane's cover received a positive review from Billboard magazine in their December 1980 issue. Reviewers described the track as having "a rich south of the border undercurrent" while praising its production, calling it "crystalline."[26]

Track listing

7" vinyl single[23]

  • "I Have a Dream" – 3:52
  • "Rio Grande" – 3:05

Charts

Chart (1980–81) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 34
US
Hot Country Singles (Billboard)[24]
 17

Westlife version

"I Have a Dream"
Single by Westlife
from the album Coast to Coast and ABBAmania
A-side
Released13 December 1999 (1999-12-13)[27]
StudioPWL Studios (London)
Length4:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Westlife singles chronology
"Flying Without Wings"
(1999) 		"I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun"
(1999) 		"Fool Again"
(2000)
Music video
"I Have a Dream" on
YouTube

Irish

double A-side with "Seasons in the Sun" in the UK and Ireland and "Flying Without Wings" in the Netherlands, and a triple A-side in Australia with both "Seasons in the Sun" and "Flying Without Wings" included.[28] 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 remix 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, spending a total of 17 weeks on the UK chart.[29]
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 707,000 copies (as of 30 November 2021) sold across physical, digital, and streaming equivalent sales. It is the band's second-best-selling single for both paid-for and combined sales.[30]

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 listings

  • United Kingdom. Ireland
  1. "I Have a Dream" (single remix) – 4:06
  2. "Seasons in the Sun" (single remix) – 4:10
  3. "On the Wings of Love" – 3:22
  • Australia
  1. "Flying Without Wings" – 3:35
  2. "I Have a Dream" (remix) – 4:06
  3. "Seasons in the Sun" (single remix) – 4:10
  4. "Flying Without Wings" (video) – 3:40
  • Netherlands
  1. "Flying Without Wings" – 3:35
  2. "I Have a Dream" (remix) – 4:06

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Platinum 600,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

  • 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.[48]
  • 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[49]
  • 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,
    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[50]
  • The song is featured in the
    Greek-influenced folk
    instrumentation.
  • A version by Hannah John-Kamen[51][52] features prominently in episode 2, season 1 of the British TV show Black Mirror entitled "Fifteen Million Merits".

References

  1. Allmusic
    , retrieved 13 August 2023, ...a pair of soft, lyrical Europop-style ballads, "I Have a Dream" and "Chiquitita," both of which proved as popular...
  2. ^ UK Official Charts ABBA's Official Top 20 biggest songs
  3. ^ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). Cashbox. 29 December 1979. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  4. ISBN 978-0-646-45889-2
    .
  5. ^ "Abba – I Have a Dream" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  6. ^ "Abba – I Have a Dream" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  8. ^ "All there is to know". Irish Singles Chart. IRMA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Abba – I Have a Dream" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  11. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Abba – I Have a Dream". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  14. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1980". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1980". Ultratop. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Schweizer Jahres Hitparade 1980". Hitparade. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  19. ^ "Dutch single certifications – ABBA – I Have a Dream" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 19 November 2019. Enter I Have a Dream in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1980 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  20. ^ "British single certifications – ABBA – I Have a Dream". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  21. ^ a b c "I Have a Dream: Cristy Lane: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  22. ^ Manheim, James. "Cristy Lane: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  23. ^ a b c Lane, Cristy (December 1980). ""I Have a Dream"/"Rio Grande" (7" vinyl single sleeve information and liner notes)". Liberty Records/LS Records. Liberty/LS-1396.
  24. ^
    ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2
    .
  25. ^ "New Zealand charts portal: Cristy Lane". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Top Single Picks: Country". Billboard. 27 December 1980. p. 63. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  27. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 13 December, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 11 December 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  28. ^ Westlife – Flying Without Wings / I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun
  29. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  30. ^ Copsey, Rob (12 January 2019). "Westlife's Top 20 biggest songs on the Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  31. ^ "Billboard – Google Books". 29 January 2000. Retrieved 1 April 2014 – via Google Books.
  32. ^ "Westlife: I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  33. ^ "Westlife – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  34. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 17/2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 17. 22 April 2000. p. 29. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (02.3– 09.3 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 March 2000. p. 12. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  36. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  37. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  38. ^ "Westlife – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  39. ^ "Westlife – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun". VG-lista. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  40. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  41. ^ "Westlife – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  42. ^ "Westlife – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  43. ^ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 22 January 2000. p. 27.
  44. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 52. 23 December 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  45. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original
    on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  46. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Westlife – I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  47. ^ "British single certifications – Westlife – I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  48. ^ Svensktoppen - 1987
  49. ^ Dan Daniell
  50. ^ [1] Archived 5 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  51. ^ "Black Mirror: Fifteen Million Credits". IMDb.
  52. ^ Hannah John-Kamen (19 February 2015). "yes it is me :)". Twitter.
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