If I Can Dream
"If I Can Dream" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Edge of Reality" "Memories" (UK) | ||||
Released | December 3, 1968 | |||
Recorded | June 23, 1968[1][2] (Instrumental backing track)[1] June 29, 1968 (Elvis second session vocal recording)[1] | |||
Studio | United Western, Hollywood | |||
Length | 3:08 | |||
Label | RCA Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Walter Earl Brown | |||
Producer(s) | Mac Davis | |||
Elvis Presley singles chronology | ||||
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"If I Can Dream" is a song made famous by
History
Composer Billy Goldenberg and lyricist Walter Earl Brown were asked to write a song to replace "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as the grand finale on NBC's Elvis, taped from June 20–23, 1968 (now also known as ‘68 Comeback Special).[5] Knowing about Presley’s fondness for Martin Luther King Jr., and about his devastation related to his then-recent assassination in Memphis, Brown wrote "If I Can Dream" with Presley in mind. After Presley heard the demo, he proclaimed: "I'm never going to sing another song I don't believe in. I'm never going to make another movie I don't believe in".[6]
According to
Goldenberg removed his name from the credits to avoid a publishing dispute.[5] The song was published by Presley's company Gladys Music, Inc.
After
Recording success
After filming for the TV special was complete with its eventual editing, the song was released as a single with “
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[24] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Compilations
The song appeared in many Presley compilations, of which many are related to the '68 Comeback Special or Inspirational collections.
Cover versions
- In 1990, UK Singles Chart.[27]
- Michael Ball's version went to #51 in the UK in 1992.[28]
- Christian rock band Mad at the World covered the song on their 1992 album, Through the Forest.
- A 2010 version by Terry Venables went to #23 in the UK.[29]
- At the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, Italian band Måneskin performed a version of the song that was later included in the soundtrack of the film Elvis.[30] The song reached #95 on the Lithuanian charts.[31]
- Ed Ames on his 1969 album A Time For Living, A Time For Hope
- John Raitt on his 1970 album The Giant
- Celine Dion on the 2012 album The Best of Celine Dion & David Foster
- Michael Feinstein & Cheyenne Jackson - The Power of Two (2009)[32]
- Mojo Nixon on the 1995 album Whereabouts Unknown
See also
References
- ^ a b c "If I Can Dream". elvisthemusic.com. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "Elvis Presley's 'If I Can Dream'". graceland.com. March 29, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "IF I CAN DREAM". ACE Title Search. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ "If I can dream: The Elvis tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr". The Conversation. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-6710-3444-3.
- ^ a b "Elvis-TheKingsCourt".
- ^ a b c Abrams, David (July 8, 2005). "Interview with Steve Binder, director of Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special". Elvis Australia. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ Barry Manilow The Complete Collection and Then Some... booklet, page 42, 1992 Arista Records - text edited by Maureen Lasher.
- ^ Farber, Jim (August 14, 2022). "Elvis!". Parade. pp. 8–12.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - December 25, 2015". www.riaa.com.
- ^ "Search: RPM". 17 July 2013.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-02-03. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If I Can Dream". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- ^ [ Flavour of New Zealand, ]
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "if i can dream | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 1, 1969". Archived from the original on February 28, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography {{{artist}}}". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ "RPM Top Singles of 1969". Library and Archives Canada. RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
- ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ "British single certifications – Elvis Presley – If I Can Dream". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Elvis Presley – If I Can Dream". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "Elvis Presley - Elvis Inspirational - Amazon.com Music". Amazon. 2006.
- ^ "Amazon.com: Platinum - A Life In Music: Elvis Presley: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.
- ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1990-02-10. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1992-12-12. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 2010-06-19. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ "The lyrics and the translation of If I can dream, the Elvis song sung by the Maneskin at Eurovision". fresno24.com. 2022-04-14. Archived from the original on 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
- ^ "2022 25-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
External links
- Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream on YouTube