Dreams, I'll Be Around
 

Does anyone remember the interview w Stevie from this summer, (Interview Magazine maybe?) where she said Dreams was inspired by a song by The Spinners?... I'm thinking it could be I'll Be Around.

Yep, makes sense.

Funny story- "I'll Be Around" was later covered in the 90's with great commercial success by Rappin' 4-Tay, who was my AirBART shuttle driver in Oakland a few months ago. HAAAAAA.

Stevie said that? I love that song by The Spinners... however, I don’t really hear much of “I’ll Be Around” in Dreams in the original version but I can kind of hear it in the In Concert version from 1981. It’s a tad slower and Stevie puts a lot of heartfelt emotion into that performance.

I was playing a game of “name that tune” with Steph today. I started with the 1972 classic by The Spinners “I’ll Be Around”. She immediately began singing “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. And what do you know? They’re essentially the same song! Here’s why…

1) Chord structure in both is identical (apart from the key difference of a 1/2 step, which could be an artifact of tape speeds):

Spinners: Emaj7 | F#6 (repeated through the entire tune)
Fleetwood: Fmaj7 | G6 (repeated through the entire tune)

2) Beats per minute: 110 vs 120 (Fleetwood is faster) with a straight backbeat that emphasizes the upbeats of 3 and 4 on both tunes.

3) Both melodies move around a pentatonic scale built on the V chord: F#, G#, B, C#, D# (in the Spinners key). This also outlines the sonority of the second chord (F#6). Technically, by copyright standards, they are different, but your ear you should tell you otherwise.

4) Final bit of evidence — someone on a forum mentioned that in a recent interview, Nicks admitted it. Still looking for that article…

http://andrewlienhard.com/2010/10/26...-the-spinners/

Wow that's pretty scientific! Can you explain or give an example of chord structure- what is that? I have always liked that Spinners song, but I don't really hear Dreams in it (like I hear Stairway to Heaven in the beginning of New Orleans).

Jamie

I just found that blog. It isn't my writing. I was reminded of the Spinners inspiration when I saw the recent biography of them on TV One.

well, 7 years later, I was thinking about it again, and decided to actually try finding that interview.. I did! It was when she interviewed Mary J. Blige, for those who remember:

SN: Well, “Dreams” was totally inspired by a Spinners song. I don’t really remember which, because it was so long ago, but I think I wrote it in five minutes.

MJB: That is amazing. That song is so simple but very strong, like “Thunder only happens when it’s raining/Players only love you when they’re playing.” That line is so amazing.

http://brownsista.com/mary-j-blige-i...oot-interview/

I remember when I first read this I went and listened to most of the Spinners' hits, and "I'll Be Around" was the only thing that came close, and as a musician myself, I can totally hear it. Whenever it comes on now I'll usually end up singing Dreams along with it:laugh:

I can hear the similarity now. Cool!

And of course Dreams left its mark on a lot of other songs, like Neil Young's Lotta Love.

the Spinners also sing the line "I know you know" a couple of times in this song... wonder where that idea may have bled into...