Discuss Dreams

[skcin]

This song is truly timeless, IMO - it would be very hard for someone who'd never heard it before to date it after listening. Of course, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't heard it, whether they realized it or not. All you have to say is "you know, the 'thunder only happens when it's rainin' song!"

From the first beat of the drum, I'm hooked. Actually, I think the rhythm portion is my favorite part of the song. Maybe it's the lyric, but it really does sound/feel like a heartbeat - esp. John's bass. It's so easily identifiable, even if you hear it from a distance. At work, it comes on the radio pretty often, and I can pick up that beat from several feet away - I can't hear lyrics, or guitar, or anything else - and I know that it's Dreams. So relaxing, dreamy.


The vocal is perfection, absolute perfection. Lush harmonies from Chris & Lindsey, one of the best examples of the 3 voices meshing together effortlessly. Lyrically, I love that this is a break-up song, but it's not as bitter as GYOW or Planets, for example. It's more of a "oh well, it's your loss" type of song.

I enjoy the album version most - that, and the demo ("second verse") on the remaster/reissue. For some reason, I much prefer more recent live ('97 - today) performances than older ones.
Not sure why.

[HomerMcvie]

Great song, with great harmonies, but just OVERPLAYED TO DEATH. I'm so sick of hearing it, I could puke coathangers.

[strandinthewind]

Are there different lyrics on the demo.? I do not think I have heard that.

And, Dreams is indeed timeless and her voice perfection. Also, the harmonies are stellar.

This song is soooo hippy witchey Stevie.

[danax6]

What can I say, I never get tired of this song. I do however want to say that this is one of those songs of which I actually prefer the album version instead of the live version. There are some exceptions, ofcourse, but I skip mostly through it on boots or other live registrations, whereas I hardly ever skip it on the album. Like Paula said, it's timeless. It's hypnotizing actually. That's why I can't turn it off when it comes on. That John McVie guy does some stellar bass playing on this. And those lyrics...hard to beat.

I spent at least an hour last week explaining to my dad what the song was about. He was complaining that he was never able to understand what she was saying, and the parts he could understand, didn't make any sense. He was going like "When the rain washes you clean you'll know? You'll know what? What the hell is she talking about?" Made for an interesting car ride. Ofcourse, this came from the same guy who asked what Meatloaf meant when he sang "I would do anything for love, but I won't do that." I guess the man is not as into the lyrics as I am.

[michelle2677]

as far as live versons go, I prefer the new ones (97-today) as well.

Not one of my faves from stevie, but still a classic.
I love the vocal deliverance on -well who am I to "keep you down" on the studio version. It sounds so fragile and innocent. With that said..i hate the "down..down..down" on the older live versions

there is also a drum part...(second chorus?? maybe third) I'm thinking the chorus where she does "oooooh..thunder only happens when it's raining" drum skip thing....dun dunt.....dun dunt.. Kinda hard to explain since I have no musical background, and I don't have the song right in front of me to spot the exact time.

Great harmonies, and one of my fav john basslines
plus I dig wrapping around some dreams, now haha.

[gypsysoul]

My favourite FM song. One of my favourite songs ever.

Yes it is overplayed and I will sometimes skip it on Rumours or a greatest hits CD but I would never have got into FM if it wasn't for dreams.
I was still at school when I first heard it and rock bands with bearded guitarists was not my thing at all (I was into clean shaven boybands and thought the Eurovision song contest was a place for great music - the Brits on the board will understand that reference!). But when I saw Stevie singing it on television one night I was hooked.
Love it.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Pure Perfection. It has definitely stood the test of time and deserved to be a #1 song.

There's nothing more to say than what has already been said. I never tire of this song.....show after show....repeats after repeat on my IPOD......The lyrics give me chills. The music soothes my soul. I remember in my Jr. High music class, Dreams was in my textbook as one of the greatest sounds coming from the 70s. Stevie should be (and is) proud of this song.

Some of my favorite versions:

album cut
Live '80 Album Version
Weedsport, NY '86 "who will be the wildest heart...this time?"
LIB (I adore this version)

[face of glass]

Love that volume pedal guitar, as important as the rhythm section on this to me!

That said, my favourite part is probably when John dances beautifully around the "wrap around your dreams" line - goes to show what an intuitive musical sense he has.

[Dreamz19]

My favorite versions are the rosebud special, the album version and The Dance. I like how you described John's bass as sounding like a heartbeat almost. I never even took that into consideration until now.

A lot of people get sick of this song with good damn reason, but I rarely get tired of hearing it. They really do play it to death. IMO Dreams is one of those songs that most people seem to like whether they like FM or not. People I know who are into mostly Metal or Hip Hop (and don't like much else) even like this song.

For me this song kinda holds a special place with me along with Sliver Springs, Gypsy, Rhiannon, Little Lies and The Chain. Throughout my childhood I would hear those songs but never knew who the artist was until my family told me and saw a commercial for TVBOFM in 2002. I downloaded those six songs and was amazed. I then decided to stop being cheap and bought TVBOFM and the rest is history.

The harmonies are great and I love the chorus. The song is just really relatable for anyone.

I actually wanted to add that my username isn't because of the song. Most people think that but its a username I have always used even before I heard it.

BTW Dana I LOVE your banner. It's gorgeous.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by danax6

It's hypnotizing actually.

Originally Posted by michelle2677

there is also a drum part...(second chorus?? maybe third) I'm thinking the chorus where she does "oooooh..thunder only happens when it's raining" drum skip thing....dun dunt.....dun dunt.. Kinda hard to explain since I have no musical background, and I don't have the song right in front of me to spot the exact time.

Originally Posted by face of glass

That said, my favourite part is probably when John dances beautifully around the "wrap around your dreams" line - goes to show what an intuitive musical sense he has.

ITA with all of the above. Well said!

[Dreamz19]

Originally Posted by danax6

I spent at least an hour last week explaining to my dad what the song was about. He was complaining that he was never able to understand what she was saying, and the parts he could understand, didn't make any sense. He was going like "When the rain washes you clean you'll know? You'll know what? What the hell is she talking about?" Made for an interesting car ride. Ofcourse, this came from the same guy who asked what Meatloaf meant when he sang "I would do anything for love, but I won't do that." I guess the man is not as into the lyrics as I am.

That's cute. Sometimes I am a little unsure about Stevie's lyrics (like most at some point) but it was easy to understand what Dreams meant right off the bat for me. I guess because I was going through something similar at the time I first heard it

[danax6]

Originally Posted by Dreamz19

That's cute. Sometimes I am a little unsure about Stevie's lyrics (like most at some point) but it was easy to understand what Dreams meant right off the bat for me. I guess because I was going through something similar at the time I first heard it

Well, you know men. They never make an effort.

I want to add to this thread that this song has a very personal meaning to me also. My mom died of cancer almost two years ago, and though she was fond of Fleetwood Mac, Rumours has always been one of those 'gawd, them again?' things. She always said she did her best bar hopping during the time Rumours came out and got played to death everywhere. So, she was pretty sick of it, except Dreams. She'd be the first to agree it's a timeless song. Dreams was one of those songs that we'd put on often and both sing our lungs out to while in the car or while doing dishes, or anything really. It was one of her favourite songs and it will always remind me of her.

[Dreamz19]

Originally Posted by danax6

Well, you know men. They never make an effort.

I want to add to this thread that this song has a very personal meaning to me also. My mom died of cancer almost two years ago, and though she was fond of Fleetwood Mac, Rumours has always been one of those 'gawd, them again?' things. She always said she did her best bar hopping during the time Rumours came out and got played to death everywhere. So, she was pretty sick of it, except Dreams. She'd be the first to agree it's a timeless song. Dreams was one of those songs that we'd put on often and both sing our lungs out to while in the car or while doing dishes, or anything really. It was one of her favourite songs and it will always remind me of her.

Wow I am so sorry about your mother. I am very close to my mom and she had a cancer scare a few years ago. I would go nuts without her so it always breaks my heart when someone experiences that type of lost. Thanks for sharing that story. And I mentioned this before but I really love your banner. Did you make that or someone else?

[danax6]

Originally Posted by Dreamz19

And I mentioned this before but I really love your banner. Did you make that or someone else?

Thanks. Yeah, I made that myself. I decided last night I was sick of my old banner.

[Dreamz19]

Originally Posted by danax6

Thanks. Yeah, I made that myself. I decided last night I was sick of my old banner.

You did a really good job. I wouldn't mind learning how to do that myself.