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"Dream On" is the first single by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, Aerosmith.[1] Written by lead singer Steven Tyler, this blues-influenced power ballad became their first major hit. The song is a piano ballad in the key of F minor. Although it peaked at #59 when it was originally released as a single in 1973, it became a Top 10 single in 1976, peaking at #6, when it was re-released as a single. This song was first played live in Willimantic, CT at the Shaboo Inn.
[edit] In concert
Long a concert staple, the song's piano part has been played live by Tyler. The band has also played "Dream On" with an orchestra on a couple occasions. In the early 1990s, the band performed the song live with an orchestra for MTV's 10th Anniversary. A coinciding video directed by Marty Callner was also created. Additionally, in 2006, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry performed the song live with the Boston Pops Orchestra at their Fourth of July spectacular. On September 19, 2006, Aerosmith dedicated the song to captured Israeli soldier Ehud Goldwasser. On September 22, 2007, at a concert in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Aerosmith dedicated the song to one of their fans, Monica Massaro, who had been murdered earlier that year.
[edit] Appearances on other albums
"Dream On" was one of the band's biggest hits of their career and the highest charting single for them in the 1970s. Consequently, the song appears on almost every Aerosmith greatest hits and live compilation, including Live! Bootleg, Greatest Hits, Classics Live I, A Little South of Sanity, Young Lust: The Aerosmith Anthology, O, Yeah! The Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, Rockin' the Joint, Devil's Got a New Disguise, and both of the band's box sets.
[edit] Achievements
The song "Dream On" is part of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.[2] It is also ranked #172 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It frequently rivals "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way" for the title of Aerosmith's signature song.
[edit] Appearances
Dream On was for a short time featured as a downloadable song in Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock.
[edit] Samples and covers
- The song was re-made by Andru Donalds as the cover song for their album of the same name.
- The song was also sampled by rap artist Slim Thug for the song "Rockstar", which was originally intended for his album, Already Platinum.
- "Dream On" was recently covered by Razor and Tie recording artist Kelly Sweet. It is available on both her self-titled EP and her full length album We Are One.
- "Dream On" has also been covered live by Tori Amos, and is included on "The Official Bootlegs" album recorded at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts on August 21, 2005.
- "Dream On" has been covered by Bermuda Triangle Band on their 1977 "Bermuda Triangle" album on Winter Solstice Records and on the 2006 reissue of that album.
- "Dream On" was also covered by Enigma on their 2000 album named "Dream On".
- "Dream On" was also covered by Fisher on their "Uppers & Downers" dual-disc album. The cover version performed by Fisher was featured in the series-finale episode of NBC drama Windfall.
- Brooke White covered "Dream On" on her 2006 album "Songs From the Attic", released before she became a contestant on American Idol.
- The song was also sampled by rap artist The Game for his song "Never Be Friends" off of a mixtape by the Nu Jerzey Devil.
- It was also sampled by pop singer Anastacia for her ballad Heavy on my Heart.
- Michael Johns on American Idol Season 7 sang the song with mixed reviews. On April 10. 2008, he was eliminated. Oddly enough, fellow American Idol Season Seven contestant Brooke White performed the song on her 2006 solo album.
[edit] In other media
- This song was used in Buick's commercials, corresponding with their slogan, "Dream Up".
- This song was also used in ESPN SportsCenter's "Images of the Century", a video montage about memorable moments in sports history from the 20th century. The video montage was heavily played on ESPN in the days leading up to January 1, 2000.
- The song made an appearance as the closing theme to the Disney movie Miracle, and was also used in the closing credits of the movie Last Action Hero.
- It was used in a video tribute to Mike Modano upon becoming the top American point scorer in NHL history during the 2006-2007 season.
- In the film Be Cool, Edie Athens says to Chili Palmer, as they are driving by an advertisement for an Aerosmith concert, "Tell me Dream on is not the greatest Rock 'n' Roll song you've ever heard!".
[edit] References
