Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (song)
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| “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Eurythmics from the album Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) |
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| Released | February 1983 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format | 7" single, 12" single | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1982 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | New Wave Synthpop |
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| Length | 3:41 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Label | RCA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | David A. Stewart | |||||||||||||||||||
| Eurythmics singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||||||
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"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (or simply "Sweet Dreams") is a song by pop music duo Eurythmics, written by David A. Stewart and Annie Lennox. It was released as a single and was the title track of their album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). It is notable as the song which provided the group with their breakthrough into commercial success. Its striking music video helped to propel the song to number two on the UK singles chart, and number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. It was the fourth single released from the Sweet Dreams album in the UK and the first single released by Eurythmics in the United States.
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" is arguably Eurythmics' signature song and it is their only chart-topper in the U.S. Following its success, their previous single, "Love Is a Stranger", was re-released and also became a worldwide hit. On Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time issue in 2003, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" was ranked number 356: it was the group's only song on the list. The lyrics of the song allude to a search for fulfillment, and the "Sweet Dreams" are the desires that motivate us. Because of her accent, many mistakenly believe that Lennox is singing "Sweet dreams are made of these."
The original recording's main instrumentation featured a sequenced analog synthesizer riff, which Stewart discovered accidentally in the studio when he played a bass track in reverse. Apart from the synthesizer, the arrangement also uses Movement Systems Drum Computer, piano in the middle eight, and Lennox's multitracked harmony vocals.
Eurythmics have regularly performed the song live in all their live sets since 1982.
In 1991, the song was remixed and reissued to promote Eurythmics' Greatest Hits package. It re-charted in the UK, reaching number 48. It was also a moderate hit in dance clubs. Another remix by Steve Angello was released in France in 2006, along with the track "I've Got a Life" (peaking at number ten).
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[edit] Music video
The music video for "Sweet Dreams" received heavy airplay on the then-young MTV channel and is widely considered a classic clip from the early-MTV era. Lennox's striking androgynous visual image, with shaved, orange-colored hair, men's suit and cane and detached yet soulful vocal delivery immediately made her a household name. Her gender-bending image would be further explored in other Eurythmics videos such as "Who's That Girl?" and "Love Is a Stranger".
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
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| UK | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Hot Dance Club Play | 2 |
| Ireland | 2 |
| Germany | 4 |
| Australia | 6 |
| Switzerland | 8 |
| Austria | 9 |
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
| UK singles chart | 48 |
[edit] Marilyn Manson cover
| “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” | |||||
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| Single by Marilyn Manson from the album Smells like Children |
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| Released | 1996 | ||||
| Format | CD-Single | ||||
| Genre | Alternative metal | ||||
| Length | 4:53 | ||||
| Label | Interscope Records | ||||
| Marilyn Manson singles chronology | |||||
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"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" is Marilyn Manson's cover version and is their first single taken from their remix album, Smells like Children. This version became an MTV-staple and helped to establish the band in the mainstream. It was also the only track from Smells Like Children appearing on the band's 'Greatest Hits' album, Lest We Forget. This version is in the soundtrack of the movie "House On Haunted Hill" (1999).
[edit] Formats and track listings
- Australian CD single
- "Sweet Dreams (are made of this) - 4:25
- "Dance of the Dope Hats" (Remix) - 4:46
- "Down in the Park" - 4:58
- "Lunchbox (Next Motherfucker)" - 4:47
- U.S. promotional CD single
- Sweet Dreams (are made of this) - 4:25
[edit] Other cover versions
- Norwegian artists Jørn Hoel & Steinar Albrigtsen covered the song for their 1997 album Get Together
- "Sweet Dreams" was covered by Wykked Wytch. The cover by Wykked Wytch can be found on Terrorizer Magazine's Fear Candy CD, Volume 43.
- Ska-Core band Choking Victim recorded a version with rewritten politically conscious lyrics.
- Another ska punk band called Thumper recorded a cover for their 1997 album Hellfire and Damnation. Their version adds the word "fuck" to the chorus of the song.
- Actress Maria Bello performed the song in the movie Duets (2000), which is included on the soundtrack.
- The 2000 covers compilation Tokahits contains a cover by No. On.
- "Sweet Dreams" was covered by Geri Halliwell, who mixed it with her song, "Scream If You Wanna Go Faster," in late 2004.
- Club for Five recorded a cover of the song.
- Brazilian singer Badi Assad covered the song for her 2006 album Wonderland.
- German singer Thomas Anders (formerly of Modern Talking) recorded a jazzy, lounge cover of the song for his 2006 solo album Songs Forever.
- Tanghetto, the neo-tango band based in Buenos Aires recorded and released the song as part of their El Miedo a la Libertad album in 2008. Their cover is an instrumental version, where the bandoneon takes the "role" of the lead voice.
- Other artists who have covered the song include Automatic, Marthav, The Returners, and DJ Silver.
[edit] Live cover performances
- Tori Amos covered the song live in 2003.
- Mika included a live cover performance of the song from a Hong Kong concert as part of the B-side of his single, "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)."
- Bat for Lashes recorded a cover for Jo Whiley's Live Lounge in February 2008.
[edit] Sampling
- Producer Jonathan Rotem sampled it for Britney Spears' "Everybody," a bonus track from her 2007 album Blackout, and later B-side of her hit single "Break The Ice".
- Rapper Nas also prominently sampled "Sweet Dreams" in his 1996 hit "Street Dreams".
- Stefy's song "Chelsea," features a sample of "Sweet Dreams", and was featured in the soundtrack for the film John Tucker Must Die.
- P!nk and Redman used "Sweet Dreams" in a remix of P!nk's hit, "Get the Party Started".
- The rap duo Play-n-Skillz samples "Sweet Dreams" in their song "Get Freaky". The sample is slightly sped-up and played in a different key signature.
- The remix version of George Nozuka's "Last Time" uses a different riff heavily based on "Sweet Dreams", presumably to avoid licensing costs.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "Every Breath You Take" by The Police |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Eurythmics version) September 3, 1983 |
Succeeded by "Maniac" by Michael Sembello |
[edit] References
- ^ Marilyn Manson discography. As reported by The Heirophant. Last accessed August 29, 2007.
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