Only in Dreams (song)

""Only in Dreams""
Song by Weezer from the album Weezer
Released	May 10, 1994
Recorded	August-September 1993 at Electric Lady Studios, NYC
Genre	Alternative rock, power pop
Length	7:59
Label	Geffen
Writer	Rivers Cuomo
Producer	Ric Ocasek
Weezer (The Blue album) track listing "Holiday" (9) "Only in Dreams" (10)

"Only in Dreams" is a song by the band Weezer. It is the 10th and final track on their 1994 self-titled debut album. At nearly eight minutes it is currently the longest song by Weezer. It is most noteworthy for its three minute long crescendo of the two guitars, bass, and drums, in which the dynamics gradually increase and the timbre builds up layers until the climaxing guitar solo at the end.

"Only in Dreams" is about a dream Rivers Cuomo he has about a girl he wants to be with and how he doesn't want to mess it up.

The song has a prominent bass line played by Matt Sharp (although written by Cuomo) which refuses to resolve to the tonic of the key until the final note of the entire track.

Live performances

"Only In Dreams", in recent years, has typically been played at the end of a regular set (before the encore). However this is not true for the Summer of 2002 Enlightenment tour, when the set lists were determined by the roll of a 20-sided die.^[1] In 2002, they've also played a 20 minute version of the song live.

When played live at indoor arenas, a dove, made of light, is flown above the floor audience^{[citation needed]}. Weezer has also shot "=w=" confetti all over the audience during this song, giving the illusion of multi-colored rain falling on the crowd during the final guitar solo.

Reception

The song was rated #8 in Q Magazine's "20 Greatest Guitar Tracks" in September 2007.^[2] It was also rated #43 on Digital Dream Door's "100 Greatest Rock Basslines".^[3]

When asked in 2006 which Weezer guitar solo he is the most proud of/likes the most, Rivers Cuomo answered, "I'd have to go with 'Only in Dreams' and [Make Believe track] 'Haunt You Every Day' for sheer length. Epic, epic, epic. So few people play these kinds of solos anymore."^[4]

IGN included "Only in Dreams" on their "Weezer Ultimate Mix" list, where they listed what songs they want to be compiled into a Weezer collection and called the song "the "Stairway to Heaven" for Generation X.".^[5] They also listed the song on their "Top 10 Ambiguously Inspiring Songs" list, where they called it one of Weezer's best songs.^[6]

Roling Stone regarded the song as a "real gem".^[7] PopMatters calls the song a ""Bohemian Rhapsody"-worthy conclusion.".^[8]

Covers

Ash has covered the song as a B-side of their 2001 single Burn Baby Burn.

Mock Orange has covered the song on the album Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer.

Personnel

• Rivers Cuomo – lead guitar, lead vocals
• Patrick Wilson – percussion
• Brian Bell – rhythm guitar
• Matt Sharp – bass guitar
• Ric Ocasek – producer

References

1. ^ "News". Web.archive.org. http://web.archive.org/web/20050212144549/http://www.weezer.com/karlscorner/chrono.asp?NEWSID=6998. Retrieved 2011-11-14. 
2. ^ "The 20 Greatest Guitar Tracks". Q Magazine. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#Guitar%20Tracks. Retrieved 2007-09-11. 
3. ^ "100 Greatest Rock Basslines". Digitaldreamdoor.com. 2004-11-07. http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_basslines.html. Retrieved 2011-11-14. 
4. ^ "Rivers Cuomo Fan Interview 2006". Weezer.com. http://www.weezer.com/info/tunes/index.html. Retrieved 2007-09-11. 
5. ^ J.R.. "Weezer Ultimate Mix - Music Feature at IGN". Music.ign.com. http://music.ign.com/articles/881/881572p1.html. Retrieved 2011-11-14. 
6. ^ Barbapopa (2011-09-14). "Top 10 Ambiguously Inspiring Songs - Music Feature at IGN". Music.ign.com. http://music.ign.com/articles/096/096553p2.html. Retrieved 2011-11-14. 
7. ^ By Christian Hoard (2004-04-19). "Weezer Blue Album [Deluxe] | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/weezer-deluxe-edition-20040419. Retrieved 2011-11-14. 
8. ^ Hogan, Marc. "Weezer: Weezer (Blue Album) [Deluxe Edition] < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/weezer-bluedeluxe/. Retrieved 2011-11-14.