I Have a Dream (song)

Infobox Single
Name = I Have a Dream


Artist = ABBA
from Album = Voulez-Vous
Released = December 1979
Format = Single
Genre = Pop ballad
Length = 4:45
Label = Polar Music
Writer = Benny Andersson
Björn Ulvaeus
Producer = Benny Andersson
Björn Ulvaeus
Director = Urban Lasson
Certification = Gold (UK), Gold (Netherlands)
Last single = "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
(1979)
This single = "I Have a Dream"
(1979)
Next single = "The Winner Takes It All"
(1980)
Misc =Extra album cover 2
Upper caption ="Estoy Soñando"
Type =single


Cover size =
Lower caption =Spanish version cover
Border = "I Have a Dream", which had the working titles "I Know a Song" and "Take Me in Your Armpit", is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA. The song was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and was taken from the group's 1979 album, "Voulez-Vous". Anni-Frid Lyngstad sang the lead vocals. Released as a single in December 1979 (with a live version of "Take a Chance on Me" as the B-side), "I Have a Dream" was ABBA's final single release of the 1970s, the decade in which they achieved arguably more commercial success than any other popular music act in the world. "I Have a Dream" is the only ABBA song that features not only the voices of all four group members, but also a large choir of children. "I Have a Dream" is included on the "" album, as well as in the "Mamma Mia!" musical.

In the UK, the single was issued in a lavish gatefold sleeve, intended as a souvenir for UK fans who had attended the Wembley concerts (the live recording of "Take A Chance On Me" being from one of them). It was not a limited edition, however. The inner gatefold made use of the pyramid/mountain/iceberg designs similar to those used in the inner sleeve of "Greatest Hits Vol.2". The inner gatefold was effectively an advert for ABBA's existing albums released in the UK, but the back cover featured a message from ABBA themselves regarding the Wembley concerts, together with their signatures. The front cover used the same live photo of ABBA as the worldwide release, but artwork and fonts were different. This was only Epic's second picture sleeve for an ABBA single, and the company seemed keen to make up for its poor presentation (ie. yellow or orange company sleeves) used previously.

There is some speculation that "I Have A Dream" was never originally intended to be a single. There had already been three releases from the "Voulez-Vous" album, and the only other album to have four singles released from it was "ABBA" in 1975. Also, the track was not included on "Greatest Hits Vol.2" released just weeks before. It is therefore speculated that this single was an extra release to cash in on both the Christmas sales and the 1979 tour. Furthermore, ABBA did not film a promotional video for the track, even though they had done for the Spanish version, "Estoy Soñando." It was rare for ABBA not to film a video for an official single. The Spanish version was filmed in the Polar Music Studios on the same day as the "Gimme Gimme Gimme" video (and even featured ABBA wearing the same clothes). If "I Have A Dream" had been intended as a single at that point, then presumably they would have filmed that as well. As it stood, a live performance from the tour was used to promote the single, causing some confusion to record buyers who may have been disappointed to discover the studio-recorded version on the record itself.

The live version of "Take a Chance on Me" on the b-side was one of three mixes of the same recording to be issued. Released soon after the concerts, this version is thought to be the genuine recording. A very slightly extended version, featuring spoken introductions from the group, was used as the b-side in Australia. This extended version has recently been released internationally on the deluxe edition of "ABBA The Album". Finally, a third mix was included on "ABBA Live" issued in 1986. This is considered the inferior version as it contains overdubs added at the time of release (and not by ABBA themselves).

Reception

"I Have a Dream" was a hit around the world, reaching number-one in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and peaking at number 2 in the UK, where it was held off the top spot by Pink Floyd's single "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)". "I Have a Dream" reached the top five in Ireland, South Africa and West Germany, and also became a number-one hit on the RPM magazine Adult Contemporary chart in Canada. The Spanish-language version of the song, "Estoy Soñando", reached number 15 in Spain and was a Top Five single in both Argentina and Mexico.

"I Have a Dream" was not commercially released in the United States, but did become an airplay favorite on Easy Listening and Adult Contemporary radio stationsFact|date=August 2008. Country Gospel singer Cristy Lane's cover of the song reached No.17 on the U.S. country singles chart in 1981.

Charts

Cover versions

*A recording by the dansband Streaplers, with lyrics in Swedish by Ingela Forsman, "Jag har en dröm", was No.1 on the Swedish Svensktoppen radio chart for 17 weeks from May 31 - December 6, 1987.
*American country-gospel music singer, Cristy Lane recorded a cover of the song and released it as a single to the Billboard Country Chart, peaking at #17 in 1981.
*Internationally renowned Greek singer Nana Mouskouri recorded a cover of this song.
*Local Hawaiian singers the Makaha Sons have covered this song on their 1994 album "Ke Alaulau".
*Irish folk music duo Foster & Allen have covered the song.
*Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell has covered the song.
*An electronica cover version by H-Hustler can be found on the compilation "The Electronic Tribute To ABBA".
*U.S. indie music artist Stueym covered the song, which was available for download on the Internet.
*A duet version was recorded by German celebrity Barbara Schöneberger and American singer Sydney Youngblood for the German "ABBA Mania" compilation, which coincided with a TV special.
*Swiss chef/singer Dan Daniell recorded a cover as a duet with original ABBA member Anni-Frid Lyngstad for his album "Lieber Gott".
*Italian-American singer Al Martino included a cover of the song for his 2006 album "Come Share The Wine".
*A cover of the song was recorded by Connie Talbot for her debut album "Over the Rainbow" in 2007.
*The song was covered in a jazz/lounge music style by American group BNB on their 2008 album "Bossa Mia: Songs of ABBA".
*The song is featured in the "Mamma Mia!" musical as a recurring musical theme sung by the character of Sophie. It is also featured in the trailer for the film based on the musical. At the beginning of the musical, the context of the song is interpretted that Sophie dreams about her real father coming to the wedding when she sends the invitations, to her potential fathers, away. At the end of the musical, Sophie sings this song when her and Sky set off the Island to go around the world. The context of the song is used in this case as Sophie, now knowing what she really wants, hopes to achieve her dream as she goes around the world with Sky. The song is included on the 2008 "Mamma Mia!" movie soundtrack and is sung by actress Amanda Seyfried.

Westlife version

Infobox Single
Name = I Have a Dream"/"Seasons in the Sun


Artist = Westlife
from Album = Westlife
Released = December 6, 1999
Format = CD single
Recorded =
Genre = Pop ballad, teen pop
Length =
Label = Sony BMG
Writer = Benny Andersson / Björn Ulvaeus
Producer =
Certification = Platinum (UK)
Last single = "Flying Without Wings"
(1999)
(3)
This single = "I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun"
(1999)
(4)
Next single = "Fool Again"
(2000)
(5)
Misc = Extra track listing
Album = Westlife
Type = studio
prev_track = "Flying Without Wings"
prev_no = 3
this_track = "I Have a Dream"
track_no = 4
next_track = "Fool Again"
next_no = 5 Extra track listing
Album = Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1
Type = compilation
prev_track = "Flying Without Wings"
prev_no = 3
this_track = "I Have a Dream"
track_no = 4
next_track = "Fool Again"
next_no = 5

Westlife released a cover of "I Have a Dream" in December 1999, twenty years after ABBA's original release. The release was a double-A-side single with "Seasons in the Sun" and became the UK's Christmas number-one single of 1999, extending its peak into January2000. So far, it occupies the 47th biggest Christmas number-one single in UK. In 2001, as part of a UNICEF fund-raising campaign, the song was re-recorded with additional vocals by Indonesian child singer, Sinna Sherina Munaf.

Track listing

#"I Have a Dream"
#"Seasons in the Sun"
#"On the Wings of Love"

Chart performance

Note: The song also reached #7 on the Global 100 Singles Chart.

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQupkyEVg8E "I Have a Dream" - Westlife] music video