A Dream's a Dream

"A Dream's a Dream" is a 1990 song by British R&B band Soul II Soul. It was released as the second single from their second album, Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade. It features American-born British singer Victoria Wilson-James and was a hit in Europe, reaching the Top 10 in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and the Top 20 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland. Outside Europe, "A Dream's a Dream" peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the US. It also reached number 8 in New Zealand and number 27 in Australia.

"A Dream's a Dream"
Single by Soul II Soul featuring Victoria Wilson-James
from the album Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade
Released	1990
Genre	Downtempo r&b swingbeat
Length	4:13
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Jazzie B Simon Law
Producer(s)	Jazzie B Nellee Hooper
Soul II Soul singles chronology
"Get a Life" (1989) "A Dream's a Dream" (1990) "Missing You" (1990)
Music video
"A Dream's a Dream" on YouTube

Critical reception

Alex Henderson from AllMusic described the song as "haunting".[1] Bill Coleman from Billboard picked it as one of the "special moments" from Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade.[2] He called it a "seductive, sleaze-speed club track with house overtones [that] is (gratefully) less derivative of previous efforts. Vocals by Victoria Wilson-James excite."[3] Ernest Hardy from Cashbox complimented "the operatic touch" of the song.[4] David Giles from Music Week stated that "all the trademarks are there — shuffling rhythm, sweeping strings and wailing female vocals — and these should ensure another substantial hit for Jazzie B and his crew."[5] The Network Forty described it as "Jazzy B's soul-jazz-African-operatic single".[6] In his review, Tom Doyle from Smash Hits complimented Wilson-James singing voice as "marvellous".[7] Steven Daly from Spin noted that it "won't dictate this summer's tempo the way "Movin'" did last year, but this gentle house sway will nonetheless build a little birdhouse in your soul. (In case you were concerned, yes, Jazzie manages to stop by for his usual lecture.)"[8]

Track listing

12" single, US (1990)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Dreams A Dream" (A Night At The Opera Mix)	5:45
2.	"A Dreams A Dream" (Club Dub)	4:25
3.	"Courtney Blows"	4:32

CD single, UK (1990)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Dreams A Dream"	4:13
2.	"A Dreams A Dream" (A Night At The Opera Mix)	5:49
3.	"A Dreams A Dream" (Club Dub)	4:28
4.	"Courtney Blows"	4:33

CD single, Europe (1990)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Dreams A Dream"	4:13
2.	"A Dreams A Dream" (A Night At The Opera Mix)	5:49
3.	"A Dreams A Dream" (Club Dub)	4:28
4.	"Courtney Blows"	4:33

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 27 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 16 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 20 Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 15 Greece (Pop + Rock) 1 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 6 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 8 Norway (VG-lista)[17] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 19 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 14 UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 6 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 85 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[21] 3 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 19

Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 78 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 80

References

1. Henderson, Alex. "Soul II Soul – Vol II: 1990 - A New Decade". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
2. Coleman, Bill (9 June 1990). "Dance Trax: U.K. Rap Phenom Rebel MC Keeps Rockin' With Brand-New 'Rebel Music' Album" (PDF). Billboard. p. 35. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
3. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 26 May 1990. p. 83. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
4. Hardy, Ernest (2 June 1990). "On The Dancefloor: New Grooves" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 14. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
5. Giles, David (5 May 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
6. "Top 40: The Next 40" (PDF). The Network Forty. 6 July 1990. p. 34. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
7. "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. No. 299. 16 May 1990. p. 54. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
8. Daly, Steven (1 August 1990). "Singles". Spin. p. 84. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
9. "Australian-charts.com – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
10. "Austriancharts.at – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
11. "Ultratop.be – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Dream's A Dream". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 15 May 2020.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
16. "Charts.nz – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
17. "Norwegiancharts.com – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". VG-lista. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
18. "Swedishcharts.com – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
19. "Swisscharts.com – Soul II Soul – A Dreams A Dream". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
20. "Soul II Soul Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
21. "Soul II Soul Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
22. "Soul II Soul Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
23. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
24. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 15 May 2020.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics