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The rock band originally formed in 1985 and instantly gained mainstream success with incredible debut album and biggest single Don’t Dream It’s Over, which came out in 1986. Finn’s most iconic song is, without a doubt, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” – you know, the “Hey Now, Hey Now” song. It has transcended mere “classic” status over the years to become one of the most enduring music anthems of the past several decades, inspiring sing-alongs to this day. Neil wrote this song in less than 24 hours, something this podcast has revealed to be quite common for artists when creating their most lasting, signature songs.
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Crowded House is no different as the Australian band — plus New Zealander Neil — release their eight studio album Gravity Stairs next month. In this sixth episode of The Story Behind the Song, host Peter Csathy interviews Finn about “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and how it came to be. The two also discuss Neil’s beautiful love song “Fall at Your Feet” from Crowded House’s third album, Woodface.
The Meaning Behind “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House
Crowded House undertook an extensive world tour in 2010 in support of Intriguer. This was the first album where the band regularly interacted with fans via the internet on their own re-launched website, Twitter and Facebook. The band sold recordings of the shows on the Intriguer tour on USB flash drives and made individual live tracks available for free download. The accompanying video has Finn walking through a house in which other members of Crowded House are sitting around, sometimes playing their instruments. The house is a weatherboard; we even see a slice of toast spread with Vegemite. When the organ solo comes, the windows of this house are suddenly arched and have stained glass.
Early albums (1986–
The opening lines (“There is freedom within, there is freedom without / Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup”) suggest that despite our limitations, we still have the capacity to find meaning and wonder in the world. The chorus (“Hey now, hey now / Don’t dream it’s over / Hey now, hey now / When the world comes in / They come, they come / To build a wall between us / We know they won’t win”) embodies an unshakable optimism, reminding us that despite the challenges we face, we can persevere as long as we don’t give up on our dreams. Following the 1996 break-up of Crowded House, the members embarked upon a variety of projects. Neil Finn released two solo studio albums, Try Whistling This (1998) and One Nil (2001), as well as two live albums, Sessions at West 54th (2000) and 7 Worlds Collide (2001).
All live tracks, recorded on Phil Jupitus Show at BBC GLR, 21 June 1996. Unlike the Oscars or the Golden Globes, these awards didn’t go to actors, directors or screenwriters. Along with live gigs, a new single has been released — Teenage Summer — with an unexpected album on the way, which will be the first since the band parted ways in 2018.
Additionally, the song’s call for human connection and the importance of cherishing our relationships with others deeply resonates within me. It serves as a reminder to nurture the connections that bring joy and light into our lives, as they can be a source of liberation and release. In 1991, English musician Paul Young covered "Don't Dream It's Over" on his first compilation album, From Time to Time – The Singles Collection (1991). Young's version, released by Columbia, was produced by Dan Hartman, and featured Paul Carrack singing the fourth chorus and performing the keyboard and synthesizers. All tracks on vinyl, from the album Crowded House except the extended version of "Don't Dream It's Over".
The Story Behind Heart's Insanely Iconic "Crazy on You" as Told by Nancy Wilson: Podcast
“Selling Sunset,” in which an ensemble cast of couture-clad agents bickers and bids in six-inch heels, premiered in 2019 and quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular shows. The company has good reason to think a legal challenge could be successful, having seen some success in previous legal fights over its operations in the U.S. In November, a federal judge blocked a Montana law that would ban TikTok use across the state after the company and five content creators who use the platform sued. The House has passed legislation that would ban TikTok in the United States if the popular social media platform’s China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake within a year, but don’t expect the app to go away any time soon.
One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968. Crowded House’s lead singer and songwriter Neil Finn has said that “Don’t Dream It’s Over” was inspired by his experiences living in Los Angeles and feeling disconnected from his homeland of New Zealand. The song was written during a time when Finn was struggling with homesickness and a sense of displacement, which inspired him to write a song that expressed the human desire for connection and a sense of belonging.
Don't Dream It's Over: Crowded House makes good on postponed tour - LA Downtown News Online
Don't Dream It's Over: Crowded House makes good on postponed tour.
Posted: Mon, 08 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Story Behind Crowded House’s “Hey Now, Hey Now” Anthem “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
Despite the universality of the song and Finn’s seeming lack of recollection of the song’s origin, he later revealed to Consequence that the song was ‘in a sense’ written as a ‘private message from me to someone who was withdrawing from their world’. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” is a song about remaining hopeful in the face of adversity. The song’s message seems to be told from the perspective of a relationship, with the narrator urging his loved one to not give up.
Lawmakers had failed to act despite efforts to protect children online, safeguard users’ privacy and make companies more liable for content posted on their platforms, among other measures. But the TikTok ban reflects widespread concerns from lawmakers about China. The company has indicated that it would likely go to court to try to block the law if it passes, arguing it would deprive the app’s millions of users of their 1st Amendment rights.
As we dissect the lyrics, the song paints a vivid picture of the complexities of life. There is a sense that despite the battles we face and the challenges that may arise, there is still freedom and possibility available to us. The line “Try to catch a deluge in a paper cup” beautifully captures the idea of trying to contain something vast and overwhelming in something small and fragile. Agents in markets like Los Angeles and New York chase stardom as fervently as they chase deals.
Old Time Music is proud to have such a passionate and talented team of writers who share their love for music with our readers. We hope you enjoy the articles and insights they bring to our platform. Finn admitted that producer Mitchell Froom was responsible for the sound of the song. He suggested some essential elements of the song, including the bass line and the Hammond organ. “He filled in quite a few areas that we weren’t covering,” bassist Nick Seymour later commented.
The song has become a constant companion throughout various phases of my life, always providing comfort and solace. It has accompanied me during times of uncertainty, reminding me to stay resilient and not give up on my dreams. "Don't Dream It's Over" is written and composed in the key of E-flat major[13] and is set in the time signature of common time with a tempo of 82 beats per minute. He said he thinks there could have been less restrictive ways to go after the company that wouldn’t result in a total ban or threaten free speech. In 2020, federal courts blocked an executive order issued by then-President Trump to ban TikTok after the company sued on the grounds that the order violated free speech and due process rights.
The chorus, which serves as the heart of the song, implores us not to give up or let go of our dreams. It reminds us that even when the world seems intent on building walls between us, we have the power to resist and overcome. The line “They come, they come to build a wall between us, we know they won’t win” celebrates the strength of human connection and the resilience of the human spirit.
In fact he repeats the expanding “Hey now, hey now” line twice as the lyrics themselves expand (“They come, they come / To build a wall between us”). Crowded House helped launch a new post-New Wave era in pop music in 1986, creating beautifully simple, earthy melodies driven by guitars rather than synths. And Finn continues to record as a solo artist as well, not to mention joining Fleetwood Mac in 2018. As the primary songwriter for the band, Neil Finn has always set the tone for the band's sound. AllMusic said that Finn "has consistently proven his knack for crafting high-quality songs that combine irresistible melodies with meticulous lyrical detail."[59] Neil's brother Tim was an early and important musical influence.
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