Daydream Believer

"Daydream Believer" is a song composed by John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. The song was originally recorded by The Monkees, with Davy Jones singing lead vocals. The single hit the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1967, remaining there for four weeks, and peaked at number five in the UK Singles Chart. It was The Monkees' last number one hit in the U.S. It was recorded by Anne Murray in 1979, whose version reached #3 on the U.S. country singles chart and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Monkees version

"Daydream Believer"
Single by The Monkees
from the album The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees
B-side	"Goin' Down" (non-LP track)
Released	October 30, 1967
Format	7"
Recorded	June 14, 1967 and August 9, 1967
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:07
Label	Colgems
Writer(s)	John Stewart
Producer	The Monkees Chip Douglas
The Monkees singles chronology
"Pleasant Valley Sunday" (1967) "Daydream Believer" (1967) "Valleri" (1968)

Producer Chip Douglas introduced the Monkees to the song. It was recorded during the sessions for their 1967 album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. but was ultimately included on their 1968 album The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees (it proved to be bandmember Peter Tork's only appearance on the album). All four Monkees appear on the track, with Michael Nesmith on lead guitar, Peter Tork on piano (he also came up with the arrangement), and Micky Dolenz on backing vocals. Davy Jones wasn't sure of the song's potential at first, and admitted later that he'd recorded the vocal with a hint of annoyance at the ongoing takes. His feelings changed when the song became a hit.

John Stewart's original lyrics in the second stanza were "You once thought of me as a white knight on a steed, Now you know how funky I can be". When the Monkees recorded the song, "funky" was changed to "happy."

The song is also known for its humorous opening:

Chip Douglas: "7A." (referring to the take of the song)

Davy Jones: "What number is this, Chip?"

Chip Douglas and others in unison (annoyed): "7A!"

Davy Jones: "Okay. Know what I mean, like don't get excited, man. It's 'cause I'm short, I know.."

In 1986, three of the four Monkees (Dolenz, Jones, and Tork) mounted a successful reunion tour and had a major hit with the newly recorded "That Was Then, This Is Now." Arista Records, who owned the Monkees' masters at the time, re-released "Daydream Believer" as a followup single, re-mixed with a heavier drum track by Michael Lloyd (who had produced "That Was Then, This Was Now"). The re-released single was a minor hit the second time out, garnering some brief airplay on Top 40 radio stations of the day.

Chart positions

Chart (1967)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart	7
Irish Singles Chart	1
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart	4
Norwegian VG-lista Singles Chart	2
Swiss Singles Chart	10
UK Singles Chart	5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
Chart (1981)	Peak position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart	29
Chart (1986)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	79

Preceded by "Incense and Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock

Billboard Hot 100 number one single December 2–23, 1967

Succeeded by "Hello, Goodbye" by The Beatles

Anne Murray version

"Daydream Believer"
Single by Anne Murray
from the album I'll Always Love You
Released	December 1979
Format	7"
Recorded	1979
Genre	Country pop
Length	2:26
Label	Capitol
Writer(s)	John Stewart
Producer	Jim Ed Norman
Anne Murray singles chronology
"Broken Hearted Me" (1979) "Daydream Believer" (1980) "Lucky Me" (1980)

Anne Murray included it on her 1979 album, I'll Always Love You. The following year her single peaked at number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart, and number twelve on the pop chart. In addition the Anne Murray version peaked at number three on the country chart. She re-released the song as a duet with Nelly Furtado on her 2008 album, Anne Murray Duets: Friends and Legends.

Chart positions

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	1
Canadian RPM Top Singles	17
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	12
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	1

Preceded by "Give It All You Got" by Chuck Mangione	Billboard Adult Contemporary (chart) number-one single March 1, 1980	Succeeded by "Give It All You Got" by Chuck Mangione
Preceded by "Years" by Barbara Mandrell	RPM Country Tracks number-one single March 22, 1980	Succeeded by "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Willie Nelson

Other versions

Numerous other artists have covered the song:

• John Stewart recorded the song on his solo albums The Lonesome Picker Rides Again 1971 and Airdream Believer 1995. He also included it in live performances right up to his death.
• The Four Tops covered the song on their 1968 album Yesterday's Dreams.
• The Timers, a Japanese rock band led by singer-songwriter Kiyoshiro Imawano, covered the song in 1989. Their version sung in Japanese gained huge commercial success, reaching number two on that country's charts.
• The song was a staple of Paul Westerberg's first solo tour in 1993.
• In 1998, all girl Japanese punk-rock band Shonen Knife performed the song in original lyrics on their album Happy Hour.
• A version of the song performed by Mary Beth Maziarz can be found on the second Dawson's Creek soundtrack, Songs From Dawson's Creek Volume 2, as well as on Maziarz's album, A More Perfect World. This version of the song was played three times on the WB teen drama: in episodes #3-19 "Stolen Kisses," #4-23 "Coda," and #5-01 "The Bostonians."
• Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners released a cover of the song on his 1999 album My Beauty.
• American art-rock trio Tears on Sunday released a cover version of the track, appearing on their 2000 debut, The Slamurai EP.
• U2 performed the song live on their PopMart Tour. At the Los Angeles show on June 21, 1997, Davy Jones made a guest appearance onstage to sing with the band.
• British pop duo Robson and Jerome released this song in the 1990s.
• In 1996 a group of Sunderland A.F.C. fans operating under the name Simply Red and White had a top 50 hit with the song Cheer Up Peter Reid – an altered version of the song, which had become a popular terrace anthem (though often less complimentary than the chart version).
• Alvin and the Chipmunks featured a cover on the iTunes Deluxe Edition version of their album, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, as a bonus song.
• Susan Boyle released a cover of the song on her 2009 album.

Other uses

• The Monkees version of the song has been used in an advertising campaign for eBay which began in 2005. Alluding to a line from the song's chorus, "Oh, what can it mean ...", the campaign features the slogan, "Whatever it is, you can get it on eBay." [1].

• The first verse of the song was used as a chant on the cartoon The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy to summon a "giant" snake to destroy gym class.

• Daydream Believer was played in an episode of the animated television program The Oblongs, episode Disfigured Debbie.

• It was also used in an episode of Dawson's Creek.

• An episode of Nickelodeon's My Life as a Teenage Robot is named after this song.

• The song was also featured in the 2008 music simulation game Wii Music.

• The song can briefly be heard in the SpongeBob SquarePants special, "SpongeBob vs. The Big One," when Davy Jones makes an appearance as the owner of a locker (a pun on Davy Jones' Locker). The song is also used on the end credits for this episode.

• The song is sung by Alvin in the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel when he is accidentally injected with a sleeping shot.

• The song was also briefly featured on the Fox Network series Glee. It was sung by Neil Patrick Harris’ character Bryan Ryan during a flashback scene in the episode "Dream On". Harris received an Emmy Award in 2010 for his role in the episode.

• The Hamish & Andy Show featured this tune as the opening to two segments. The first was a short-lived attempt to convince Andy Lee of the existence of psychic powers. Thus, the song declared that they would "Make Andy Lee / into a Psychic Believer / and a Homecoming Queen / (Homecoming Queen is optional!)" The second was for their regular game "Tell Them They're Dreaming."

• In 2011, the song was parodied by The Fringemunks as part of a medley that recapped Fringe episode 3.16, "Os."

See also

• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1967 (U.S.)
• List of number-one singles of 1968 (Ireland)
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1980 (U.S.)

External links

• eBay commercial "Anthem"
• John Stewart Chilly Winds Site
• Songfacts "Daydream Believer" Entry
• Monkees Song Lyrics: Daydream Believer
• 50 versions of Daydream Believer