Don't Dream It's Over

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Single by Crowded House
from the album Crowded House
B-side	"That's What I Call Love"
Released	October 1986
Format	CD single Vinyl single Cassette single
Recorded	Capitol Recording Studios Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles, 1986
Genre	Alternative rock, Soft rock
Length	3:55
Label	Capitol – CL 438
Writer(s)	Neil Finn
Producer	Mitchell Froom
Crowded House singles chronology
"Now We're Getting Somewhere" (1986) "Don't Dream It's Over" (1986) "Something So Strong" (1987)
Audio sample file info · help

"Don't Dream It's Over" is a pop/rock song written by Neil Finn and performed by Crowded House released in 1986 from their self-titled debut album. It became the band's biggest international hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In May 2001, Australasian Performing Rights Association (Apra) celebrated its 75th anniversary by naming the best New Zealand and best Australian songs of all time, as decided by Apra members and an industry panel. "Don't Dream It's Over" was ranked second on the New Zealand list and seventh on the Australian list. While the Australian listing was considered controversial in New Zealand^{[citation needed]}, it was noted that the band drew members from New Zealand, Australia and America and was formed in Melbourne.

Music video

The music video, which features some surreal special effects such as household objects – including shattering crockery – and film reels that float in the air, shows lead singer Neil Finn playing a guitar and walking through the same house during different time periods while his bandmates are either performing household chores or playing various backing instruments. It was nominated for Best Group Video, and Best Direction at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and earned the group a Best New Artist award.

Track listing

"Don't Dream It's Over" written by Neil Finn. "That's What I Call Love" written by Neil Finn and Paul Hester.

7": Capitol / CL 438 United Kingdom

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Don't Dream It's Over"	4:03
2.	"That's What I Call Love"	4:22

12": Capitol / 12CL 438 United Kingdom

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Don't Dream It's Over (Extended version)"	6:10
2.	"Don't Dream It's Over"	4:03
3.	"That's What I Call Love"	4:22

• also available on CD and MC

Personnel

• Neil Finn: Vocals and guitar
• Nick Seymour: Bass guitar
• Paul Hester: Drums and backing vocals
• Mitchell Froom: Keyboards

Release history

Region	Date
Australia	October 1986
United Kingdom	January 1987

Charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks	11
Canadian Singles chart	1
UK Singles Chart	27
Irish Singles Chart	19
German Singles Chart	3
Dutch Top 40	7
Norwegian Singles Chart	6
New Zealand Singles Chart	1
Australian Singles Chart	8
Chart (1996)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	25

Preceded by "Lean on Me" by Club Nouveau	Canadian Singles Chart 2 May 1987 – 9 May 1987	Succeeded by "With or Without You" by U2
Preceded by "Funkytown" by Pseudo Echo	New Zealand Singles Chart 17 April 1987 – 23 April 1987	Succeeded by "Lean on Me" by Club Nouveau

Paul Young version

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Single by Paul Young
from the album From Time to Time – The Singles Collection
Released	19 September 1991
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	1990
Genre	Rock
Length	3:56
Label	Columbia – CL 438
Writer(s)	Neil Finn
Producer	Dan Hartman
Paul Young singles chronology
"Both Sides, Now" (1991) "Don't Dream It's Over" (1991) "Come On In" (1991)

In 1991 Paul Young covered "Don't Dream It's Over" on his compilation From Time to Time – The Singles Collection. Young's version featured Paul Carrack.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Don't Dream It's Over"	Neil Finn	3:56

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
2.	"I Need Somebody"	Paul Young	4:00

Charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	20
Irish Singles Chart	13
German Singles Chart	71
French Singles Chart	27
Dutch Top 40	67
Norwegian Singles Chart	6
Swedish Singles Chart	25

Sixpence None the Richer version

"Don't Dream It's Over"
Single by Sixpence None the Richer
from the album Divine Discontent
Released	2003
Format	CD
Recorded	2001
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:03 (Album Version) 3:39 (Radio Edit)
Label	Reprise/Squint
Writer(s)	Neil Finn
Sixpence None the Richer singles chronology
"Breathe Your Name" (2002) "Don't Dream It's Over" (2003) "My Dear Machine" (2008)

"Don't Dream It's Over" was the second radio single released in promotion of the album Divine Discontent by Sixpence None the Richer. The commercial single release features the B-side "Don't Pass Me By", which was recorded during the sessions for Divine Discontent.

Track listing

US Commercial Single

1. "Don't Dream It's Over" (Radio Edit): 3:39
2. "Don't Pass Me By": 3:26

Radio Promo Single

1. "Don't Dream It's Over" (Radio Edit): 3:39
2. "Don't Dream It's Over" (LP Version): 4:04

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	78
US Billboard Adult Top 40	9
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	12

Other cover versions/samples

British dance act Less Stress recorded the song in 1990, with Katherine Wood on lead vocals. In 2005, Sarah Blasko sang the song during the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne; it was also included in the tribute album She Will Have Her Way. Other artists who have covered it include Donny Osmond, Teddy Thompson, Faith No More, Paul Shaffer, Stacy & The Kid on an episode of Kids Incorporated, Howie Day, Susan Boyle and Hitomi Yaida.

Rapper Classified has sampled the riff on the song "It Ain't Over", as have Irish R&B trio Dove on their hit "Don't Dream". Italian singer Antonello Venditti included his own re-written version of "Don't Dream it's Over" – "Alta Marea" – on his 1991 album Benvenuti in Paradiso, which became a hit in Italian charts; Angelina Jolie, who was then sixteen, played a seductress in the video.