Dream Weaver
| "Dream Weaver" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Let It Out" |
"Dream Weaver" is a song by Gary Wright that was a hit single in the US, reaching #2 in the Billboard charts[1] while it reached #1 in the Cash Box charts (Australia, Canada and Europe) in 1976.[2] Taken from the album The Dream Weaver released the previous year, it features Wright on vocals and keyboards, and Jim Keltner on drums. In 1992, Gary Wright re-recorded a longer version of "Dream Weaver" for the Wayne's World movie soundtrack.
According to Gary Wright, the song was inspired by Autobiography of a Yogi, which was given to him by George Harrison.[3] Paramhansa Yogananda's poem, God! God! God! made reference to "the idea of the mind weaving dreams." The expression "Dream Weaver" was popularized by John Lennon in 1970 in his song "God," taken from his solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. This song depicts Lennon's declaration that he was the dream weaver of the sixties, breaking away from the influences and dogmas that influenced his life.
In popular culture
"Dream Weaver" was featured in the Fox television series, That '70s Show in the episode "The First Time".
Portions of "Dream Weaver" were first sampled in a short film appearing in the 1990 Wayne's World episode of Saturday Night Live, in which guest star Wayne Gretzky appears, and Wayne is picturing that song playing as he imagines himself defeating Gretzky in street hockey and then winning his wife, Janet Jones. The song would later be re-recorded for the soundtrack of the 1992 film Wayne's World.
Since then, a similar form of sampling of the song has been used to note the meeting between, or the longing of one character for another, as indicated in the 2003 movie Daddy Day Care as well as in the Pixar film Toy Story 3 when Ken first meets Barbie.
This song, and its keyboard introduction, according to Wes Craven, inspired the concept behind the film A Nightmare on Elm Street.[4] The song has also appeared in films and television programs such as The People vs. Larry Flynt and the fifth season episode of Nip/Tuck, "Dawn Budge II"
Use by other musical artists
"Dream Weaver" and "Love is Alive" are sampled in "Wordz of Wisdom", a single from 3rd Bass's 1989's The Cactus Album.
In 1999, it was covered by dance artist Erin Hamilton for her album One World. It was also featured prominently in the gay love story film Trick also released in 1999.
In 2000, Crowbar recorded a doom metal version of "Dream Weaver" for their album Equilibrium.
References
- ^ Gary Wright Biography - Billboard.com
- ^ Cash Box Top Singles - 1976
- ^ The Dream Weaver Inspiration - Gary Wright's homepage5
- ^ Wes Craven. A Nightmare on Elm Street DVD audio commentary.