"Don't Dream It's Over" is a song by Australian  rock band Crowded House, recorded for their 1986 self-titled debut studio album.Bailey, Marck; Comprehensive discography of Crowded House including track listings for all albums and singles.
Released 28 March 1995.
Retrieved 5 July 2007.
Site offline after 2008.
The song was composed and written by New Zealand frontman Neil Finn, and released in October 1986 as the fourth single from the album.
"Don't Dream It's Over" became the band's biggest international hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in April 1987.
"Don't Dream It's Over" was also a great success in Finn's native country of New Zealand, where it peaked at Number 1.
It also topped the charts in Canada, while in Australia it peaked at No.
8. In Continental Europe, it reached No. 6 in Norway, No. 7 in the Netherlands, and No. 13 in Germany.
At the 1986 Countdown Australian Music Awards the song was nominated for three awards, winning Best Video.
"Don't Dream It's Over" is written and composed in the key of E-flat major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 82 beats per minute.
"Don't Dream It's Over" was prominently featured in the 1994 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Stand.
The song has also been recorded by other artists, including Paul Young, Sixpence None the Richer, and New Zealand artist Stan Walker.
In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) ranked "Don't Dream It's Over" second on its list of the Top 100 New Zealand songs of all time and seventh on its list of the Top 100 Australian songs of all time.
In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Don't Dream Its Over" was ranked number 65.
Music video
The music video for the song was created by Australian film production company Meaningful Eye Contact and was directed by Alex Proyas.
It was filmed in Sydney at an abandoned theatre in Balmain.
The video features some surreal special effects such as household objects – including shattering crockery – and film reels that float in the air, with lead singer 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.
Reception
AllMusic described the  as a "majestic ballad".
Cash Box magazine said "The easy going and pretty song camouflages a pained longing.
Neil Finn's voice, recognizable from his stint with Split Enz, is reedy and expressive and full of irony."
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.
All tracks on vinyl are from the album Crowded House, except the extended version of "Don't Dream It's Over".
;7-inch vinyl
"Don't Dream It's Over" – 4:03
"That's What I Call Love" –3:39
;12-inch vinyl
"Don't Dream It's Over" (Extended version) – 6:10 (only in 12-inch vinyl single)
"Don't Dream It's Over" – 4:03
"That's What I Call Love" – 3:39
;7-inch US vinyl (American Pie label)
"Don't Dream It's Over" – 4:03
"Something So Strong" – 2:51
;1995 UK CD1 ;1996 Netherlands CD - All Live tracks from Phil Jupitus Show at BBC GLR 21 June 1996
"Weather with You" (live) – 4:35
The only B-side track in other UK editions
"Into Temptation" (live) – 4:48
"Locked Out" (live) – 2:04
;1996 UK CD2 - All Live tracks from Phil Jupitus Show at BBC GLR 21 June 1996
"Four Seasons in One Day" (live) – 3:08
"In My Command" (live) – 4:14
"Pineapple Head" (live) – 3:40
Personnel
Neil Finn: lead vocals, guitars
Nick Seymour: bass guitar
Paul Hester: drums, percussion, backing vocals
Mitchell Froom: keyboards
Tim Pierce: guitar
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Paul Young version
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 singing the fourth verse and performing the keyboard and synthesizers.
Track listing
"Don't Dream It's Over" (Neil Finn) – 3:56 "I Need Somebody" (Paul Young) – 4:00 Charts
Sixpence None the Richer version
"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.
Their version was also included in the 2003 compilation album Smallville: The Talon Mix.
Track listing
US CD single
"Don't Dream It's Over" (radio edit) – 3:39
"Don't Pass Me By" – 3:26
Charts
Release history
Antonello Venditti version
In Italy, the song remained relatively unknown for a long time.
In fact, the Crowded House single had failed to go beyond the sixty-seventh position.
However in 1991 Antonello Venditti interpreted an adaptation in Italian language entitled  Alta marea , inspired by Monte ArgentarioArticle Il Messaggero (it)Article la Repubblica (it) and recorded for the album Benvenuti in paradiso, which remains one of his most remembered songs to this day.
In the video there is also a very young Angelina Jolie, just sixteen years old.
References
