Punks and lifers. Pigs and snitches. Tricks and hustlers. Cheats and traitors. Scum and low-lifes. Drunks and cowards.
This is Sweden? Judging by “Dream On,” a collaboration between Robyn and producer Christian Falk, the country they both call home isn’t the peaceful Nordic paradise I’d assumed it to be.
Though Robyn addresses a lengthy list of no-goodniks in “Dream On,” ultimately it’s a hopeful song. “Rest your weary heads, all is well,” she sings, sweetly assuring these souls that everything’s gonna be okay. Admittedly the song could be set anywhere, as the video, filmed in New York City, attests. It tweaks the bad vs. good construct, making it worth the watch:
When “Dream On” was released as a UK single in November, I mistook it for something new from Robyn, not realizing it was included on the 2008 U.S. edition of her eponymous album. (As mentioned on Monday in another Robyn-related post, I have the original UK release, which is why I hadn’t heard—or heard of—”Dream On.”) Turns out the track was even older, recorded in 2006 for Falk’s album, People Say. That version features Ola Salo, lead singer of glam-rock band The Ark, assisting Robyn on vocals.
New now (or back in November, anyway) were the remixes of “Dream On,” as envisioned by Moto Blanco, Ashley Beedle, Tiger Stripes, and others, plus the video above. And the clip got some major exposure when iTunes designated it as a “Free Video of the Week” in December.
The “Dream On” mixes remain import-only (pick up the two-part single via Amazon), but the edit can be yours via iTunes and Amazon MP3.