Dreams Tonite

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"Dreams Tonite"
Single by Alvvays
from the album Antisocialites
ReleasedJuly 25, 2017 (2017-07-25)[1]
GenreDream pop
Length3:16
Label
  • Royal Mountain
  • Polyvinyl
  • Transgressive
Songwriter(s)
  • Alec O'Hanley
  • Molly Rankin
Producer(s)
Alvvays singles chronology
"In Undertow"
(2017)
"Dreams Tonite"
(2017)
"Plimsoll Punks"
(2017)

"Dreams Tonite" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. It was released on July 25, 2017 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Antisocialites.

Background[edit]

"Dreams Tonite" forms the basis of the album's "fantasy breakup arc,"[2] with the protagonist questioning whether or not they would still be attracted to their significant other if meeting in the present, rather than the past.[3] The song first became a part of the group's live setlist in early 2016.[4] The band debuted the song online as a pre-release single for Antisocialites on July 25, 2017.[5] The band promoted the song with a performance on CBS Sunday Morning in the U.S.[6] "Dreams Tonite" became one of the band's most popular tunes; as of May 2023, the song has over 80 million streams on Spotify.[7]

Music video[edit]

The song's music video utilizes stock footage of Expo 67.

The song's retro-futuristic music video was directed by Matt Johnson, and uses archival footage of Montreal's 1967 International and Universal Exposition. It was released on September 13, 2017.[8] In the clip, the band's members are inserted into the footage digitally.[9] Mark Byrnes of Bloomberg described the proceedings: "While "visiting" Expo, the members ride the automated Minirail, gape at Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome, and perform on an outdoor stage for fairgoers."[10] The band were pleased with the video, given their disdain for the format, especially due to their respect for Johnson.[11]

Reception[edit]

Amanda Wicks from Pitchfork suggested the song "looks at the liminal space between [...] two frames of mind, questioning the forces that separate lovers, be they self-made or circumstantial."[12] Its readers polled the song among the year's overall best.[13] Tim Sendra from AllMusic praised the "lovely new wave ballad" for "its melancholy nostalgia."[14] Randall Colburn at Consequence called the song "relentless in its romanticism,"[15] while Anna Gaca of Spin dubbed it "light, literal dream pop that’s almost too pure for this world."[16] Mike Gatzig of NPR found the tune "sleek and gauzy,"[3] while Ethan Sapienza of Vulture found the song "somber", if "slightly clichéd".[17]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Dreams Tonite"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[18] Gold 40,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dreams Tonite - Alvvays - Releases". AllMusic. July 25, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Bartleet, Larry (September 7, 2017). "Q&A: Alvvays' Molly Rankin on Oasis, MGMT, and new album 'Antisocialites'". NME. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Review: Alvvays, 'Antisocialites'". NPR.org. August 31, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  4. ^ "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Pitchfork. September 7, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Rettig, James (July 25, 2017). "Alvvays – "Dreams Tonite"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Gray, Julia (June 3, 2018). "Watch Alvvays Play 3 Songs On CBS This Morning". Stereogum. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Olivier, Bobby (October 5, 2022). "On Alvvays' Thrilling Blue Rev, Nostalgia Spurs Indie-Rock Triumph". SPIN. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "Watch Alvvays' New "Dreams Tonite" Video". Pitchfork. September 13, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Rettig, James (September 13, 2017). "Alvvays – "Dreams Tonite" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "Montreal's Expo 67 Lives On (In Music Video Form)". Bloomberg. September 13, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Molly Rankin of Alvvays Talks Influences and Inspiration with KEXP". KEXP 90.3 FM - Where the Music Matters. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  12. ^ Wicks, Amanda (July 26, 2017). "Alvvays: "Dreams Tonite"". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "Pitchfork Readers' Poll Results 2017". Pitchfork. December 22, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  14. ^ Sendra, Tim (September 8, 2017). "Alvvays - Antisocialites Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  15. ^ Colburn, Randall (July 25, 2017). "Alvvays share heart-swelling new single "Dreams Tonite": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  16. ^ Gaca, Anna (July 25, 2017). "Alvvays – "Dreams Tonite"". SPIN. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  17. ^ Jenkins, Craig; Bastién, Angelica Jade; Ebiri, Bilge; Willmore, Alison (July 26, 2017). "5 Best New Songs of the Week: Lana Del Rey, Tyler the Creator". Vulture. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Alvvays – Dreams Tonite". Music Canada. Retrieved December 3, 2022.

External links[edit]