Dreams can be exciting, mysterious, and even frightening — but they typically hold some personal meaning. Whether it's a vision that occurs while sleeping or an aspiration one holds dear, songs about dreams seem pretty appealing to fans.
Sometimes a dream can be something that one needs to think that anything is possible. Here are 20 songs that speak to people's visions and hopefully spark their goals.
In 2014, Taylor Swift released her critically acclaimed album 1989. The fifth single, “Wildest Dreams” finds Swift detailing how her relationship is ending, but she hopes that her ex-lover will still think of the good moments they shared. “Wildest Dreams” became a top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1993, Mariah Carey released her third album Music Box, led by the single “Dreamlover.” It’s the perfect song for people who want love and romance. But not just any type of love — the kind that’s supposed to last for an eternity. In the last verse, she says, “I need someone to hold on to / The kind of love that won’t fly away / I just want someone to belong to every day of my life.”
Pop singer Katy Perry makes listeners think about being young and in love on her 2010 single “Teenage Dream.” It’s that lovey-dovey feeling of being free and giddy. Like Perry sings on the hook, “You make me feel like a teenage dream / The way you turn me on, I can’t sleep / Let’s run away and don’t ever look back.”
In 2008, Beyoncé introduced the world to her alter ego by releasing her third solo album I Am… Sasha Fierce. Her hit single “Sweet Dreams” describes being in love, but sometimes that love has her questioning that it’s too good to be true. On the hook, she sings, “You could be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare / Either way, I don’t wanna wake up from you.”
Aerosmith’s hit song “Dream On” may have been released 50 years ago, but the song remains a rock classic. The guitar-driven melody gives a somewhat somber feeling as the lyrics detail how people deal with aging but should live life to the fullest.
When listeners think of Meek Mill’s discography, “Dreams and Nightmares” is typically known as one of his most popular tracks. At the song's beginning, the piano chords make it seem like Meek is giving listeners a rap ballad. While the piano chords help him detail his dreams for success, the beat switches up to make for an infectious track in his catalog.
Selena’s hit ballad “Dreaming of You” came from her 1995 posthumous album of the same name. While fans were used to the Queen of Tejano music singing in Spanish, this album gave fans a brief look into how Selena was set to cross over into other markets. “Dreaming of You” tells the story of a young woman fantasizing about a potential lover and hoping that the feelings are mutual.
In 1983, British pop duo Eurythmics released its second album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). The final single of the same album name became their breakthrough hit. The production is peak ‘80s pop style and became a No. 1 smash on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2018, Top Dawg Entertainment’s crooner SiR released his sophomore album November. SiR is the type of singer who knows how to make the perfect song for any romance playlist. On “Dreaming of Me,” he describes coming home to his partner and seeing how she’s dreaming of him, so it’s going to be a surprise that he’s in her presence when she wakes up.
In 2015, pop-rock band Imagine Dragons released its sophomore album Smoke + Mirrors. One of the album standouts is “Dream,” which details people realizing how much of an evil world is around, and sometimes, it’s just easier to dream of a more peaceful place, even when one knows that’s not as realistic.
Sometimes music lovers need songs that uplift them to believe the best things are bound to happen. Coldplay’s hit song “A Head Full of Dreams” gives people hope that their dreams can become a reality.
Dreams have always played a huge role in J. Cole’s discography and brand, hence the name for his record imprint Dreamville. On Cole’s second mixtape, The Warm Up, his song “Dollar and A Dream II” is a follow-up to 2007’s “Dollar and a Dream.” On the track, Cole describes his life of going through everyday struggles but dreaming of better days and success.
In 1983, DeBarge released its third studio album, In A Special Way. Although the track “A Dream” wasn’t released as an official single, it became quite the fan favorite and was sampled by several artists, including Blackstreet, 2Pac, and Fifth Harmony. On “A Dream,” the group sings about a person who fantasizes about reuniting with an ex-lover but is disappointed when she realizes this dream isn’t her reality.
Carrie Underwood’s single “Just a Dream” gives fans the sense she's telling a story of a woman on the way to her wedding, but she's actually attending a funeral. The song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
In 2005, rapper The Game released his debut studio album, The Documentary. He teamed up with Kanye West as a producer of the album’s fifth single, “Dreams.” On the track, The Game pays tribute to a number of public figures who unfortunately lost their lives too soon, such as Aaliyah, The Notorious B.I.G., Left Eye, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 2019, R&B singer Chris Brown released his ninth album, Indigo. While the album may be hard to get through — it's saturated with over 30 tracks — there are a number of standout songs, including the sweet ballad "Girl Of My Dreams." On the track, Brown details how he wants to take his time with a lover for a night of pleasure.
Some listeners may recall Fleetwood Mac’s song “Dreams” becoming a viral TikTok sensation in 2020, but the song has been a hit since 1977. On the track, Stevie Nicks sings about dealing with a breakup. "Dreams" became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 2018, the late Juice WRLD released his debut album, Goodbye & Good Riddance. On the album’s second single “Lucid Dreams,” Juice details his mental state after dealing with a breakup. The song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2015, singer Dua Lipa came onto the scene as a new sensation in pop music. Her self-titled debut album garnered eight singles and several deep album cuts such as “Dreams.” On the track, Lipa fantasizes about a potential lover because she doesn't know how to truly express her feelings.
Burna Boy has cemented his artistry as one of the biggest names in Afrobeats. In 2022, Burna released his sixth album Love, Damini to rave reviews. One of the album standouts is his collaboration “Wild Dreams” with Khalid. On the track, he talks about waking up in a sweat as he experiences crazy dreams.
Mya Singleton is a freelance writer and photographer based in Los Angeles. Her work has also been featured on The Sports Fan Journal and AXS. Feel free to follow her talking all things music on Twitter @MyaMelody7.
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