Walking on a Dream (song)

"Walking on a Dream"
Single by Empire of the Sun
from the album Walking on a Dream
Released 30 August 2008 (2008-08-30)
Format
Recorded
Genre
Length 3:16
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Empire of the Sun singles chronology
"Walking on a Dream"
(2008)		 "We Are the People"
(2008)
Music video
"Walking on a Dream" on YouTube
Music sample
"Walking on a Dream"

"Walking on a Dream" is a song by Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun, which was released on 30 August 2008 as the lead single ahead of their debut album of the same name (3 October 2008). The track was co-written by band members, Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore with Jonathan "Donnie" Sloan. The full Sam La More remix was made available as a free download on the band's official website.

On the Australian ARIA Charts it reached number ten,[1] and was certified double platinum to indicate shipment of over 140,000 units.[2] It was listed at number four in the 2008 Triple J Hottest 100 popularity poll. "Walking on a Dream" won the category for Single of the Year at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009,[3] and, in the following year, it won Dance Work of the Year at the APRA Awards.[4][5] Although the single was originally due for release in the United Kingdom on 9 February 2009, the date was postponed until 6 July.[6] In Europe, it reached number eight in both Belgium and Ireland;[7][8] and peaked in the top 100 on the UK Singles Chart.[9] The song was made the Single of the Week on the iTunes Store for the week of 21 April 2009. The song was also featured in the 2012 racing video game Forza Horizon and later in the 2016 Honda Civic "The Dreamer" commercial, which helped revived the song in the charts.[10]

Background

Luke Steele (of The Sleepy Jackson) and Nick Littlemore (of Pnau) formed Empire of the Sun as an electronic duo in 2007. Their debut release, "Walking on a Dream", appeared as a single on 30 August 2008 ahead of the album of same name on 3 October.[11] Steele had assisted on tracks, "With You Forever" and "Freedom", for Pnau's self-titled album, which was issued in December 2007. As Empire of the Sun, the duo recorded material for Walking on a Dream, including the title track, at Soundworks Music Studio and Linear Recording in Sydney during various sessions throughout the latter part of that year.[12] The track was co-written by Littlemore and Steele with Jonathan Sloan.[13][14] Sloan also co-produced the album with the duo and Littlemore's band mate, Peter Mayes of Pnau.[15][16]

Sam Littlemore (Nick's older brother) aka Sam La More remixed the track, which was made available as a free download on the album's official website until December 2008.[17]

The song uses an interpolation of Billy Ocean's "Caribbean Queen". Where Billy says "And our hearts they beat as one", Empire of the Sun's lyric is "...When two people become one".

Chart performance

The song was in a Honda Civic commercial in the U.S. in 2016, more than seven years after its original release. This led the song to finally chart in the country, making it their first Alternative Songs hit there.[18] On May 14, 2016, the re-released single reached number one on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart, seven years after having peaked at number 18 in its first chart run.[19][20]

Music video

Nick Littlemore raises a sphere to create a blue beam in the video for "Walking on a Dream".

The music video for the song was shot by Josh Logue on location along the Bund in Shanghai, China in July–August 2008, just prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics.[21] It features Steele and Littlemore wearing Eastern costumes and makeup, inspired by Peking Opera.

Track listings

CD single and iTunes EP
No.TitleLength
1."Walking on a Dream"  3:16
2."Walking on a Dream" (Van She Tech Remix)3:46
3."Walking on a Dream" (Hong Kong Blondes Remix)7:11
4."Walking on a Dream" (Sam La More Remix Edit)3:36
UK 7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Walking on a Dream"  3:16
2."Walking on a Dream" (Sam La More Remix Edit)3:36
iTunes exclusive single
No.TitleLength
1."Walking on a Dream" (Sam La More 12" Remix)7:52

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009–16) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[22] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[24] 12
European Hot 100 Singles[25] 89
Germany (Official German Charts)[26] 55
Hungary (Mahasz)[27] 36
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 8
Italy (FIMI)[29] 16
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[25] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 30
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 14
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 52
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 21
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[34] 64
US Billboard Hot 100[35] 65
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[36] 23
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 40
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[38] 1
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[39] 3

Certifications

Country Certification
Australia 2× Platinum[2]
Italy Gold
United Kingdom Silver
United States Platinum

Year-end charts

Chart (2009) Position
Australian Singles Chart[1] 61
Hungarian Singles Chart[40] 156
Italian Singles Chart[41] 79
Swiss Singles Chart[42] 66

Release history

Country Date Label Format
Australia 30 August 2008 Digital download
18 October 2008 CD single
United Kingdom 16 February 2009 Virgin 7" single
6 July 2009 CD single
Germany[43] 11 March 2011
United States 4 January 2016 Mainstream radio

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  2. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  3. ↑ ARIA Music Awards for Empire of the Sun:
  4. ↑ "2010 Winners - APRA Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Walking On a Dream Songfacts
  6. ↑ "Walking on a Dream: Empire Of The Sun". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  7. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Empire of the Sun". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Empire of the Sun" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Empire of the Sun". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "2016 Honda Civic TV Spot, 'The Dreamer'". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  11. ↑ "Empire of the Sun Biography". musichead.com.au. 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  12. ↑ McGee, Linda (8 April 2009). "Empire of the Sun interview". RTÉ. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "ASCAP – ACE Title Search". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Retrieved 17 March 2015. Note: requires user to enter details, e.g. click on 'Performers' tab and enter 'Empire of the Sun', then select track title.
  14. ↑ "'Walking on a Dream' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 March 2015. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Walking on a Dream; or at 'Performer:' Empire of the Sun
  15. ↑ Phares, Helen. "Empire of the Sun | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Note: User may have to click on tabs, e.g. 'Credits' or 'Awards' to access further information.
  16. ↑ Leahey, Andrew. "Walking on a Dream – Empire of the Sun". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Note: User may have to click on tabs, e.g. 'Credits' or 'Awards' to access further information.
  17. ↑ "Empire of the Sun". walkingonadream.com.au. Empire of the Sun Official Website. 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  18. ↑ Sean Ross (March 17, 2016). "What Happens When Pop/Alternative Radio Runs Out of Alternatives?". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  19. ↑ Dance Club Songs (May 14, 2016) from Billboard (May 3, 2016)
  20. ↑ Sean Ross (January 29, 2016). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Empire of the Sun's 2008 Single Debuts at Last Thanks to Honda Ad". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  21. ↑ Duncan (31 August 2008). "Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream". The Inspiration Room. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  22. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  25. 1 2 "Walking on a Dream – Empire of the Sun". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  26. ↑ "Musicline.de – Empire of the Sun Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  27. ↑ "Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista – 2009. 17. hét". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  28. ↑ "Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 12 February 2009". Irish Recorded Music Association. Chart-Track. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  29. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream". Top Digital Download.
  30. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Empire of the Sun search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  31. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream". Top 40 Singles.
  32. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream". Singles Top 100.
  33. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream". Swiss Singles Chart.
  34. ↑ "Chart Stats – Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream". The Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  35. ↑ "Empire of the Sun – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Empire of the Sun. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  36. ↑ "Empire of the Sun – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Empire of the Sun. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  37. ↑ "Empire of the Sun – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Empire of the Sun. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  38. ↑ "Empire of the Sun – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Empire of the Sun. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "Empire of the Sun – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Empire of the Sun. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  40. ↑ "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz. Mahasz.
  41. ↑ "FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Ricerche e dati di mercato". Fimi.it. 2010-01-19. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  42. ↑ "2009 Year End Swiss Singles Chart". Swiss Music Charts. 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  43. ↑ "Walking on a Dream: Empire of the Sun: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
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