"Don't Dream It's Over" is a song by Australian-New Zealand rock band Crowded House. Written and composed by frontman Neil Finn, it was released on 20 October 1986 as the fourth single from the band's self-titled debut studio album.
"Don't Dream It's Over" became the band's biggest international hit and signature song, reaching 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1987. It has been certified 2x platinum in the United Kingdom and 9x platinum in Australia. 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.
The song has been recorded by other artists, including Paul Young, Sixpence None the Richer, and New Zealand artist Stan Walker; Walker produced a Māori version entitled Moemoeā ("Dream"). Italian singer-songwriter Antonello Venditti performed an adaptation in Italian entitled "Alta marea" ("High Tide").
Composition "Don't Dream It's Over" was composed and written by Neil Finn, the frontman of Crowded House. It was composed in the key of E-flat major. AudioCulture writer Michael Brown points to the song as a mainstream use of a type of strum developed among Māori guitarists in the 1930s called the "jingajik" or "party strum". The song includes an organ solo.
Neil Finn has said that the song was "'pretty much written in a day'". He added, "'I was contemplating the end of things, relationships and the challenges that you face. It's an exhortation to myself – and to anyone who's going through that – to not think it's the end, to keep on pushing, keep on believing. It's a song of hope, I think'".
Release "Don't Dream It's Over" was recorded for Crowded House's 1986 debut album, Crowded House.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. It was released as a single on 20 October 1986.
Reception A "melancholic but hopeful anthem", "Don't Dream It's Over" became the band's signature song and biggest international hit, reaching 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1987. The song reached No. 1 in Canada and in Finn's native New Zealand, while in Australia, it peaked at No. 8. In Europe, it reached No. 6 in Norway, No. 5 in the Netherlands, No. 13 in West Germany, and No. 25 in the United Kingdom.
At the 1986 Countdown Australian Music Awards, the song was nominated for three awards, winning Best Video.
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 It's Over" was ranked number 65. In 2025 the song was voted 5th in the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
AllMusic described the song as a "majestic ballad". Cash Box said: "The easy going and pretty song camouflages a pained longing. Neil Finn's voice, recognisable from his stint with Split Enz, is reedy and expressive and full of irony."
In 2025, Neil Crossley of MusicRadar.com wrote that "Don't Dream It's Over" "traverses genres and generations. It is also a masterpiece of the songwriting craft which, 40 years since its release, resonates as strongly as ever".
Music video The music video for the song was produced by Australian film production company Meaningful Eye Contact and was directed by Alex Proyas. 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 Neil 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. The video was nominated for Best Group Video and Best Direction at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and earned the band a Best New Artist award.
Track listings "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, from the album Crowded House except the extended version of "Don't Dream It's Over". All live tracks, recorded on Phil Jupitus Show at BBC GLR, 21 June 1996.
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
1996 UK CD1 "Don't Dream It's Over" – 3:53 "Weather with You" (live) – 4:35 "Into Temptation" (live) – 4:48 "Locked Out" (live) – 2:04
1996 UK CD2 "Don't Dream It's Over" – 3:53 "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, backing vocals Mitchell Froom: keyboards and organ Tim Pierce: guitar Jorge Bermudez: percussion Noel Crombie, Jim Gilstrap, Andy Milton and Joe Satriani: backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1986–1987)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988. 8Israel (IBA) Search "Crowded house" for Israeli chart history.27Italy Airplay (Music & Media) 4US Billboard Hot 100 2US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 9US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) 11 Chart (1996)Peakposition Chart (2024)Peakposition Global 200 (Billboard) 130 Lithuania (AGATA) 86 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) 6 UK Singles (OCC) 32 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) 15
Year-end charts Chart (1987)PositionAustralia (Australian Music Report) 54Belgium (Ultratop) 77Canada Top Singles (RPM) 34Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 26Netherlands (Single Top 100) 44New Zealand (RIANZ) 4US Billboard Hot 100 13
Chart (2025)Position Australia (ARIA) 98
Certifications
Other versions The song has been recorded by other artists, including Paul Young, Sixpence None the Richer, and New Zealand artist Stan Walker—the latter producing a Māori version titled Moemoeā ("Dream"). Italian singer-songwriter Antonello Venditti performed an adaptation in Italian entitled "Alta marea" ("High Tide").
Paul Young version
In 1991, British musician Paul Young covered "Don't Dream It's Over" on his first compilation album, From Time to Time – The Singles Collection (1991). Young's version, released by Columbia Records, was produced by Dan Hartman, and featured Paul Carrack singing the fourth chorus and performing the keyboard and synthesizers.
Track listing UK 7-inch and cassette single "Don't Dream It's Over" (Neil Finn) – 3:56 "I Need Somebody" (Paul Young) – 4:00
Personnel Paul Young: lead vocals Paul Carrack: co-lead & backing vocals, Hammond organ Dan Hartman, Neil Hubbard & Neil Taylor: guitars Pino Palladino: bass guitar Steve Ferrone: drums Danny Schogger: keyboards Danny Cummings: percussion George Chandler, Jimmy Chambers & Tony Jackson: backing vocals
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1991)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100) 30Europe (European Hit Radio) 9Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg) 5 UK Airplay (Music Week) 3
Year-end charts Chart (1991)PositionEurope (European Hit Radio) 77
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 Weekly charts Chart (2003)PeakpositionRomania (Romanian Top 100)24
Year-end charts Chart (2003)PositionUS Adult Contemporary (Billboard)30US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)39
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United States21 January 2003Hot adult contemporary radio17 February 2003
Antonello Venditti adaptation Italian singer-songwriter Antonello Venditti performed an adaptation in Italian entitled "Alta marea" ("High Tide"), inspired by Monte Argentario and recorded for his 1991 album Benvenuti in paradiso (Welcome to Heaven), which remains one of his best-remembered songs to this day. A 16-year-old Angelina Jolie appears in the video.Angelina Jolie, sedicenne esordiente per il video di Venditti 'Alta marea' (it), from La Repubblica.Antonello Venditti - Alta Marea (Don't Dream It's Over) (videoclip), from YouTube
In popular culture "Don't Dream It's Over" was prominently featured in the 1994 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Stand and in the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story in which the song was also referenced in the episode of the same name.Multiple sources:
References