Sweet Dreams

Album: I Am…Sasha Fierce (2009)
Charted: 5 10
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Beyoncé wrote and produced this song along with Jim Jonsin, Wayne Wilkins and Rico Love. The latter two are both members of the songwriting/production group The Runaways, which was co-founded by Sam Watters, previously of the group Color Me Badd. Among their credits are Keri Hilson's debut single "Energy." Jonsin is a Grammy Award winning American producer whose credits include "Kiss Me Thru The Phone," "Lollipop" and "Whatever You Like."

    Beyoncé says the song is about "a relationship that seems too good to be true. You don't know if it's a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare."
  • This song was the sixth single from I Am…Sasha Fierce. Originally "Broken-Hearted Girl" was earmarked for the sixth release but Beyoncé made a last minute decision to replace it with this track.
  • This song was used in a commercial that Beyoncé did for Crystal Geyser mineral water.
  • This song was leaked before the release of I Am…Sasha Fierce. Back then, it was called "Beautiful Nightmare." It is the first song Beyoncé has ever had that leaked before its official release on the album. It appeared on the internet the day after the song was recorded. A leak that far in advance of an album release often puts the song in serious jeopardy of being excluded from the final track list. "I was more concerned that she would feel that we did it," Rico said to MTV News of the leak. "A lot of times producers or songwriters leak records because they feel if you put the song out there it would go. But it was frustrating. I felt like you work hard to get in the studio to work with Beyoncé. I was blessed and fortunate to have four songs on that album... I wasn't that distraught. I have faith in God. The first song we did together was a song I did called 'Save the Hero.' I wrote 'Radio' and I co-wrote 'Scared and Lonely.'"
  • The high-fashion music video was directed by Adria Petty (Duffy, Regina Spektor) and shot in Brooklyn, New York. The gold robot suit Beyoncé wears in the clip was designed by French fashion designer Thierry Mugler.
  • This is the third such-titled song to reach the Top 10 of the Hot 100, following hits by Air Supply in 1982 and Eurythmics in 1983.
  • Rico Love recalled to MTV News working on this song: "Aw man, that was the experience of a lifetime working with one of the greatest vocalists of all time. She came in and cut the song in a hour. She had to go. Jay-Z was opening up the tour with Mary J. Blige and B came in. She wasn't prepared to record, but heard the song and said, 'Let's do it.' It's actually my background vocals in the hook. She liked the way it sounded so we kept it."

Comments: 2

  • Jay from FncThis song is beautiful and helps propel my passion into her warm embrace, I pretend to sing this song at karaoke and wonder if I can access the inner agency to which I sing in the shower. love my return to normal following the pandemics and facemasks, thank you all for this journey
  • Fido from Toronto, OnI love this song. Beyonce's top picks!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Taylor Dayne

Taylor DayneSongwriter Interviews

Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.