Dreamer

Album: Sonder (2022)
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Songfacts®:

  • Here, Dermot Kennedy shows his love for his sweetheart by always being there when she needs him. He explained that "Dreamer" recounts a romantic relationship based on "the little things" rather than grand or dramatic displays of affection. "Simple love," Kennedy added, "can be just showing up for someone."
  • The title comes from the first verse where Kennedy recalls being a young boy who "was a dreamer, writing stories down the back of the class." Now he pens love songs like this ballad where he details an idealized committed relationship.
  • Kennedy wrote "Dreamer" with two of its producers: frequent Shawn Mendes collaborator Scott Harris, and Olivia Rodrigo's songwriting partner Dan Nigro. The third producer is regular Nigro cohort Ryan Linvill. Harris, Nigro and Linvill have all worked with Kennedy before, with all three contributing to his "Better Days" single.
  • The three producers played all the instruments between them. The credits are:

    Scott Harris: piano
    Dan Nigro: piano, mellotron, bass, acoustic guitar
    Ryan Linvill: synthesizer, saxophone, acoustic guitar

    Linvill and Nigro also programmed the drums.
  • The Chirolles Khalil-directed video shows Kennedy singing "Dreamer" and playing piano combined with some home-video footage.

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