If You Remember I Forgot How to Dream Pt. 1

Album: Instant Holograms on Metal Film (2025)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "If You Remember I Forgot How to Dream Pt. 1" is a call to action; to move from an alienated, individualistic worldview to one of shared humanity and a symbiotic relationship with the planet.
  • The heart of the track lies in its refrain, sung in French:

    J'appartiens à la terre
    N'en suis propriètaire


    It translates into English as:

    I belong to the earth
    I say no to war


    To drive the point home, the lyrics toss in ideas like "quantum entangling" and "permanent revolution," suggesting a belief in a fundamental, shared humanity.
  • Vocalist Laetitia Sadier told Uncut magazine the song confronts fascism and the old illusion of ownership. "The Earth owns me, not the other way round," she explained. "That illusion of separateness is a misconception that leads to war. If we find it in us to soften our gaze and dissolve some of our fears, we can access some much-needed healing to our deepest wounds and thus stop the ceaseless projecting and repeating."
  • The funky track, cowritten by Sadier with guitarist Tim Gane, appears on Instant Holograms on Metal Film, released May 23, 2025, on Warp Records. It was Stereolab's first album in nearly 15 years, following their 2010 set Not Music. The record continues the English-French rock band's legacy of blending avant-pop, krautrock influences and social-political lyricism.
  • Instant Holograms on Metal Film originated with Warp asking Stereolab to promote reissues of several of their albums in 2019 by playing a few concerts. It was originally meant to be a quick jaunt, but the pandemic dragged their shows out until 2022. "The idea to record a new LP came into focus around spring/summer of 2023," said Gane. "Most of the album was written in 2023 and we started recording in January 2024. There were no rehearsals as usual."
  • Instant Holograms closes with "If You Remember I Forgot How to Dream Pt. 2," a slower, more meditative reprise. Where Part 1 struts, Part 2 reflects; a coda that trades funk for courage in the face of adversity.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.