Dreams by Van Halen

Album: 5150 (1986)

Charted: 62 22

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Songfacts®:

This is a song about following your dreams and never giving up: "Reach for the sky, baby just spread your wings."

It's one of the more optimistic songs out there, and the video is very uplifting in a Top Gun kind of way, using footage of the Blue Angels fighter jets from the United States Navy.
5150 was the first album Van Halen released with Sammy Hagar as lead singer. "Dreams" was the second single from the album, after "Why Can't This Be Love?"

Guitarist-songwriter Bruce Kulick, who did time in Kiss and Grand Funk Railroad, talked about the move from Dave to Sammy in the book Shredders!. "The Sammy Hagar version of Van Halen really gave the band an opportunity to stretch out in ways I don't think they ever could have done with David Lee Roth," he said. "Some of the stuff they accomplished with Sammy gave more facets of styles of music and let them explore more musical territory. I don't think Eddie's playing changed, it just put him now in another landscape, that was even bigger and broader."
Like Van Halen's earlier hit "Jump," this song features a keyboard intro. Unlike "Jump," however, this song didn't become a massive hit. Instead, it settled into classic rock playlists and became a concert favorite. The song appears from time to time whenever inspiration is need: it was played after John Kerry's acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention in 2004.
Van Halen refused to make videos for the tracks on the 5150 album, so Warner Bros. quickly cobbled together a clip for "Dreams" by using stock footage of the US Navy's Blue Angels performing a variety of aerial stunts with the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The cheap visual became a surprise hit on MTV and the Navy used it as part of their recruiting efforts.
Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang, who joined the band in 2007, cites "Dreams" as the definitive Van Halen song from the Sammy Hagar era. "That's one of the best things my father ever wrote," he told Songfacts.

Comments: 20

Phucken Deadly from Sydney AustraliaI had brought all the Van Halen albums & fell in love with this song straight away. Years later when my son was watching the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie, this song came on at the end with the credits & I sat there with my son who was 7yrs old at the time, listened to it with him. It was a moment between father & son that I will never forget.
Paul from OhioWilliam from Lynchburg, the Top Gun Theme from the movie soundtrack was by Harold Faltermeyer with Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) on Guitar.
Brett Starr from MissouriFirst time I ever heard this song was at the end of mighty Morphin power rangers movie. And it quickly became one of my favorite songs by Van Halen
Brooke from Brisbane AustraliaMy favourite song.
Josh from TexasI'm 30 years old and I have a 4 year old daughter and she always asks me. "Hey Daddy, can we listen to my song?" This is the song she is talking about, she knows every word. I love that for her, with all the hate and bad things in the world and after a long day at work, when she asks for this song it puts me in a better place.
Tyler from Utahno doubt one of the best van halen songs out there. the 5150 album is by far one of the best albums van halen made and dreams is a close second best song only to summer nights
Kiwisareforthesoul from Trinidad And TobagoOne of the greatest from van hagar era ngl, love it alot!
Mrzol from Lehightown PaSummer of 86, on the radio all the time...
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenMy personal favorite of theirs. I've often heard it played during firework shows on the 4th of July.
Dan Olivero from Schaumburg, IlFinally saw Sammy here in Chicago. He played a soft, slow version of Dreams. It really accentuated the beauty and inspiration of the lyrics. Outstanding!!
Jenni from Tampa, FlForgive me Pat for not acknowledging what you commented before, but I agree, even though I think the Thunderbirds could it better- just an opinion from a retired fighter pilot's wife ;)
Todd from Scrantino, PaHere's a thought of reality... Joe Satriani did not play guitar on the song "Top Gun Anthem".
It was Steve Stevens from Billy Idol's band along with Harold Faltermeyer on piano, who also wrote and performed "Axel F" from Beverly Hills Cop.
William from Lynchburg, VaHere's a thought of irony... Sammy Hagar with Van Halen and doing the video for "Dreams" with the Blue Angels. Not long after this (1986) Joe Satriani does the guitar for the theme of "Top Gun"... Now Joe and Sammy are in ChickenFoot together!!!
Pat from Albuquerque, NmIn my opinion, this song, with the Blue Angels video, may be the best music video ever made. It just soars...
Geo from Altoona, PaSammy rocks...see ya in Cabo...
Melissa from Lorton, VaI like DLR better than Sammy Hagar, but this is a great song nonetheless.
Scott from Kings Park, NyThis song is a CLASSIC....one of the best "Van Hagar" songs
Annabelle from Chicago, IlThe acoustic version of the song kicks ass!!
Jay from Atlanta, GaSammy Hagars dad was a Blue Angel during the Korean conflict. He is seen at the begining of the video saluting the camera. He was also an ametuer guitarist and co-wrote the chords to this song with Eddie.
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnThe video for this song featured footage of the U.S. Navy's precision-flying team, the Blue Angels, whose 40th anniversary coincided with the release of this song and album.

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