Sweet Dreams (are made of this)

I’ve been in London with team SONA (your friendly neighborhood creative rights organization) fighting for songwriters to be paid MORE. We’ve been planning a partnership with our brothers and sisters of The Ivors Academy who share our advocacy mission across the pond.

Two days before the Ivor Novello Awards there was a special “pre” event called Other Songs — live performances from a spectrum of writers — the up-and-coming to the extremely well-seasoned. This is where I witnessed Dave Stewart break down step-by-step how “Sweet Dreams” came to be.

As Dave tells it In 1983 he and Annie had just called off their romantic relationship and decided instead to form musical duo. They weren’t having much luck coming up with tasty material and so, frustrated, Annie excused herself and went off to bed. 

But Dave kept going. He randomly triggered a snare on a synth — which, with the set effects, felt curiously magical so he added a bass. Which made it even better! This sonically pleasing concoction startled Annie out of slumber and back into the room with Dave where she said something to the effect of “WTF was that?” 

They added the chime of metal spoons on milk bottles —worthy of 1 of the 8 analog tracks. Dave recreated the production on stage in front of us. Everyone in the London Palladium was on the edge of their seats. 

Dave Stewart is a funny story teller and an eccentric dude. I had the pleasure of making his acquaintance a few years ago when he welcomed me into his workspace in LA. It was full of gizmos and toys. But I digress…back to the song’s birthday. Annie’s words started flowing.

Sweet dreams are made of this

Who am I to disagree

I travel the world and the seven seas

Everybody's looking for something

Isn’t that true? Aren’t we all looking for something? I mean…what is life about? Discovery. For me, it’s the examination of the human condition. Especially my own. :) 

“Sweet Dreams” is far from my favorite song in the world. I could never figure out who the ‘some of them’ that want to use you were……and who it is that wants to be abused. Certainly not me! According to Annie Lennox Sweet Dreams” was born from a feeling of hopelessness. Dave thought the lyrics were too depressing (I’ll say) and added the "hold your head up, moving on" to make it more uplifting.

To hear the details about how the song came together and became part of the fabric of our existence (perhaps a fabric we take for granted as always having been there) lit us ALL up. We were a room full of songwriters for heaven sakes.

Was it the right song at the right time? Was it the drone of Annie’s voice? Was it the androgyny of the music video? Was it the sympatico combination of Annie and Dave? If it were written by 2 topliners in 2023 would it find a home? Would we still be talking about it in 2063? 😳

Two nights later I had the pleasure of attending the Ivor Novello Awards — a celebration of excellence in songwriting and composing. Winners are chosen by peers — not labels or publishers or number of streams. To receive one is a high honor. We heard from Charlie XCX (my daughter’s Fave) and some new names I will not forget: Raye and Rachel Chinouriri. There are millions of insane singers in the world. How do you stand out? Trust me, they do.

Then musician, activist, fundraiser Bob Geldof introduced his longtime friend Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known as — Sting — a guy that, according to Bob, did just about everything better than Bob — music, Yoga, Mediation, love-making. How does one compete? 

Sting gave us us a peek into the materialization of “Message In A Bottle.” 

It’s 1977. I’m in the back of a van late one night after a gig. It’s not my turn to drive that night so I’m sitting with my guitar and I start  messing around with a few arpeggiated chords: A9  F9  G9  D9   

Maybe a song is here
I peer out the window and I prayed for a song to materialize. (Even Sting prays for songs. Amazing!) 

As for playing songs over and over again year after year he says,

I need to search — to reconnect with the spirits and inspiration that lead to the the song in the first place.

“Walked out this morning, I don't believe what I saw

Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore

Seems I'm not alone at being alone

Hundred billion castaways, looking for a home”

After his illuminating talk about his creative process one might think the ‘message’ in the bottle IS a ‘song’ — a song that any given songwriter puts out into the world. And there are billions of them. But I’m sure Sting is happy to let us conjure what we will. 

Every song has a story. It blows my mind that one minute there’s nothing and then — there is. It’s a body of energy that didn’t exist the day before. I go to a session with absolutely no idea what I’ll be coming home with. A gift. A surprise. A promise. A miracle. 

We can only hope we live to tell about one of our song’s raison d'être forty years after it falls from the sky. That’s what a songwriter’s sweet dreams are made of. 

Next time I think I’ll start with 9ths. 

Good night from London. 

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