Dream Weaver

"Dream Weaver" is a song by the American singer Gary Wright, released as the first single from his third studio album The Dream Weaver (1975) in December 1975. The song became a hit in the US, reaching #2 in the Billboard charts^[3] while it reached #1 in the Cash Box charts in 1976.^[4]

The song features Wright on vocals and keyboards and Jim Keltner on drums. According to Gary Wright, the song was inspired by Autobiography of a Yogi, which was given to him by George Harrison.^[5] Paramhansa Yogananda's poem "God! God! God!" made reference to "the idea of the mind weaving dreams." The expression "Dream Weaver" was popularized by John Lennon in 1970 in his song "God", taken from his solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. This song depicts Lennon's declaration that he was the dream weaver of the 1960s, breaking away from the influences and dogmas that influenced his life. The song was a synthpop hit song, with all instrumentation created using a synthesizer, except for Keltner's percussion. In 1992, Gary Wright re-recorded a longer version of "Dream Weaver" for the Wayne's World movie soundtrack.

In popular culture

In advertising

The song was used in a 2015 CiCi's Pizza TV commercial.

In films

This song, and its keyboard intro/outro, according to Wes Craven, inspired the concept behind the film A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).^[6]
The song was later re-recorded for the soundtrack of the 1992 film Wayne's World. A re-recorded version by Wright appears in the 2016 movie Ghost Team.
The song was also used in the 1996 film The People vs. Larry Flynt.
The song was also used in the 2003 film Daddy Day Care.
The song was also used in the 2010 Pixar film Toy Story 3.
The song also appeared in the 2016 Blue Sky Studios film Ice Age: Collision Course twice. First when Sid meets Brooke and later during the end credits sequence.

In television

Portions of "Dream Weaver" were first sampled in a short film appearing in the 1990 Wayne's World episode of Saturday Night Live, in which guest star Wayne Gretzky appears, and Wayne is picturing that song playing as he imagines himself defeating Gretzky in street hockey and then winning his wife, Janet Jones.
"Dream Weaver" was featured over the closing credits of the sixth episode of the fourth season of the classic HBO sketch comedy series
Dream Weaver was also featured in the fifth season episode of Nip/Tuck, "Dawn Budge II"
"Dream Weaver" was featured in the Fox That '70s Show episode, "The First Time".
"Dream Weaver" was featured in CheekiiChaps' "Battle for MLG Island" videos with an airhorn remix, titled "Meme Weaver".

Use by other musical artists

"Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive" are sampled in "Wordz of Wisdom", a single from 3rd Bass's release, The Cactus Album (1989).

Dance artist Erin Hamilton covered it for her album One World (1999).

It was featured prominently in the gay love story film Trick (1999).

Crowbar recorded a doom metal version of "Dream Weaver" for their album Equilibrium (2000).

Electronic rock artist JES covered it as a single release (2015).

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1975–76)	Peak position
Australia ^[7]	24
Canada (RPM)^[8]	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[9]	31
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[11]	14
US Cash Box Top 100 ^[12]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1976)	Rank
Australia	124
Canada ^[13]	24
US Billboard Hot 100 ^[14]	37
US Cash Box ^[15]	17

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)^[16]	Gold	1,000,000^{^}
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^{^}shipments figures based on certification alone

References

↑ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (2000), Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s, St. Martin's Press, p. 67, ISBN 978-0-312-19821-3
↑ "Explore: Soft Rock | Top Songs | AllMusic". Web.archive.org. 2011-11-12. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
↑ Gary Wright Biography – Billboard.com
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-08-25. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
↑ Craven, Wes. "DVD audio commentary". A Nightmare on Elm Street.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
↑ "Top Singles – Volume 25, No. 01 April 03 1976". RPM. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
↑ "Charts.org.nz – Gary Wright – Dream Weaver". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
↑ "Gary Wright – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Gary Wright. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
↑ "Gary Wright – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Gary Wright. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
↑
↑ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
↑ "American single certifications – Gary Wright – Dream Weaver". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 6, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

Preceded by "Love to Love You Baby" by Donna Summer	RPM number one single (Canada) April 3, 1976	Succeeded by "December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)" by The Four Seasons
Preceded by "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" by The Four Seasons	Cash Box Top 100 singles March 27, 1976	Succeeded by "Lonely Night (Angel Face)" by Captain and Tennille

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