Other meanings of Dreamtime
Music
"Dreamtime" is a song by American musician Daryl Hall, released as the title track of his 1986 solo album Dreamtime. Written by Hall and producer Dave Stewart, the song blends pop, rock, and new wave elements, and became a modest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Its music video, featuring surreal imagery, received heavy rotation on MTV, and the track remains a staple of Hall's live performances.
The song was written by Daryl Hall and Dave Stewart, the latter known for his work with Eurythmics. Stewart also produced the album, which was recorded at various studios in London and New York. Hall, who had achieved massive success with Hall & Oates, sought to explore a more personal and experimental sound on his second solo album. The track features prominent synthesizer riffs and a driving rhythm, reflecting the mid-1980s production trends. Stewart's influence is evident in the song's atmospheric texture, which differs from the polished pop of Hall's duo work. The album's title track was chosen as the lead single, with a 12-inch remix released for club play.
"Dreamtime" peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Hall's highest-charting solo single at the time. Critics praised the song's catchy hook and Stewart's production, though some noted its departure from Hall's signature sound. The single also performed well internationally, charting in Australia and several European countries. In a retrospective review, AllMusic highlighted the track as a standout on the album, calling it "a perfect pop-rock hybrid." The song's success helped the album achieve gold certification in the United States.
The music video for "Dreamtime" was directed by Michael Patterson, known for his work on the animated film A Christmas Carol. The video features Hall in a dreamlike landscape with surreal, computer-generated imagery, including floating geometric shapes and morphing backgrounds. It received heavy rotation on MTV and was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects. Hall has performed the song regularly in his solo concerts and occasionally with Hall & Oates. A live version appears on his 2004 album Live at the Troubadour, showcasing the song's enduring appeal.
An early demo of "Dreamtime" featured different lyrics and a slower tempo, which Hall later reworked with Stewart. The song's title was inspired by the Aboriginal Australian concept of the Dreamtime, though Hall has stated the lyrics are more about personal introspection than cultural reference. The 12-inch single included a dub version that was later sampled by hip-hop artists. In 2018, a remastered version of the album was released with bonus tracks, including a previously unreleased alternate take of the song. The track also appeared in the soundtrack of the 1987 film Maid to Order.
This article focuses on the song by Daryl Hall, not the Aboriginal Australian concept of the Dreamtime.
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