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Culture Diary: Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”
A few weeks ago, Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 hit “Dreams” entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in 43 years. Though this time it was #21, not #1 as it was during its initial release, the song enjoyed its best streaming and download sales ever.
I think most of us can agree that Fleetwood Mac in general and Rumours in particular are fucking awesome. Did they ever go out of style? No. But the fact that “Dreams” is back on the charts feels like a big deal. It feels different than just a great appreciation.
And because it’s 2020, the reason the song is back on the charts and in the cultural consciousness is kind of…weird. It involves TikTok, Ocean Spray cranberry juice, a skateboard, and a very chill dude who enjoys the combo of all these elements. Tiktok user 420doggface208 captioned the short clip “Morning vibe” and it really is a whole vibe. What is it about this clip that’s touched so many people? It might be doggface’s evident joy, the way the dreamy beats of the song serve as the perfect backdrop as he cruises down the asphalt, sipping from his bottle of juice while mouthing along with Stevie. It may be because it’s 2020 and seeing someone so seemingly carefree is rare enough that it can spark a whole revolution. Mick Fleetwood responded with his own TikTok and then Stevie Nicks joined in the fun.
My own relationship with Fleetwood Mac and Rumours goes back a long time. It’s the album I remember my parents playing the most, along with Neil Young and War and Led Zeppelin. At the time, I hated all of it. It wasn’t until I was 9 that I started to appreciate classic rock and even then, I don’t remember having any special affection for Fleetwood Mac. As a rule, I kind of disliked anything my parents liked. Then Bill Clinton used “Don’t Stop” as one of his campaign songs in 1992 so the song was everywhere.
It took me a long time to come around to Fleetwood Mac, and even then my favorites were “Gold Dust Woman” and “The Chain.” “Dreams” wasn’t really my jam. I liked it, but I preferred the more bass-driven songs.
And then, the weekend before the 2016 election, I was in New York visiting friends…and an ex. We did karaoke for my friend’s birthday, and my friend asked me to do a duet to “Dreams.” It wasn’t until I was singing the chorus, that repeated line “What you had…and oooh, what you lost” over and over that a wave of emotion crashed over me and I thought I might collapse with the weight of it. We were in the same karaoke place with the busted elevator and hilarious videos in K-Town that I’d gone so many times with my ex-husband and our friends. And now here I was, with a different guy, who I was staying with in Brooklyn, in the same neighborhood I used to live in, trying to figure out my feelings for him, all while being back in that place for the first time since my husband had left me. And I suddenly understood the lyrics of “Dreams” too well.
Anyway, I really love the song, and I love Stevie Nicks, and I love Rumours. Here’s a great cover of “Dreams” by a band called Infinity Song. And here’s my favorite Stevie Nicks content.
