“The Dream Is Still Alive” by Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips’ “The Dream Is Still Alive” seems to be based on two different storylines. During the earlier parts of the track, the singer is speaking to a singular addressee. And it can be deduced that their association is romantic in nature. For instance, the phrase “fire seemed to flicker” is used, which alludes to the two of them once being close but not so much so in the present. Moreover she refers to the addressee as “baby”, which is a common term of endearment for a romantic partner. Then she goes on to tell this person that “the dream is still alive, the one of you and I”. This would likely signify her belief that issues in their romance can be rectified. Furthermore, it apparently points to the the idea that she has not given up on the idea of the two of them living happily ever after, despite the fact that at the moment her “heartache is [still] healing”.
Subject Matter Shift
However, the track seems to completely shift in subject matter during its second half. The common interpretation of this particular section is that the singer is now referring to the 1960s, an era in American history when many average citizens where vested in positive social change. Or as Wilson Phillips puts it, “people dreamed out loud” and “were not afraid”. And one of the reasons such statements are considered to refer to the 60s is because for instance, said people were in fact able to ‘stop the war’. And we all know that the greatest anti-war protests to date in American history were in opposition to the United States’ intervention in Vietnam, particularly during the 1960s.
But that being said, even though the war has ended, “the dying” has not. Moreover some of these selfsame protesters “got a little bit lost along the way”. Or another way of looking at these statements is that whereas the Vietnam War itself may have ended, other threats to human life which affect American citizens have continued. However, the protests did not, with the people who initiated these actions during the 60s now being caught up in other, more self-centered endeavors.
The Dream is Still Alive
However this is yet another scenario where the band exclaims that “the dream is still alive after all this time”. Or perhaps another way of interpreting this statement is that the positive spirit of the prior generation persists. Indeed two of the members of Wilson Phillips itself are the descendants of Brian Wilson (of The Beach Boys) and the other of John and Michelle Phillips (The Mamas & the Papas). And both of the aforementioned bands experienced their heyday during the 1960s.
So conclusively, the title of this song is used to illustrate the singer’s feelings in two completely-different matters. One is the romantic relationship she is in, which appears as if it is on the verge of falling apart. And the other is her lamenting the fact that selfless spirit of yesteryear no longer seems to exist. But in both cases she feels that “the dream is still alive”, as in these matters can still return to a previous, more-ideal state heading into the future.
Release Date of “The Dream Is Still Alive”
This is a song from Wilson Phillips’ first album, which was also entitled “Wilson Phillips”. “The Dream Is Still Alive” came out with the rest of the project, via SBK Records, on 8 May 1990. And the following year it was also re-released as the fifth single from the album.
Writing Credits
This song was written Wilson Phillips, an all-female band, along with its producer, Glen Ballard. “The Dream Is Still Alive” peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also charted in Canada.
