Only in Dreams

"Only in Dreams" is the tenth and final track on The Blue Album.
===Appearances===
* Weezer (The Blue Album)
* Weezer (Deluxe Edition) (Disc 2) (Demo)
* The Kitchen Tape (Demo)
*Weezer (The Blue Album) (30th Anniversary Deluxe) (2024)
==Overview==
"Only in Dreams" is one of the most universally loved Weezer songs among fans. At nearly eight minutes, it is currently the longest Weezer song. It is most notable for its three-minute crescendo of two guitars, bass, and drums, building up to a climactic guitar solo. The song has a prominent bass line played by Matt Sharp which does not resolve to the tonic of the key until the final note of the entire song. The song was rated #8 in Q Magazine's "20 Greatest Guitar Tracks" in September 2007.
In March of 2002, Cuomo infamously stated on the Rivers Correspondence Board that "Only In Dreams" was "GAY!GAY!GAY! DISNEYGAY!"ace "you need to read this!" The Rivers Correspondence Board. 4 March 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20120610030237/http://www.members.shaw.ca/ridd2/threads/rcb/03-04-youneedtoreadthis1.html:File:Disneygay.png He also remarked how his brother, Leaves, was embarrassed by the song. Cuomo also claimed that he stole the bassline from another song and that he only put it on the album because he needed another song ("Only in Dreams" supposedly being the only song left). Cuomo was, apparently, either joking or later changed his mind. In a 2006 interview with the Harvard Crimson, Cuomo was amused when reminded of the forum post:Riesman, Abe. "Rivers' End: The Director's Cut" The Harvard Crimson 26 April 2006. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/4/26/rivers-end-the-directors-cut-the/
Also, in a 2006 fan interview, Cuomo listed the song, alongside Haunt You Every Day, when asked what solos of which he was most proud:
Gaming website IGN included "Only in Dreams" on their "Weezer Ultimate Mix" list, where they listed what songs they want to be compiled into a Weezer collection and called the song "the "Stairway to Heaven" for Generation X."J.R. "Weezer Ultimate Mix" IGN. 13 June 2008. Archived by Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20160306094424/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/13/weezer-ultimate-mix from the original: http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/13/weezer-ultimate-mix They also listed the song on their "Top 10 Ambiguously Inspiring Songs" list, where they called it one of Weezer's best songs.Barbapopa. "Top 10 Ambiguously Inspiring Songs" IGN. 25 April 2006. Archived by Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20140218224456/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/25/top-10-ambiguously-inspiring-songs?page=2 from the original:http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/25/top-10-ambiguously-inspiring-songs?page=2 The publication Magnet considered "Only in Dreams" to be the third most overrated Weezer song Tartanella, Emily. "The Over/Under: Weezer" Magnet Magazine. 30 June 2009. http://magnetmagazine.com/2009/06/30/the-overunder-weezer/. The song was rated #8 in Q Magazine's "20 Greatest Guitar Tracks" in September 2007Rocklist.net http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#Guitar%20Tracks. Melissa Bobbitt at About.com ranked it as the number 1 best Weezer song, stating "This is Weezer at their finest. From the syrupy opening bass line, to the sincere guitar work and the gawking lyrics, the immense closing song on their debut best represents the band" Bobbitt, Melissa. "Top 13 Weezer Songs" Liveaboutdotcom. Updated 19 November 2017. https://www.liveabout.com/top-weezer-songs-11152. In an article devoted to the song for the A.V. Club, Kevin McFarland described it as "Cuomo's epic masterpiece", as well as a "glorious anomaly in the Weezer canon" McFarland, Kevin. "“Only In Dreams” is the only epic Rivers Cuomo and Weezer will ever need" AV Club. 8 April 2014. https://music.avclub.com/only-in-dreams-is-the-only-epic-rivers-cuomo-and-weez-1798267624. In a review of the deluxe edition of The Blue Album, Rolling Stone regarded the song as a "real gem."Hoard, Christian. "Weezer (Blue Album) [Deluxe]" Rolling Stone. 19 April 2014. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/weezer-blue-album-deluxe-190117/ PopMatters called the song a ""Bohemian Rhapsody"-worthy conclusion."PopMatters Staff. "Weezer: Weezer (Blue Album) [Deluxe Edition]" PopMatters. 10 May 2004. https://www.popmatters.com/weezer-bluedeluxe-2496113786.html
==Live performances==
"Only in Dreams", in early years, was typically played at the end of a regular set (before the encore). An instrumental, abridged version was played during the Euro Freak Out Tour, containing only the song's slow build up and guitar solos.Adam Shaw. "Weezer Live 2001!" YouTube. 1 November 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbx9xmya4pY&t=1780s
Often, when the song was played live at indoor arenas, a dove, made of light, was flown above the floor audience. Also, confetti marked with the Flying =W= was dropped all over the audience during this song.
===Cover versions===
Irish power poppers and Weezer fans Ash covered the song during a 2001 BBC session, and released that version on their "Burn Baby Burn" single that year. They performed the song almost nightly during their 2001-2002 Free All Angels tour. A live version was released on the 2001 DVD Tokyo Blitz.
Asian Kung-Fu Generation performed the song on their final show of their 2013 tour at Yokohama Stadium featuring former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp.
==Audio/Video==
===Album version===
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===Rehearsal (August 11, 1993)===
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==Lyrics==
Image:Only-in-Dreams-lyrics.jpg
Image:Tango-only in dreams-pops.jpg|Early draft of "Only in Dreams"
You can't resist her
She's in your bones
She is your marrow
And your ride home
You can't avoid her
She's in the air (in the air)
In between molecules
Of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Only in dreams
We see what it means
Reach out our hands
Hold on to hers
But when we wake
It's all been erased
And so it seems
Only in dreams
You walk up to her
Ask her to dance
She says, "Hey baby,
I just might take the chance"
You say, "It's a good thing
That you float in the air
That way there's no way
I will crush your pretty toenails
into a thousand pieces"
Only in dreams
We see what it means
Reach out our hands
Hold on to hers
But when we wake
It's all been erased
And so it seems
Only in dreams
Only in dreams
Only in dreams
Only in dreams
Only in dreams
Only in dreams
Only in dreams...
==Known recordings==
==See also==
*List of Weezer songs
*List of Rivers Cuomo songs
*The Blue Album
==External links==
Teenage Victory Songs entry for "Only In Dreams"
==References==
Category:Weezer songsCategory:Rivers Cuomo songs
Category:Songs on Weezer (The Blue Album)
Category:Weezer songs produced by Ric Ocasek