Dreamlover

"Dreamlover" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter and record producer Mariah Carey, released on July 18, 1994, as the fourth single of Music Box (1993). Its lyrics were written by Carey, with music composed by Carey and Dave Hall, and was produced by Carey, Walter Afanasieff and Hall. The song incorporates a sample of the hook from "Blind Alley" by the Emotions—previously used in "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" (1988) by Big Daddy Kane—into its melody and instrumentation. "Dreamlover" marked a more pronounced attempt on Carey's part to incorporate hip hop into her music, as was seen in her decision to work with Hall, who had previously produced What's the 411? (1992) by Mary J. Blige. This was partly in light of the mixed reception to her previous studio effort Emotions (1991), which featured gospel and 1960s soul influences. Lyrically, the song pictures a protagonist calling for a perfect lover, her "dreamlover," to whisk her away into the night and not "disillusion" her like others in the past.

"Dreamlover" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics, many of whom praised the song's incorporated sample, as well as Carey's carefree vocal style. The song was the first of several of her lead singles that sampled older tunes as a musical bed, as seen in "Fantasy" (1995).

The song's music video was filmed by Diane Martel in Copake, New York, in July 1993. It includes an appearance by Carey's dog Jack, and shows Carey dancing in a flowerbed and field, swimming in a large pond, boarding a hot air balloon, and dancing alongside several shirtless male dancers. According to author Chris Nickson, the video's carefree setting harmonized well with the song's soft instrumentation. Due to the song's strong radio airplay and extended charting, the video received frequent play on several music video channels throughout the summer of 1994.

## Composition and lyrics

"Dreamlover" is a mid-tempo pop and R&B track with hip hop influences. The song begins at a moderate pace of 100 beats per minute before moving to a "pop-rock groove" of the same tempo after the introduction. It has the sequence of Fmaj7–Gm7–Fmaj7–Gm7 as its chord progression. Carey's vocal range spans three octaves and seven semitones from the low note of F3 to the high note of C7.

The song was written and produced by Carey and Hall, with additional work done by Afanasieff, who added a slightly altered instrumentation. "Dreamlover" samples the hook and a musical loop from "Blind Alley" by R&B group The Emotions. The sampling provides a "backbone" for the instrumentation and production, as well as being inter-looped in the bridge. Carey uses a whistle register to introduce the first verse.

In his review, Jozen Cummings from PopMatters described the song as "pure, frothy pop." Cummings felt Afanasieff's usage of the Hammond B3 organ added "an old school vibe" to "Dreamlover", as it harmonizes with the "extremely catchy musical hook."

## Track listings and formats

* **Worldwide Single (CD, 7" Vinyl, Cassette)**
	1. Dreamlover
	2. Dreamlover (Def Club Edit)
	3. All I've Ever Wanted
* **British Maxi Single**
	1. Dreamlover (Album Version)
	2. Dreamlover (Def Club Mix Edit)
	3. Dreamlover (Def Tribal Mix)
	4. Dreamlover (USA Love Dub)
	5. Dreamlover (Eclipse Dub)
	6. All I've Ever Wanted
* **Australian and North American Maxi Single**
	1. Dreamlover (LP Version)
	2. Dreamlover (USA Love Dub)
	3. Dreamlover (Theo's Joint Club)
	4. Dreamlover (Bam Jam Soul)
	5. Dreamlover (Def Club Mix Edit)
	6. All I've Ever Wanted
* **Asian Maxi Single**
	1. Dreamlover (LP Version)
	2. Dreamlover (Bam Jam Soul)
	3. Dreamlover (Def Club Mix)
	4. Dreamlover (Theo's Joint Mix)
	5. Dreamlover (Def Tribal Mix)
	6. Dreamlover (USA Love Dub)
	7. Dreamlover (Eclipse Dub)
	8. All I've Ever Wanted
* **12" Worldwide Vinyl Single**
	1. Dreamlover (LP Version)
	2. Dreamlover (Bam Jam Soul)
	3. Dreamlover (Def Club Mix)
	4. Dreamlover (Def Tribal Mix)
* **Asian Mini CD Single**
	1. Dreamlover (LP Version)
	2. Dreamlover (Bam Jam Soul)
	3. All I've Ever Wanted