SONG DUEL!: “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac vs. “Dreams” by The Cranberries
Two songs enter. One song leaves. Well, OK, both leave. It’s not like we erase all traces of the losing song from the Internet, but we determine once and for all which tune has the right to their strikingly similar titles. This is SONG DUEL!
In this installment, the bewitching vocal stylings of Stevie Nicks and Dolores O’Riordan face off to see which one will prevail as the other’s worst nightmare.
In this corner: “Dreams,” the first single (though not the biggest hit) from Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, the debut album by The Cranberries, Ireland’s foremost contribution to the ’90s alternative-rock boom.
And in this corner: “Dreams,” the biggest hit (though not the first single) from Rumors, which has proved to be the triumphant peak in the 44-year history of Transatlantic rock group Fleetwood Mac.
FIGHT!
Precedence: Not only does Rumors predate The Cranberries Album With the Really Long Name by 16 years, The Cranberries frontwoman O’Riordon hadn’t even been born yet when Fleetwood Mac formed in 1967. Point: Fleetwood Mac.
Chart performance: The Cranberries sold at least 7 million copies of their album worldwide, but that doesn’t come close to competing with the unit-moving juggernaut that is Rumors, which has sold 40 million copies worldwide. Only seven albums can claim more sales. As far as the singles go, Fleetwood Mac’s topped the Billboard Hot 100 while The Cranberries’ didn’t even crack the Top 40. Point: Fleetwood Mac.
Critical mass: Once again, The Cranberries’ debut was well-received, but it’s up against one of the quote/unquote “greatest albums of all time.” Rumors even won Album of the Year at the Grammys (beating Hotel California AND the Star Wars soundtrack). From the beginning, critics have praised Nicks’ plaintive melody and introspective lyrics as one of the album’s highlights. Point: Fleetwood Mac.
Technique: Well, they both have kind of oddly distinctive voices, don’t they? But is it better to be frequently compared to a yodeler or a sheep? We’re going to go with yodeler. Plus, whereas Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” sounds a bit muddy by today’s production standards, The Cranberries’ “Dreams” benefitted from 16 years worth of advances in recording technology that allows it to absolutely shimmer. Point: The Cranberries.
Bad-assity: That funk-lite bass line in the Fleetwood Mac song just screams “adult-contemporary radio at the dentist’s office.” However, it’s worth noting (as it always is whenever Rumors is discussed) that Nicks poured all of her frustration over a deteriorating relationship with bandmate Lindsey Buckingham into the lyrics of “Dreams,” then turned around, recorded it with him and made it into a No. 1 hit song. That’s mildly bad-ass. Meanwhile, The Cranberries song is pure pop that culminates with the lyrics, “You’re a dream to me” (awwwwww), but it does have that pseudo-tribal ending, and the drummer is rockin’ out during the choruses. Point: Tough call. Maybe it’s just bad-assity bleed-over from “Zombie,” but I’m going with The Cranberries.
Sexitude: Stevie Nicks is a bona fide sex symbol in certain circles, but I was 14 years old when The Cranberries hit the big time, so O’Riordan gets points for being a important part of my MTV-inspired adolescent fantasies along with Shirley Manson from Garbage and the Veruca Salt chicks. Plus: that accent. Point: The Cranberries.
Redeeming social value: I’m not sure it’s scientifically true that thunder only happens when it’s raining—I, for one, have heard thunder during snowstorms—in which case Fleetwood Mac is spreading meteorological falsehoods. On the other hand, it’s an indisputable truth that players only love you when they’re playing—a valuable lesson for all the young ladies out there. Point: Fleetwood Mac.
The victor, by a score of 4-3 … Fleetwood Mac!
