BILLY JOEL - THE RIVER OF DREAMS

Publicada: 19 de juliol de 1993

Llistes: EUA: #3 · Regne Unit: #3

“The River of Dreams” és la cançó que dóna títol i el primer single de l’àlbum “River of Dreams”, el dotzè disc d’estudi de Billy Joel, publicat el juliol de 1993. Va esdevenir un gran èxit, arribant al número 3 tant als Estats Units com al Regne Unit, i encapçalant les llistes d’Austràlia, Nova Zelanda, Canadà i la llista Adult Contemporary dels EUA. És el single més ben posicionat de Joel durant la dècada dels noranta i continua sent el seu últim Top 10 tant als EUA com al Regne Unit. La cançó va ser produïda per Joe Nicolo i Danny Kortchmar.

Musicalment, destaca per la seva sonoritat espiritual i influenciada pel gospel, un gir estilístic nou en la carrera de Joel. Malgrat declarar-se ateu, Joel va omplir la lletra d’imatges religioses, com el baptisme, rius de sang i una reescriptura del Salm 23:4 (“travessant la vall de la por”). Tant el títol de la cançó com la frase “walking in my sleep” van sorgir d’un somni real que Joel va tenir—es va despertar amb la melodia al cap. Tot i intentar ignorar-la (fins i tot cantant-la a la dutxa per “treure-se-la del cap”), la cançó insistia a tornar, i finalment la va acabar acceptant i enregistrant.

Joel ha descrit “The River of Dreams” com un joc de paraules amb el concepte de “corrents de consciència”, i la cançó funciona com un viatge introspectiu profund. Parla de la recerca de la veritat, el propòsit i l’acompliment espiritual, expressant una inquietud que resulta tant personal com universal.

Durant els Premis Grammy de 1994, on la cançó va estar nominada a Disc de l’Any, Joel va protagonitzar un moment molt comentat. Al mig de la seva actuació, després d’un fals final, va fer una pausa, va mirar el rellotge i va dir sarcàsticament: “Temps publicitari valuós que passa… dòlars”. Era una crítica oberta als productors per haver interromput el discurs d’agraïment de Frank Sinatra aquella nit. Tot i que el premi va ser per a “I Will Always Love You” de Whitney Houston, el gest de Joel va quedar com un dels moments més recordats d’aquella gala.

El videoclip, dirigit per Andy Morahan, es va rodar a Connecticut, i mostra Joel i les coristes sobre un pont ferroviari damunt el riu Connecticut, així com altres escenaris pintorescos com Old Saybrook i East Haddam. També hi apareix un ferri que es creu que és el Rocky Hill–Glastonbury Ferry.

BILLY JOEL - THE RIVER OF DREAMS

Released: July 19, 1993

Charts:  US: #3   UK: #3 

“The River of Dreams” is the title track and lead single from Billy Joel’s twelfth studio album, “River of Dreams”, released in July 1993. It became a major hit, peaking at No. 3 in both the US and the UK, and topping charts in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US Adult Contemporary chart. It was Joel’s best-charting single of the 1990s and remains his final Top 10 hit in the US and UK to date. The song was produced by Joe Nicolo and Danny Kortchmar.

The song is notable for its spiritual and gospel-influenced sound, which was a new direction for Joel. Even being a self-identified atheist, Joel infused the track with religious imagery, referencing baptism, rivers of blood, and a rephrasing of Psalm 23:4 (“Through the valley of fear”). The line “walking in my sleep” and the song’s title both stem from a dream Joel had—he literally woke up with the tune in his head. Initially hesitant to write or record it, he tried to dismiss it, even singing it in the shower to wash it away. But the song persisted, and he ultimately embraced it.

Joel described “The River of Dreams” as a play on the concept of a “stream of consciousness”, reflecting a deep, introspective journey. The song explores searching for truth, purpose, and spiritual fulfillment, and expresses a yearning that feels both personal and universal.

At the 1994 Grammy Awards, where the song was nominated for Record of the Year, Joel made headlines during his performance. After a false ending in the middle of the song, he paused, looked at his watch, and said sarcastically, “Valuable advertising time going by… dollars.” This was a protest against producers for cutting off Frank Sinatra’s acceptance speech earlier in the show. Although the award went to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”, Joel’s bold on-stage statement became a memorable moment in Grammy history.

The music video, directed by Andy Morahan, was shot in Connecticut and features Joel and backup singers standing on a railroad bridge over the Connecticut River, as well as other scenic locations like Old Saybrook and East Haddam. A ferry shown in the video is believed to be the Rocky Hill–Glastonbury Ferry.