"Walking on a Dream"
Single by Empire of the Sun
from the album Walking on a Dream
Released30 August 2008 (2008-08-30)
RecordedAugust 2007
GenreElectropop[1]
Length3:16
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Empire of the Sun singles chronology
"Walking on a Dream"
(2008) 		"We Are the People"
(2008)
Music video
"Walking on a Dream" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Walking on a Dream"

"Walking on a Dream" is a song by Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun, released on 30 August 2008 as the lead single from their debut studio album of the same name (2008). The track was co-written by band members, Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore with Jonathan "Donnie" Sloan. The full Sam La More remix was made available as a free download on the band's official website.

On the Australian ARIA Charts, it reached number ten,[2] and was certified double platinum to indicate shipment of over 140,000 units.[3] It was listed at number four in the 2008 Triple J Hottest 100 popularity poll. "Walking on a Dream" won the category for Single of the Year at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009,[4] and, in the following year, it won Dance Work of the Year at the APRA Awards.[5][6] Although the single was originally due for release in the United Kingdom on 9 February 2009, the date was postponed until 6 July.[7] In Europe, it reached number eight in both Belgium and Ireland;[8][9] and peaked in the top 100 on the UK Singles Chart.[10] The song was made the Single of the Week on the iTunes Store for the week of 21 April 2009. The song was also featured in the 2012 racing video game Forza Horizon and later in the 2016 Honda Civic "The Dreamer" commercial, which helped revive the song in the charts, with the song debuting on the US Billboard Hot 100 after more than seven years of release, peaking at number 65.[11]

Background

Luke Steele (of The Sleepy Jackson) and Nick Littlemore (of Pnau) formed Empire of the Sun as an electronic duo in 2007. Their debut release, "Walking on a Dream", appeared as a single on 30 August 2008 ahead of the album of same name on 3 October.[12] Steele had assisted on tracks, "With You Forever" and "Freedom", for Pnau's self-titled album, which was issued in December 2007. As Empire of the Sun, the duo recorded material for Walking on a Dream, including the title track, at Soundworks Music Studio and Linear Recording in Sydney during various sessions throughout the latter part of that year.[13] The track was co-written by Littlemore and Steele with Jonathan Sloan.[14][15] Sloan also co-produced the album with the duo and Littlemore's bandmate, Peter Mayes of Pnau.[16][17]

Sam Littlemore (Nick's older brother) aka Sam La More remixed the track, which was made available as a free download on the album's official website until December 2008.[18]


Composition

The song is composed in the key of F minor, with a tempo of 127 bpm.[19]

Chart performance

"Walking on a Dream" was featured in a 2016 Honda Civic commercial

The song was in a Honda Civic commercial in the U.S. in 2016, more than seven years after its original release. This led the song to finally chart in the country, making it their first Alternative Songs hit there.[20] On May 14, 2016, the re-released single reached number one on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart, seven years after having peaked at number 18 in its first chart run.[21][22]

Music video

Nick Littlemore raises a sphere to create a blue beam in the video for "Walking on a Dream".

The music video for the song was shot by Josh Logue on location along the Bund in Shanghai, China, in July–August 2008, just prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[23] It features Steele and Littlemore wearing Eastern costumes and makeup, inspired by Peking Opera.

Track listings

CD single and iTunes EP
No.TitleLength
1."Walking on a Dream"3:16
2."Walking on a Dream" (Van She Tech Remix)3:46
3."Walking on a Dream" (Hong Kong Blondes Remix)7:11
4."Walking on a Dream" (Sam La More Remix Edit)3:36
UK 7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Walking on a Dream"3:16
2."Walking on a Dream" (Sam La More Remix Edit)3:36
iTunes exclusive single
No.TitleLength
1."Walking on a Dream" (Sam La More 12" Remix)7:52

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[58] 10× Platinum 700,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[59] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[60] Gold 150,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[61] Gold 25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62] Gold 7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[64] Platinum 1,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Label Format
Australia 30 August 2008
Digital download
18 October 2008 CD single
United Kingdom 16 February 2009 Virgin 7" single
6 July 2009 CD single
Germany[65] 11 March 2011
United States 4 January 2016
Mainstream radio

See also

References

  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (11 September 2023). "The Number Ones: Wiz Khalifa's "Black And Yellow". Stereogum. Retrieved 16 December 2023. ...or Empire Of The Sun's electro-pop jam "Walking On A Dream
  2. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  3. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  4. ^ ARIA Music Awards for Empire of the Sun:
  5. ^ "2010 Winners - APRA Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Walking On A Dream by Empire of the Sun Songfacts". songfacts.com. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Walking on a Dream: Empire Of The Sun". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  8. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Empire of the Sun". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  9. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Empire of the Sun" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  10. ^ "Empire of the Sun". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  11. ^ "2016 Honda Civic TV Spot, 'The Dreamer'". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Empire of the Sun Biography". musichead.com.au. 2008. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  13. ^ McGee, Linda (8 April 2009). "Empire of the Sun interview". RTÉ. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  14. ^ "ASCAP – ACE Title Search". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Note: requires user to enter details, e.g. click on 'Performers' tab and enter 'Empire of the Sun', then select track title.
  15. ^ "'Walking on a Dream' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Walking on a Dream; or at 'Performer:' Empire of the Sun
  16. ^ Phares, Helen. "Empire of the Sun | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Note: User may have to click on tabs, e.g. 'Credits' or 'Awards' to access further information.
  17. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Walking on a Dream – Empire of the Sun". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Note: User may have to click on tabs, e.g. 'Credits' or 'Awards' to access further information.
  18. ^ "Empire of the Sun". walkingonadream.com.au. Empire of the Sun Official Website. 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
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  21. ^ Dance Club Songs (May 14, 2016) from Billboard (May 3, 2016)
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  53. ^ "Classifiche annuali dei cd, dvd, compilation più venduti e digital download più scaricati online nel 2009" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. 19 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
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  61. ^ "Italian single certifications – Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 11 May 2020. Select "2016" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Walking on a Dream" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
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