Songful Style: “These Dreams!”

I usually ask how your summer is going, but I guess I need to ask how your fall is going. How is your spring going if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere? I hope, if you’re anywhere in the path of Hurricane Helene, you are safe and have power. We have had quite a bit of wind and rain the last couple of days. I can’t imagine what it has been like if you’re in the path or near it. Welcome to the last Monday in September and another edition of Songful Style! Suzy and Shelbee decided to riff (see what I did there) on Style Imitating Art only with music! Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of Suzy Turner, and I make up the bloggers in this group. You can find all of us on our blogs and Instagram.  Our ensembles (pun intended) may be inspired by the lyrics of a song, the artwork of the album cover, maybe the MTV video, or even a memory the song evokes. Suzy chose this month’s song which is so good! Last month, Shelbee selected “Vienna” by Billy Joel. I was in Scotland and didn’t participate. Oh, and there’s a link party, too!

The artists…

Would you believe Heart actually began as an all male band? The group formed in 1973 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Initially, Roger Fisher and Steve Fossen formed a band called The Army (1967), changed to Hocus Pocus in 1969, and then White Heart in 1970. In 1975, they wised up and added Ann and Nancy Wilson as well as Michael Derosier and Howard Leese. This was the core group into the late 70s. They were the members inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

A little more…

The band changed members about as often as they changed names! White Heart was originally to be White Hart, but Mike Fisher, Roger’s brother, added the “e.” The band’s name has remained the same even though the musicians changed multiple times over the years. That same Mike Fisher evaded the draft and moved to Canada in 1971 or 1972. The rest of the group soon followed after Nancy and Mike fell in love. Ann soon joined the group, and the band, Heart, we know today began making music. Mike Flicker, a producer, helped the group, which now included Howard Leese on keyboard, record Dreamboat Annie. It was released in September, 1975. Originally known as Can-Base Studios, Mushroom Studios put out this album which included the singles, “Magic Man” and “Crazy on You.” The band was helped by opening for Rod Stewart at the Montreal Forum in October 1975. The album was released in the US and reached number seven on the Billboard 200. It would become their first million copy seller.

Still more…

After some wrangling with studios, Heart soon was recording for a CBS subsidiary, Portrait Records. The band released its second million seller with Little Queen. That album contained “Barracuda” which was written by Ann. A rumor, supposedly released by Mushroom Studios, was making the rounds that Ann and Nancy were involved in an incestuous affair. Ooooh, that would make me furious, too! I looked at those lyrics, but I sure don’t see that story. I guess I’m not that deep. One of my favorite albums, Dog & Butterfly, was released in 1978 and contained the title song as well as “Straight On.”

Even more…

The early 80s were not kind to the band, but the end of that decade saw the release of Heart. The band had moved to Capitol Records during this time. As part of the move, the band got a glam metal makeover which seemed to have worked as that album reached number one, sold five million copies and contained four top 10 hits: “What About Love,” “Never,” “These Dreams,” and “Nothin’ at All.” In 1987, the power ballad, “Alone,” appearing on Bad Animals, became Heart’s greatest pop song. It spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two for the year on the Hot 100.

Just a skosh more…

The band continued to record albums with varying levels of success, and the Wilson sisters also recorded solo albums. In 2016, Ann’s husband pled guilty to assaulting Nancy’s twin sons which led to an estrangement between the two sisters. They would occasionally communicate via text. In 2019, the band, Heart, reunited with different backing members and toured through the end of the year. Nancy began touring as “Nancy Wilson’s Heart” in 2022, playing primarily Heart songs. In late 2023, the band played together again with two concerts in California and one in Seattle. On New Year’s Day, the played “Barracuda” and “Magic Man” at the 2024 NHL Winter Classic in Seattle. On January 29, they announced their Royal Flush World Tour. Included on the bill would be Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Journey, and Squeeze. Unfortunately, earlier this summer, the UK and European dates were cancelled after Ann underwent surgery to have a growth removed. That growth turned out to be cancerous and has been (or is being) treated with chemotherapy. She vows to return to the tour by 2025.

The song…

What it means…

Again, I think this is one of those songs that can be interpreted so many different ways. I think it’s, basically, about dreams and how they’re all different. Sometimes, we have very clear dreams, and sometimes, they’re just shadows. I really don’t think this has any deep meaning other than to describe the ephemeral nature of dreams.

The video…

Like many older songs, there are other videos of Heart playing “These Dreams,” but I always use the official one for this post. You’ll notice Nancy is actually singing lead for this song. Ann usually sang lead but is singing backup.

Interesting covers…

There are a few moments when you’d almost think you were listening to Ann Wilson with this group from Australia!

I can’t tell if the video is distorted on purpose or not…maybe, it’s to give it a dream-like quality. The singer has a beautiful voice, though.

Hmmm…I had my doubts about a dude doing this song justice, but this guy does!

I have mixed feelings about this one. I think, if I’d never heard Heart sing the song, I’d like it. But, I think her voice lacks the depth to sing the song properly. Her backing band, though…amazing! I love the chimes!

Unfortunately, my favorite Norwegian heavy metal rocker, Leo, has let me down yet again! No “Sweet Dreams” from him.

My interpretation…

I really wanted to wear a blazer with gigantic shoulder pads, but I got rid of those decades ago! In the video, you can spot Ann wearing a sparkly blazer with a pink top under it. I chose this heavy paillette covered unstructured blazer as my building block. I added another of those Old Navy Luxe sleeveless tops in a berry color. You can’t see Ann from the waist down so I’m assuming she was wearing black pants of some kind or another. It took me a little minute to come up with with the bottoms…leggings, joggers, or jeans. As you can see, I went with jeans. I think I bought these in the NSale a few years ago. They’re Wit & Wisdom and really comfortable though I’m not so sure dark grey jeans are very flattering on me.

The Lewk!

I was stumped when it came to what to wear because, for a little bit, you see Nancy kick her foot into the air. And, of course, she’s wearing boots with heels! For a bit, I thought about going barefoot because I could almost see Nancy Wilson doing that. In the end, I compromised by thinking, “Well, Nancy Wilson is 70 years old. I bet she’d go for some black strappy sandals.” Nah, I doubt, even at 70, she would do that. I bet she’s still rocking the heels. But, I went with these black strappy Franco Sarto sandals. Oops…I’m dressing like Ann, but I bet she’d still be rocking heels even at age 74. Ann’s hair was long in the video so I couldn’t really see if she was wearing earrings. I went with these blingy J Crew earrings I’d bought last year (probably Black Friday).

Wrap it up, Marsha!

This past Friday, my youngest son and I went to an exhibit of Jim Irsay’s guitars at Indiana University in Bloomington. In one room was a special exhibit of special guitars which was only going to be there for that one day. Included was one of Nancy’s guitars! My son said it wasn’t an especially expensive guitar, but what makes it special is the USMC sticker on the back. When she plays it, she always flashes the sticker at the crowd. Since my dad was a Marine, I was glad to get a copy of the photo. How did I get that photo? I was schmoozing with some of the police there to guard the exhibit, and one of them shared the photos with me! My son couldn’t believe I gave the guy my phone number. I couldn’t believe he thought I was only 56! So, can we talk? Do you think either of the Wilson sisters is still rocking the heels? What do you think the song means? Which cover did you like best? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Thank you so very much for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. I also very much appreciate those of you who comment, email and/or subscribe. It’s what keeps me going! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

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Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style,  Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

And, now, it’s your turn!

Please link up your favorite posts, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Link up with me, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!

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