Dream Big (song)
Encyclopedia
"Dream Big" is the fourth overall single and first official UK single released from American
R&B
/soul
singer-songwriter
Jazmine Sullivan
's debut album, Fearless
.
"Dream Big" was made available on UK iTunes
and 7 Digital as an EP on February 9, 2009.
It was later made available for airplay on UK radio stations on April 5, 2009. and then received an official single digital release on April 6, 2009.
's song "Veridis Quo" from the album Discovery
. The song is about a girl dreaming to be a big star; it's about taking opportunities when they come to you and being ready to go when the time comes. The song produced by Jazmine's mentor, Missy Elliott
features Missy calling out in the intro using a line typically reserved for her own songs. Overall the song was said 'to be a very unexpected sound from Jazmine', in comparison with the previous seven tracks on the album. Namely the synthy, upbeat and techno sound it has to it.
The different approach to the club-friendly song is what's said to give it an edge as well as an extra benefit for its airplay success. Dream Big appeared on major UK music critic, Popjustice
's website as 'Song of the Day' and was described as an excellent track and something to watch out for.
Jazmine describes her inspiration behind the song:
Billboard
reviewed the song:
Epinions reviewed the song:
It features Jazmine sitting behind a table and writing down her plans to get her dream. Basically mirroring the song by chronicling Jazmine's journey from songwriter to singer.
Her handwriting reads as letters on the book appear on screen matching with the song lyrics.
Then the video moves onto capturing her in studio, crafting songs and then performing on stage in front of an audience.
The video received generally favourable reviews by fans. It was viewed as her best yet by some and 'cheap' by others. Being produced by Syndrome
, who also produced Jazmine's previous video for Lions, Tigers & Bears
, the two were very closely compared and the animation theme was criticized to not show the real Jazmine, the Jazmine that fans know and love.
The video has surpassed 920,000 views on Jazmine's YouTube
channel alone.
(Released: February 9, 2009)
UK Digital Single
(Released: April 6, 2009)
television show "Le Grand Journal" as part of her international 2009 promotion of her first album, "Fearless
".
She also performed it along with several of her album tracks for UK BBC Radio 1
's Trevor Nelson
in April, 2009. On April 18, 2009 the single peaked at #164 on the UK Singles Chart
after a surge of steady download sales during that week.
"Dream Big" peaked at #6 on the Turkish Singles Chart issued March 30, 2009, making it Jazmine's first hit single outside the U.S. The track then went on to make waves on European airplay charts in countries such as Greece
and Russia
.
!Chart (2009)
!Peak
position
|-
|Greek Airplay Chart
|align="center"|40
|-
|Turkish Singles Chart
|align="center"|6
|-
|UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|164
|-
!Region
!Date
!Format
!Label
|-
|United Kingdom
|rowspan="1"|February 9, 2009
|Digital EP
|rowspan="1"|J Records
, Columbia
|-
|United Kingdom
|rowspan="1"|April 6, 2009
|Digital Single
|rowspan="1"|J Records
, Columbia
|-
|United States
|rowspan="1"|April 14, 2009
|CD single
|rowspan="1"|J Records
, Columbia
|-
|}
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Marie Sullivan is an American recording artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" reached number one on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her second single, "Bust Your Windows" peaked at number four...
's debut album, Fearless
Fearless (Jazmine Sullivan album)
Fearless is the debut album of American R&B recording artist Jazmine Sullivan, released September 23, 2008, on J Records. Production for the album took place during 2007 to 2008 and was handled by several record producers, including Missy Elliott, Stargate, Carvin & Ivan, Wyclef Jean, and Salaam...
.
"Dream Big" was made available on UK iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and 7 Digital as an EP on February 9, 2009.
It was later made available for airplay on UK radio stations on April 5, 2009. and then received an official single digital release on April 6, 2009.
Background and reception
"Dream Big" prominently features a sample of Daft PunkDaft Punk
Daft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
's song "Veridis Quo" from the album Discovery
Discovery (Daft Punk album)
Discovery is the second studio album by the French house duo Daft Punk, released in March 2001. It marks a shift in the sound from Chicago house, which they were previously known for, to disco, post-disco and synthpop-inspired house...
. The song is about a girl dreaming to be a big star; it's about taking opportunities when they come to you and being ready to go when the time comes. The song produced by Jazmine's mentor, Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
features Missy calling out in the intro using a line typically reserved for her own songs. Overall the song was said 'to be a very unexpected sound from Jazmine', in comparison with the previous seven tracks on the album. Namely the synthy, upbeat and techno sound it has to it.
The different approach to the club-friendly song is what's said to give it an edge as well as an extra benefit for its airplay success. Dream Big appeared on major UK music critic, Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
's website as 'Song of the Day' and was described as an excellent track and something to watch out for.
Jazmine describes her inspiration behind the song:
"My journey was not an easy one. There were people telling me I wasn't what the industry wanted. So I had to persevere and stay determined to live my dream. I wrote this song to encourage people all over the world to dream big despite the road blocks."
Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
reviewed the song:
"Dream Big", a swallow-you-whole-four-four thumper, is an ambitious motivational anthem. Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
nicks nearly all of its drive and dramatics from Daft PunkDaft PunkDaft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
's "Veridis Quo".
Epinions reviewed the song:
Missy calls out in the intro using a line typically reserved for her own songs (if that's not a sign of faith in one's work, I don't know what is). It's an out and out Euro techno club track, complete with a clever cache of synth lines via Daft PunkDaft PunkDaft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
's "Veridis Quo" and an assortment of gimmicky techno sounds that just don't sound gimmicky; Jazmine just understands that her credibility is in her authenticity and she doesn't miss the slightest detail. The song itself is about taking opportunities when they come to you, about being ready to go when the time comes. The fact that she manages to take on a genre seemingly foreign to her talents in such a convincing manner is a testament to what happens when you dream big.
Music video
In May 2009, the music video for "Dream Big" premiered.It features Jazmine sitting behind a table and writing down her plans to get her dream. Basically mirroring the song by chronicling Jazmine's journey from songwriter to singer.
Her handwriting reads as letters on the book appear on screen matching with the song lyrics.
Then the video moves onto capturing her in studio, crafting songs and then performing on stage in front of an audience.
The video received generally favourable reviews by fans. It was viewed as her best yet by some and 'cheap' by others. Being produced by Syndrome
Syndrome
In medicine and psychology, a syndrome is the association of several clinically recognizable features, signs , symptoms , phenomena or characteristics that often occur together, so that the presence of one or more features alerts the physician to the possible presence of the others...
, who also produced Jazmine's previous video for Lions, Tigers & Bears
Lions, Tigers & Bears
This article is about the song. For the comic book series, see Lions, Tigers and Bears."Lions, Tigers & Bears" is the third single released from American R&B–soul singer Jazmine Sullivan's debut album Fearless. The song impacted radio on November 11, 2008, and was officially released on December...
, the two were very closely compared and the animation theme was criticized to not show the real Jazmine, the Jazmine that fans know and love.
The video has surpassed 920,000 views on Jazmine's YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel alone.
Formats and track listings
UK Digital Bundle(Released: February 9, 2009)
- "Dream Big" (Album Version) - 3:35
- "Dream Big" (Ghettopop Remix) - 3:49
- "Dream Big" (Monk & Prof Club Remix) - 4:15
- "Dream Big" (StoneBridge Remix) - 6:45
UK Digital Single
(Released: April 6, 2009)
- "Dream Big" (Radio Edit) - 2:33
Promotion, Commercial Reception
Jazmine performed "Dream Big" on popular FrenchTelevision in France
Television in France was introduced in 1931, making the country one of the first countries in the world to broadcast television programmes.- Terrestrial :...
television show "Le Grand Journal" as part of her international 2009 promotion of her first album, "Fearless
Fearless (Jazmine Sullivan album)
Fearless is the debut album of American R&B recording artist Jazmine Sullivan, released September 23, 2008, on J Records. Production for the album took place during 2007 to 2008 and was handled by several record producers, including Missy Elliott, Stargate, Carvin & Ivan, Wyclef Jean, and Salaam...
".
She also performed it along with several of her album tracks for UK BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Trevor Nelson
Trevor Nelson
Trevor Nelson MBE is an English DJ and presenter.Born in Hackney to a family of St Lucian heritage, he attended Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School in Cowper St, Islington, London EC2 and Westminster Kingsway College...
in April, 2009. On April 18, 2009 the single peaked at #164 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
after a surge of steady download sales during that week.
"Dream Big" peaked at #6 on the Turkish Singles Chart issued March 30, 2009, making it Jazmine's first hit single outside the U.S. The track then went on to make waves on European airplay charts in countries such as Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Credits
- Produced by: Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Cainon Lamb - Recorded by: Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Paul J. Falcone, Scott Berger-Felder - Written by: Jazmine SullivanJazmine SullivanJazmine Marie Sullivan is an American recording artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" reached number one on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her second single, "Bust Your Windows" peaked at number four...
, Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Cainon Lamb, Taurian Osbourne, Guy-Manuel de Homem-ChristoGuy-Manuel de Homem-ChristoGuillaume Emmanuel "Guy-Manuel" de Homem-Christo; is a founding member of the French house music duo Daft Punk, along with Thomas Bangalter. He has also produced several works from his record label Crydamoure with label co-owner Éric Chedeville. He and Chedeville formed the musical duo Le Knight...
, Thomas BangalterThomas BangalterThomas Bangalter is a French electronic musician best known as a member of the French house music duo Daft Punk. He has also recorded and released music as a member of the trio Stardust, the duo Together, and as a solo artist including compositions for the film Irréversible.Thomas Bangalter owns a... - Additional vocals by: Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
- A&R: Trevor Jerdeau
- Management: Rebel One, Pam Sullivan
- Mixed by: Manny Marroquin, Christian Plata
- Legal: Paul H. Rothenberg, Esq.
- Recorded for: PSF Music
- Recorded at: PSF Music Studio One, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Charts
{|class="wikitable sortable"!Chart (2009)
!Peak
position
|-
|Greek Airplay Chart
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
|align="center"|40
|-
|Turkish Singles Chart
|align="center"|6
|-
|UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
|align="center"|164
|-
Release history
{|class="wikitable"!Region
!Date
!Format
!Label
|-
|United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
|rowspan="1"|February 9, 2009
|Digital EP
|rowspan="1"|J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
|-
|United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
|rowspan="1"|April 6, 2009
|Digital Single
|rowspan="1"|J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
|-
|United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|rowspan="1"|April 14, 2009
|CD single
|rowspan="1"|J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
|-
|}