"Daydream" is a song recorded in 1969 by the Belgian band Wallace Collection. It was composed by band members Sylvain Vanholme and Raymond Vincent, with David MacKay[1] who also produced the single.[2] The song is in the symphonic pop/rock genre, and uses strings and flutes. Its melody is borrowed from the finale of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. [3][4] The song was a hit in mainland Europe, though its popularity did not extend to English-speaking countries, despite its use of English lyrics. The song was covered several times, most notably by the Günter Kallmann Choir in 1970.
Original recording
The song was first recorded in Abbey Road Studios, London, by the band Wallace Collection, and released as the final track on their debut album Laughing Cavalier. The singer was the band's drummer, Freddy Nieuland. It was released as a single in over 20 countries, and reached the top of the Belgium pop chart, and number 3 on the French chart.[5]
Cover versions
The French pop star Claude François, known for writing the original "My Way", released his cover "Rêveries" in April 1969.[5]
The song was covered in 1970 by the German vocal group, the Günter Kallmann Choir, and this version was used on a popular easy listening record of the time.[5] As such Kallmann is occasionally mis-credited as the original author of the song.
In 2001, English electronic group I Monster had a UK chart hit with "Daydream in Blue", a remix of the Günter Kallmann Choir's version of the song; the track peaked at #20 in the UK Singles Chart.[6] The song has also been covered live by the Beta Band as part of their song "Squares". I Monster's version was sampled in 2006 by American rapper Lupe Fiasco in Daydreamin’, featuring soul singer Jill Scott. Fiasco’s cover won the Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.
"The Highest Commitment" by Qwel and Maker, in some live versions (samples the Gunter Kallmann Choir version)
"Put Me On (featuring Everlast and Moka Only)" by Swollen Members features a piano background with chords similar in sound to the vocals of the original "Daydream" track.
In Norway, this song (the version of Franck Pourcel) has become widely known through its use as background music in a series of televised information snippets regarding mountain safety, produced by Hermann Gran at NRK and the Norwegian Red Cross and broadcast annually through the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, (NRK) chiefly around the Easter holidays.[12] The original series was broadcast from 1969, but the theme tune was not introduced until 1972. Due to its association with the Severin Suveren safety snippets, the theme itself quintessentially represents Easter for many Norwegians.[13]
The Belgian film Mr. Nobody in 2009 also used this song several times in the movie.
The song was also used in Noah Hawley's Legion, season three, episode four, released in 2019.
The first season of the US television show Severance (2022) has also made use of the I Monster version in trailers and during closing credits on some episodes.
The 2005 BBC television series How to be a Gardener written and presented by Alan Titchmarsh used "Daydream in Blue" as part of its extensive soundtrack.
