"Just a Dream" is a song recorded by American singer Donna de Lory for her eponymous debut studio album (1992). It was released as the album's second single on March 9, 1993, by MCA Records. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard while composing the former's fourth studio album, Like a Prayer (1989). Since Madonna felt "Just a Dream" would not suit her discography, she gave it to de Lory for recording. After release, the song received mixed review from critics. "Just a Dream" debuted and peaked at number 71 on the UK Singles Chart and reached number ten on the US Dance Club Songs and number 17 on the Dance Singles Sales charts, respectively.
MCA Records released "Just a Dream" as the second single from de Lory's debut album on March 9, 1993, in 12-inch, cassette and CD formats.[6] It also received a number of remixes which were added to the track list of the different releases.[7] Along with Madonna and Leonard's songwriting and production, other personnel who worked on the track included Lenny Underwood who played the keyboards and Daniel Abraham who programmed the song. Abraham was assisted by Justin Strauss for additional production and remixing of "Just a Dream". Todd Culver edited the song while Doug Deangelis and Shaun James engineered the final mix.[6]
Reception
"Just a Dream" received mixed feedback from music critics. Reviewing the track for Billboard, editor Larry Flick felt it was de Lory's "valiant bid for top 40 radio acceptance" and described it as a "peppy li'l tune" which would be a suitable choice for mainstream and crossover radios. Flick also complimented the different remixes that the song received, with their genres ranging from power pop to Cathy Dennis-style disco.[8]AllMusic's Bryan Buss reviewed de Lory's album and said that with songs like "Just a Dream" and "Praying for Love", the singer "showed she could perform pop with the best of them".[9] Conversely, a writer for Out magazine criticized the inclusion of "Just a Dream" in de Lory's album, feeling that Madonna and Leonard's songwriting and production "ruined" the "peppy and optimism" nature of the record.[10]
In the United States, "Just a Dream" reached number ten on the Dance Club Songs chart, and was present for a total of 11 weeks on it.[11] The CD and the maxi singles released went on to chart on the Dance Singles Sales chart, reaching a peak of number 17.[12] The song debuted and peaked at number 71 on the UK Singles Chart on the chart dated July 18, 1993, present for just one week.[13]
^de Lory, Donna (1992). "Donna de Lory Discusses Working With Madonna". MTV Interviews. Event occurs at 13:00. MTV.
^ abcdJust a Dream (CD single). Donna de Lory. New York: MCA Records. 1993. MCADS 54443.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abJust a Dream (US 12-inch single). Donna de Lory. New York: MCA Records. 1993. MCA12 54595.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Flick, Larry (March 13, 1993). "Single Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 11. pp. 42, 118. ISSN0006-2510. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
^Just a Dream (UK CD Maxi single). Donna de Lory. London: MCA Records. 1993. MCSTD 1750.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Just a Dream (European CD Maxi single). Donna de Lory. New York: MCA Records. 1993. MCD 30297.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)