"Dreams Come True" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group
S.E.S. from their second
studio album, Sea & Eugene & Shoo (1998). The song is a cover of "
Rakastuin mä looseriin" ("Like a Fool"), released in 1996 by Finnish girl group
Nylon Beat. It was originally composed by Finnish producer
Risto Asikainen, with further composition of the Korean version handled by
Yoo Young-jin while the lyrics were translated by Yoo along with group member
Bada.[1]
Background
"Dreams Come True" is an adapted version of the song "Like a Fool" (1996) by Finnish pop duo
Nylon Beat.[2][3] It has been described as a smooth dance number with a moderate 1980s synth beat, utilizing synth flute hooks and soft vocal phrasings.[4] SM Entertainment licensed the song from the original composers and reproduced it by adding Korean vocals, sound fills, and newly arranged parts in the last third of the song. The instrumental track (except for the added parts) remains identical to the original, and it retains the melodic and harmonic structure.[4] Its music video was remastered in November 2021.[5]
Reception
"Dreams Come True" achieved the top spots on several
music programs in South Korea during its promotion.[6] In 2021, "Dreams Come True" was ranked number 86 in online portal
Melon and newspaper Seoul Shinmun's list of top 100 K-pop songs of all time.[7][8]
"Dreams Come True" was re-recorded by South Korean girl group
Aespa and was released by
SM Entertainment on December 20, 2021, as part of
SM's
Remastering Project, and also as the
lead single of the album 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express. South Korean singer,
BoA, participated in the song's production, choreography and visual aspects. It was later included on the group's second extended play Girls which was released on July 8, 2022.
Background
On November 4, 2021, SM Entertainment announced that
Aespa would be releasing a cover of "Dreams Come True", slated for release in December.[12] The group was additionally set to remake the "Dream Comes True" music video, as part of the agency's "Remastering Project", where younger generation groups would present new versions of older generation music videos.[13] On December 11, 2021, it was revealed that the song and a music video for the group's version would be released on December 20, 2021, as a part of the project.[14] Aespa's member Giselle revealed that the group "have tried to add [their] own colours to the original track".[15]
Composition
The lyrics for "Dreams Come True" were written by
Bada,
Yoo Young-jin,
BoA and produced by the latter two with
Shaun Kim, BXN, and
Risto Asikainen. The song is mainly a "crisp"
pop song with strong influence from
trap and
hip hop elements.[16][17] Aespa's version features a new verse: "Yeah, get it on nah Get it on nah / Let's bring back to Nineties".[16] The remake's unique young energy and
contemporary style are added "to build a soundscape that pays homage to S.E.S's artistry whilst also showcasing the vocal prowess of the girl group".[16]Clash described the remake as "a thrilling reinvention" with "scintillating" chorus and "crisp" pop and hip-hop elements added to its production.[17]
Music video
An accompanying music video for the song was uploaded to SM's
YouTube channel in conjunction with the release of "Dreams Come True"; the video was preceded with a teaser—which was released via the same platform one day earlier.[18] The "otherworldly" visual combines the dreamy aesthetics from
S.E.S.'s original music video with their Aespa's edgy, futuristic signature style. In the video, the group is performing the song's choreography from a grand, purple-tinted room filled with alien-like flora to a street-styled contemporary space. Later in another scene, Aespa is seen on a massive skyscraper design platform alongside projections of their virtual versions.[15] The holographic butterflies and wings from the original music video have been retained.[16]
Divyansha Dongre of Rolling Stone India described the video's sets as "futuristic and flamboyant".[16]NME's Gladys Yeo wrote that the "otherworldly new visual" combines "the dreamy aesthetic" from S.E.S.'s original music video with Aespa's "own edgy, futuristic signature style".[15] Writing for Clash, Robin Murray noted the "tightly choreographed video" for its "alien-like flora" surrounding the group.[17]
^Cho, Hye-jiin (November 10, 2021).
S.E.S. 'Dreams Come True' 리마스터 뮤직비디오, 11일 공개 [SES 'Dreams Come True' remastered music video released on the 11th]. Sports Dong-a (in Korean).
Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021 – via MSN.
^S.E.S.、ヒット曲「Dreams Come True」リマスター版のMVを11月11日に公開(Kstyle) [S.E.S. releases remastered music video for hit song "Dreams Come True" on November 11th (Kstyle)] (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. November 10, 2021.
Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
^Lee, Jin (February 27, 2009).
500회 맞은 뮤직뱅크, 90년대 최고 히트곡으로 '스페셜 스테이지' 꾸민다 [Music Bank, celebrating its 500th anniversary, decorates a 'special stage' with the best hits of the 90s]. News Inside (in Korean).
Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Jang, Kyung-guk (September 10, 2015).
소나무, S.E.S 커버 무대… 'Dreams Come True' 완벽 재연 [Sonamoo, SES cover stage … Perfect reenactment of 'Dreams Come True']. Sports Dong-a (in Korean).
Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Kwak, Min-goo (December 25, 2018).
[2018 SBS 가요대전] 레드벨벳X트와이스, 제대로 美친 콜라보 'Dreams come true' [[2018 SBS Gayo Daejun] Red Velvet X Twice, a beautiful collaboration of 'Dreams come true']. Herald Corp (in Korean).
Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Lee Jae-hoon (December 12, 2021).
"에스파, S.E.S '드림스 컴 트루' 리메이크…보아 프로듀싱" [Aespa, S.E.S 'Dreams Come True' remake... BoA Producer]. Newsis (in Korean).
Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Jeon Hyo-jin (December 20, 2021).
"에스파, S.E.S.와 광야로…'Dreams Come True' 재탄생 [DA:신곡]" [To Aespa, SES and the wilderness… Rebirth of 'Dreams Come True' [DA:New Song]]. Sports Donga (in Korean).
Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021 – via
Naver.
^앨범 정보 - Dreams Come True - SM STATION [Album Information - Dreams Come True - SM STATION] (in Korean).
Melon. December 20, 2021.
Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
^곡 정보 - Dreams Come True [Song Information - Dreams Come True] (in Korean).
Melon. December 20, 2021.
Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
^"2022년 03주차 Digital Chart" [Week 3 of 2022 Digital Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. January 9–15, 2022.
Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
^"Billboard K-pop 100". Billboard Korea. January 23–29, 2022. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
^2022년 01월 Digital Chart [January 2022 Digital Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart.
Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.