The Cranberries 1994 hit song “Dreams” has been given new life by six Irish school choirs in a video designed to share a message of hope and friendship to the world. The tender version of the song, featuring young choristers performing on Zoom, is paired with dreamy images of the island through a collaboration with Tourism Ireland.
The tourist board teamed up with Co-operation Ireland and the school choirs to create the video, which was released to coincide with International Youth Day on Aug. 12 with the aim of reminding people everywhere about Ireland and to bring them a message of friendship, hope and optimism in the midst of the many challenges facing humanity in 2020.
The uplifting video echoes the words of The Cranberries’ beloved late singer Dolores O’Riordan: “Oh, my life is changing every day/ In every possible way.”
Featuring 48 young performers guided by Dónal Doherty, artistic director of the City of Derry International Choir Festival, the choir also includes students from Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ in Limerick, whose choir director Orla Colgan Ahern previously taught O’Riordan (who later lived in Ontario).
In the video, the vocals are intercut with inspiring footage of coastal scenery, mountain greenery and iconic locations around the country, including the sites along the Wild Atlantic Way, aerial footage of The Gobbins cliff path, and the dramatic Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland, as well as the famous Peace Bridge in the Walled City of Derry/Londonderry.
The new rendition of “Dreams” reprises first global campaign to market the island of Ireland as a whole in 1996, when The Cranberries were enjoying international success with a string of worldwide hits including “Linger” and “Zombie.”
The video is being shared with Tourism Ireland’s fans and followers around the world on its social platforms and is can be found on YouTube.
Lyrics:
Dreams
Oh, my life
Is changing every day
In every possible way
And oh, my dreams
It’s never quite as it seems
Never quite as it seems
I know I’ve felt like this before
But now I’m feeling it even more
Because it came from you
Then I open up and see
The person falling here is me
A different way to be
I want more
Impossible to ignore
Impossible to ignore
They’ll come true
Impossible not to do
Impossible not to do
Now I tell you openly
You have my heart so don’t hurt me
You’re what I couldn’t find
Totally amazing mind
So understanding and so kind
You’re everything to me
Oh, my life
Is changing every day
In every possible way
And oh, my dreams
It’s never quite as it seems
‘Cause you’re a dream to me
Dream to me
Songwriters: Noel Anthony Hogan / Dolores Mary O’Riordan