Shattered Dreams

"Shattered Dreams" is a song by English musical group Johnny Hates Jazz from their debut studio album, Turn Back the Clock (1988). Written by the band's lead singer Clark Datchler, the song was released in March 1987 as the album's lead single. "Shattered Dreams" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 92 and gained popularity through extensive radio play and video rotation on MTV, eventually peaking at number 5 in May 1987 and spending three weeks at that position.

Internationally, "Shattered Dreams" reached the top 10 in Canada, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, and West Germany. In the United States, it was released with an alternative music video shot entirely in black and white and directed by David Fincher, which Datchler preferred. The single topped Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart for one week and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background

Singer Clark Datchler wrote "Shattered Dreams" in a small studio he had set up in the front room of his parents' house. He had an upright piano, a 4-track portastudio, a drum machine, and a keyboard in the studio. He wrote the song quickly, but the bongo solo took a while to conceive. Datchler knew he had written something special by his dad's reaction. Usually, his dad would offer musical advice if he asked for it, but would otherwise leave Clark alone. But this time, his dad walked in and told him he had written a big hit, and believed in the song's potential when few other people in the music industry did.

On the lyrics, Datchler said:

Obviously when I wrote "Shattered Dreams" I had it in mind that it would revolve around divorce, not just a relationship break-up but something a little bit heavier. But actually, the way I think people relate to it is that there are all kinds of shattered dreams that we experience on an individual level or in partnerships or as a people, as a nation, as humanity. We are facing some very serious shattered dreams right now whether that be environmental, or economic, or philosophical even. There are ways that "Shattered Dreams" reaches out and touches people when they are going through difficult times. And in some ways, it's not necessarily a very hopeful song. But I think the energy of the song is still quite bright which makes it an interesting combination. It's kind of opposites of each other, but that is something I tend to do lyrically and musically, having serious subjects with more up-tempo music.

Versions

Clark Datchler and the group would soon part, and Datchler released an acoustic version of the song as a track on his 1990 Virgin solo single "Crown of Thorns". He later re-recorded a slower version on his 2007 album Tomorrow. The song has been covered by boyband Ultra, on their 1999 eponymous album; by house music artist Jaybee in 2005; by Russian singer Sergey Lazarev on his TV Show album, which was his first solo outing outside the post-Soviet zone and his first international single to be formally released in the United Kingdom, and reached number 19 on the Russian TopHit Top Radio Hits chart; and in 2009 by Quentin Elias, former singer for French boy band Alliage, by American Idol season 7 winner David Cook during his Declaration tour.

Critical reception

Jerry Smith of the Music Week magazine praised "Shattered Dreams" that he described as "an impressive and very catchy number with a smooth Americain style", and underlined its "rich harmonies and a polished sound". By contrast, Barry McIlheney of Smash Hits stated the song is "a polite little ditty of interest only to incurable insomniacs".

Chart performance

"Shattered Dreams" peaked within the top ten in the majority of the nations where it was released, including the UK where it debuted at number 92 on March 28, 1987, climbed every week until reaching a peak of number 5, a position it held for consecutive three weeks, and appeared on the chart for a total of 16 weeks. This chart performance allowed the single to rank at number 59 on the national year-end chart. In Ireland, it attained number 3 and charted for five weeks. In Continental Europe, "Shattered Dreams" was a successful single in many countries, including Germany where it jumped to number 18 after a start at number 71 on June 22, 1987, culminated at number 7 in its fourth week, and fell off the chart after 15 weeks of presence. In addition, it was a top ten hit in Switzerland, Norway and Sweden, where it peaked at number 5, 6 and 7, respectively. It made the top 15 in Italy, and was less successful in Austria, the Netherlands and the Flanders region of Belgium where it failed to entered the top 20, peaking at number 25, 26 and 36 in these nations. On the Music & Media's Pan-European charts, it charted first on the European Airplay Top 50, where it debuted at number 42 on May 2, 1987, then reached number 6 in its ninth week, while on the Eurochart Hot 100 singles, it started at 86 on May 16, 1987, and reached a peak of number 15 in its ninth week.

Outside Europe, "Shattered Dreams" missed the top 20 by two places in Australia. By contrast, it was a big hit in North America where it was released in 1988: on the US Billboard Hot 100, it reached number two for non consecutive three weeks, in its ninth, 11th and 12th weeks, being blocked from the number 1 slot first by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine's "Anything for You", then by George Michael's "One More Try". It made better on the Adult Contemporary chart which it topped in its seventh week, and reached number six in Canada. On the US charts mentioned above, it ranked at number 26 and 27 on their respective year-end chart of 1988.

Track listings

Charts

Release history

See also

• List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1988

References