"A Dream" is a single by
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
Common
Common may refer to:
Places
* Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
* Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts
* Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts
* Clapham Common, originally ...
from the soundtrack to ''
Freedom Writers''. It is produced by
will.i.am, who also sings the song's chorus. The song heavily
samples Martin Luther King Jr.'s historical "
I Have a Dream
"I Have a Dream" is a public speech that was delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister, Martin Luther King Jr., during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In the speech, King called ...
" speech, which relates to the song's lyrics about racism.
The single release of "A Dream" includes two will.i.am tracks, "Colors" and "Bus Ride."
Music video
The video for the single contains images from the ''
Freedom Writers'' movie (many of which feature
Hilary Swank
Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role on the television series '' Camp Wilder'' and made her film debut with a minor role in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1992 ...
, its lead actress), mixed with animated series with will.i.am singing on a platform and Common rapping in corridor and bedrooms before stylized images of the
Civil Rights Movement
The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement throughout the Unite ...
.
Television
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...
footage of the "I Have a Dream" speech is exposed on guide throughout the video. The imagery is destined to increase the song's messages of determination in the face of discrimination, and ambition for a racially equal world.
Track listing
# "A Dream"
# "Colors"
# "Bus Ride"
Chart positions
See also
*
List of Common songs
The following is a list of songs by Common organized by alphabetical order. The songs on the list are all included in official label-released albums, soundtracks and singles, and may include some white label or other non-label releases. Next to ...
*
Civil rights movement in popular culture
The history of the 1954 to 1968 American civil rights movement has been depicted and documented in film, song, theater, television, and the visual arts. These presentations add to and maintain cultural awareness and understanding of the goals, tact ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dream, A
2006 singles
2006 songs
Common (rapper) songs
Will.i.am songs
Songs written by will.i.am
Songs about Martin Luther King Jr.
Songs about freedom
Songs based on speech samples
Songs written by Common (rapper)
Hollywood Records singles