"Shattered Dreams"
Single by Johnny Hates Jazz
from the album Turn Back the Clock
B-side"My Secret Garden"
Released9 March 1987 (1987-03-09)
GenreSophisti-pop[1]
Length3:26
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Clark Datchler
Producer(s)
Johnny Hates Jazz singles chronology
"Me and My Foolish Heart"
(1986)		 "Shattered Dreams"
(1987)		 "I Don't Want to Be a Hero"
(1987)
Music video
"Shattered Dreams" on YouTube

"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 five 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.[2] The single topped Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart for one week and peaked at number two 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.[3]

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.[3]

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;[4] 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;[5] 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 polisheed sound".[6] By contrast, Barry McIlheney of Smash Hits stated the song is "a polite little ditty of interest only to incurable insomniacs".[7]

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 five, a position it held for consecutive three weeks, and appeared on the chart for a total of 16 weeks.[8] This chart performance allowed the single to rank at number 59 on the national year-end chart.[9] In Ireland, it attained number three and charted for five weeks.[10] 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 seven in its fourth week, and fell off the chart after 15 weeks of presence.[11] In addition, it was a top ten hit in Switzerland, Norway and Sweden, where it peaked at number five, six and seven, respectively.[12][13][14] It made the top 15 in Italy,[15] 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.[16][17][18] 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 six in its ninth week,[19] 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.[20]

Outside Europe, "Shattered Dreams" missed the top 20 by two places in Australia.[21] 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 one slot first by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine's "Anything for You", then by George Michael's "One More Try".[22] It made better on the Adult Contemporary chart which it topped in its seventh week,[23] and reached number six in Canada.[24] On the US charts mentioned above, it ranked at number 26 and 27 on their respective year-end chart of 1988.[25][26]

Track listings

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Shattered Dreams"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 9 March 1987
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
 Virgin [39]
Japan 21 April 1988 Mini-album [40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Inskeep, Thomas; Soto, Alfred. "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Back to the 80s: Interview with Clark Datchler of Johnny Hates Jazz". Kickin' it Old School. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Interview with Clark Datchler of Johnny Hates Jazz". Kickin' it Old School. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Jaybee Feat. Morris - Shattered Dreams (CD)". Discogs.com. 19 December 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Sergey Lazarev — Shattered Dreams" – via tophit.ru.
  6. ↑ Smith, Jerry (28 March 1987). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 21. Retrieved 10 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  7. ↑ McIlheney, Barry (11–24 March 1987). "Singles reviewed by Barry McIlheney" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 9, no. 5. p. 64. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
  8. 1 2 "Johnny Hates Jazz: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Gallup Year End Charts 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. 23 January 1988. p. 36. ISSN 0144-5804 – via World Radio History.
  10. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Shattered Dreams". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams". VG-lista. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Johnny Hates Jazz" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
  16. 1 2 "Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  19. 1 2 "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 25. 27 June 1987. p. 4. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 9 October 2023 – via World Radio History.
  20. 1 2 "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 27. 11 July 1987. p. 14. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  21. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 159. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. 1 2 "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 28 May 1988. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  23. 1 2 "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. 21 May 1988. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8667." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  25. 1 2 "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  26. 1 2 "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  27. ↑ Shattered Dreams (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Johnny Hates Jazz. Virgin Records. 1987. VS 948.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ↑ Shattered Dreams (US cassette single sleeve). Johnny Hates Jazz. Virgin Records. 1988. 99383-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ↑ Shattered Dreams (UK maxi-cassette single sleeve). Johnny Hates Jazz. Virgin Records. 1987. VSC 948.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ↑ Shattered Dreams (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Johnny Hates Jazz. Virgin Records. 1987. VSC 948.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ↑ Shattered Dreams (Japanese mini-album liner notes). Johnny Hates Jazz. Virgin Records. 1987. VJD-12003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8619." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  33. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Johnny Hates Jazz" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  34. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending June 11, 1988". Cash Box. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  35. ↑ "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  36. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1987" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 9. ISSN 0033-7064 – via World Radio History.
  38. ↑ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1988 – Top 50 Pop Singles". Cash Box. 31 December 1988. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  39. ↑ "New Singles". Music Week. 7 March 1987. p. 9.
  40. ↑ "シャタード・ドリームス | ジョニー・ヘイツ・ジャズ" [Shattered Dreams | Johnny Hates Jazz] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
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