Background and recording
"Dreamland" was written in early 2017 by Chris Lowe,Neil Tennant,and Olly Alexander at the Pet Shop Boys' London studio. [3] The collaboration was proposed by Alexander's record label,Polydor,during a meeting with the Pet Shop Boys' manager. [4]
The music was based on a backing track that Lowe had written earlier. [4] The title of the track came when Alexander told the duo that he had just visited the Dreamland Margate amusement park. In an interview with The Guardian ,Alexander explained,"I felt like I didn't want to write about politics simply because I felt like I should but then last week I wrote a song with the Pet Shop Boys. It's inspired by a fairground in Margate called Dreamland,but while I was writing it,Neil Tennant said to me,'This makes sense right now with Trump closing the borders.' The song became something that touched on what's going on in the world. I'd write lyrics and he'd say,'No,it needs to be more direct.' He'd take a simple line and interject a subversive political statement. That's the challenge as a pop writer,to do both at once". [5] [6]
"Dreamland" was originally intended for a Years &Years album,but they decided it was better suited for a Pet Shop Boys release. Alexander re-recorded his vocals for the song's inclusion on Hotspot. [4] The track was produced by Stuart Price at Hansa Studios in Berlin and the Record Plant in Los Angeles. [7]
Pet Shop Boys stated:"It's so exciting that our new single is a collaboration with Years &Years,one of the most original and successful bands to emerge this decade,and we really enjoyed writing and recording it with Olly Alexander". Alexander added,"It was a dream come true to create something with two of my heroes,and spending time with Chris and Neil was an absolute joy. I had to pinch myself repeatedly!" [8]
Release
"Dreamland" was released as a digital download on 11 September 2019,along with the news that a new Pet Shop Boys album was forthcoming in January 2020. [7] On 25 October,an expanded package was issued on CD,digital,and 12-inch vinyl formats,with remixes of "Dreamland" and two new songs:"No Boundaries",from the play My Beautiful Laundrette ,and "An Open Mind". [9]
"Dreamland" did not place on the UK Singles Chart. It debuted at number one on the UK Physical Singles and Vinyl Singles charts, [10] and it peaked at number six on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the United States. [11]
The lyric video for "Dreamland" features imagery of a U-Bahn (underground railway) station in Berlin. [12]
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