Understanding Dream On

Dream On is a startlingly mature piece of music in both theme and composition. It was one of the earliest power ballads, and to my mind, it remains one of the best. It avoids a lot of the cornier elements that plagued many of its successors and shows just how effective the power ballad can be if it's done right. It's a masterclass in crafting a musical journey, a fact that's made all the more impressive by the fact that Steven Tyler wrote it when he was 14. Let's talk about what makes it so great.
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Huge thanks to our Elephant of the Month Club members:
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Also, thanks to Jareth Arnold for proofreading the script to make sure this all makes sense hopefully!

[@12tone]

Some additional thoughts/corrections:

[@matthewdhewlett]

I would love to hear your analysis of "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits. The rock song about a jazz band, where the instruments are often used as sound effects to reflect the lyrics.

[@tylerphillips503]

I appreciate the coke nail in honor of Aerosmith

[@jessehammer123]

I thought the part of “Dream On” everyone remembers is when Tyler screamingly hits that high note, not the bridge. But I guess everyone experiences it differently.

[@Iwasbornin74]

That feeling when you voted for Welcome to the Black Parade for the millionth time in a row but you’re always basking in the glory of how well this song was explained.

[@DavidMacDonald]

"It’s not really a chord thing at all. It’s a voice-leading thing." - ONCE MORE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!

[@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy]

Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton don't get NEARLY enough credit for all the work they do in Aerosmith. Those drums and that bass is what brings emotional weight!

[@masterklaw4527]

Kratos falling lol

[@robertbingham8053]

Generic comment to increase engagement statistics.

[@Daplin1]

When you finally realise these comments mean the nail on his thumb

[@happyron]

Power ballad balances emotional sincerity and over the top drama. Wow

[@braumm1476]

"Before the Elephants took over."

[@benjamink7105]

This is the song I always point to if anyone asks "was Aerosmith even any good?"

[@RubyRoks]

"Before the elephants took over"

[@Nightfire613]

Gonna take a hot second to brag. My sister and brother-in-law were both audio technicians, and my BIL worked with Aerosmith once upon a time. He was pretty friendly with Tom Hamilton, and ended up getting a bass from Hamilton as a gift. My BIL was grateful, but didn't really play bass, so guess who he gave it to when he found out she played bass (hint: not my sister)! The fact that I own one of Tom Hamilton's basses is literally the only cool thing about me, but goddamn is it cool

[@sxywyka]

My favorite band getting an analysis by 12tone? Hell ya!! As a bass player, nobody gets why I love Tom Hamilton and consider him one of the bests! Other bassists like Geddy Lee, Flea, Victor Wooten and more legends just blow me away when I learn those ridiculously hard lines, but bassists like Justin Chancellor and Tom Hamilton just know how to make the most out of the least!!!

[@Steveofthejungle8]

I loved the Perry the Platypus 😂

[@launder0]

"Before the elephants took over..." that delivery was just so perfect hahaha

[@andrew_oid]

2:56

[@thetoxbloxer503]

“before the elephants took over”