Sweet Dreams My LA Ex

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" is the debut single by English singer-songwriter Rachel Stevens. It was released on 15 September 2003 as the lead single from her first solo album, Funky Dory. Originally written for Britney Spears, the song was produced by Swedish duo Bloodshy & Avant. The single is Stevens's most successful single to date, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It was the 22nd best-selling single of 2003 in the United Kingdom and has sold over 233,000 copies in the UK as of 2013. Worldwide, the single peaked at number two in Denmark and earned a Gold certification in Norway, where it reached number five.

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex"
Single by Rachel Stevens
from the album Funky Dory
B-side"Little Secret"
Released15 September 2003
RecordedJune 2003
StudioMurlyn (Stockholm, Sweden)
GenreDance-pop
Length3:27
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bloodshy & Avant
Rachel Stevens singles chronology
"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex"
(2003)		 "Funky Dory"
(2003)

The name uses a pun on LAX, the IATA airport code for the Los Angeles International Airport.

Composition and inspiration

The lyrics of the song, written by Cathy Dennis, were inspired by Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River", which is believed to be aimed at Britney Spears, his ex-girlfriend.[1][2] The lyrics are a message to the famous ex-lover who has talked about the relationship and break-up in public, with the person in the song now taking the time to deliver their side of the story.

"If I were in your shoes
I'd whisper before I shout
Can't you stop playing that record again?
Find somebody else to talk about
If I were in your shoes
I'd worry of the effects
You've had your say but now its my turn
Sweet dreams my L.A. Ex"

The person in the song wishes their ex "sweet dreams", but accuses them of using the break-up to further themselves. Originally the song was written by Dennis for Britney Spears, who turned it down due to its subject matter. A few months later, Dennis still had not found someone to perform the song and offered it to Stevens, whom she had worked with when Stevens was a member of S Club 7. At the time Stevens had just begun work on her debut solo album and thought the song, which did not sound like anything out at the time, would make a good first single. Stevens said of the song in an interview, "The writers really got my personality and the direction I want to go in," she said. "The first single is a great example – the first time I heard it I knew it's what I wanted." In an interview, Stevens revealed that she recorded the song two weeks after S Club 7 announced their spilt.

Critical reception

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. The BBC called the song "perfectly pleasant" but "unlikely to set the world alight, despite heavy rotation on radio and TV". The review also went on to say that while Stevens is popular, she will "need stronger material than this to maintain a pop career past her first album".

Jamie Gill, in a review for Dotmusic, called the song "utterly addictive", while Amazon.co.uk called the song "sassy" and full of "feminine confidence". In a separate review on Amazon.com, Georgina Collins, called the song a "corker of a popsong", praising it for being catchy and fun to listen to.

The song was also nominated for ITV1's annual Record of the Year prize, finishing 6th behind Westlife who won with their cover of Barry Manilow's "Mandy", and was also nominated at the 2004 BRIT Awards for Best British Single, losing out to Dido with her song "White Flag".

Music video

The music video for "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" was released prior to the singles commercial release. It was directed by Tim Royes and filmed at Royal Studios in North London.

The music video consists of four sequences; it begins with Stevens singing in an enclosed box, representing that she is trapped in a relationship that she no longer wants to be a part of; the next sequence has Stevens singing in front of her "LA Ex", telling him that she no longer wants to be with him; the next scene she is shown dancing with a few female dancers who tie her up in a red ribbon and trap her, which she fights against it and breaks free; the last sequence shows Stevens walking away from her ex, leaving the relationship.

At first Stevens was unsure about the idea when the choreographer told her of the plans for the video but she soon warmed up to it, "It was strange at first but I like it because it's something new and looks great on stage."

The video was slightly edited for the rest of Europe, only taking off the pink light that follows her through the UK version.

On 4:3 full screen prints, the music video is both choppier and open matte.

Chart performance

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" was a hit in the UK, debuting at number two on the singles chart behind that year's biggest selling single from Black Eyed Peas with "Where Is the Love?". It stayed in this position for two nonconsecutive weeks, with a further three inside the top 10. Elsewhere in Europe, the song was a minor pop hit, reaching the top ten in Denmark, Ireland and Norway. In the United States the song received minor airplay and did not break onto the US Billboard charts.

In December 2003 the single was certified Silver for sales of 200,000 in the UK. At the end of 2003 the song was ranked the 22nd best selling single of the year in the UK.[3] The song has remained Stevens' biggest success worldwide, with her follow-up singles charting well out of the top ten worldwide. In the UK, only "Some Girls" and "More, More, More" were able to live up their predecessor's success, with "Negotiate with Love" and "So Good" only just breaking the top 10.

Track listings

Personnel

Credits are lifted from the European CD single liner notes.[6]

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "How Justin Timberlake Feels About Recording a Song with Britney Spears". CINEMABLEND. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  2. Corner, Lewis (10 May 2016). "12 pieces of pop music trivia that will blow your mind". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  3. "2003 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  4. "Ultratop.be – Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  5. Sweet Dreams My LA Ex (UK 12-inch single promo sleeve). Rachel Stevens. Polydor Records, 19 Recordings. 2003. LAEX-3.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. Sweet Dreams My LA Ex (European CD single liner notes). Rachel Stevens. Polydor Records. 2003. 9815651.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. Sweet Dreams My LA Ex (European enhanced maxi-single liner notes). Rachel Stevens. Polydor Records. 2003. 9816563.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "Danishcharts.com – Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex". Tracklisten.
  9. "Hits of the World – Eurochart" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 115 no. 42. 18 October 2003. p. 43. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. "Norwegiancharts.com – Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex". VG-lista.
  14. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 41, saptamina 27.10 – 2.11, 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  16. "Swedishcharts.com – Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex". Singles Top 100.
  17. "Swisscharts.com – Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex". Swiss Singles Chart.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  19. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  20. "British single certifications – Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  21. Myers, Justin (11 October 2013). "Official Chart Flashback 2003: The Black Eyed Peas – Where Is the Love?". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
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