What is Sweet Dreams My La Ex?

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex"
"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" cover
Single by Rachel Stevens
from the album Funky Dory
Released	September 15, 2003
Format	CD single
Recorded	2003
Genre	Pop
Length	3:31
Label	Polydor/Universal Records
Writer(s)	Cathy Dennis, C. Karlsson, P. Winnberg, H. Jonback
Producer(s)	Bloodshy & Avant
Certification	Silver (UK - 200,000+)
Peak chart positions
2 (UK, Denmark) 2 (Ireland) 5 (Norway)
Rachel Stevens singles chronology
"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" (2003) "Funky Dory" (2003)

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" is the first single from Funky Dory, the debut solo album by Rachel Stevens, released towards the end of 2003). It was produced by Bloodshy & Avant, and received a mixed reception from pop-music critics. The single is Stevens most successful single to date, peaking at number two on the UK singles chart.

Composition and inspiration

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" is a brassy, bold and distinctive pop song. 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. The lyrics are a message to the famous ex-partner 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.

"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"

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." ^[1]

The song has been covered by the rock band lostprophets as the B-side to their single "Last Summer".

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 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 apart 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." ^[2]

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

Critical response

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" received a mixed response 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 onto say that while Stevens is popular, she will "need stronger material than this to maintain a pop career past her first album".^[3]

Jamie Gill, in a review for DotMusic.com', called the song "utterly addictive"^[4], while Amazon.co.uk called the song "sassy" and full of "feminine confidence".^[5] In a separate review on Amazon, Georgina Collins, called the song "corker of a popsong", praising it for being catchy and fun to listen to.^[6]

Tracklist and formats

• UK CD single

1. "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex"
2. "Little Secret"
3. "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" [BMR Peaktime Mix]

• European CD single

1. "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex"
2. "Little Secret"

• European enhanced CD single

1. "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex"
2. "Little Secret"
3. "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" [BMR Peaktime Mix]
4. "Sweet Dreams MY LA Ex" [CD-ROM Video]

Charts

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" was a hit in the UK, debuting at number two on the singles chart. Elsewhere in Europe the song was a minor pop hit, reaching the top ten in Denmark, Ireland and Norway. In December 2003 the single was certified silver status for sales of 225,000 in the UK. At the end of 2003 the song was the seventh best selling single in the UK. The song went #6 at Record of the Year 2003. In the United States the song received minor airplay, and did not break onto the US Billboard charts.

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" is the 186th bestselling single of this decade in the UK, according to the Official Top 200 Bestselling Singles of the 00s List.

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 predecessors success reaching the number two and three positions.

Chart performance

Chart (2003)	Peak
Belgium Singles Top 50	25
Denmark Top 20 Singles	2
Germany Singles Top 100	64
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles	7
Europe Top 100	24
Ireland Singles Top 50	2
Norway Singles Top 20	5
Sweden Singles Top 60	24
Swiss Singles Top 100	63
UK Singles Chart	2

Cover versions

• Picturehouse on Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 1
• Lostprophets on Last Summer

Notes

1. ^  Sweet Dream My LA Ex 1. Contact Music. Retrieved Jan. 8, 2006.
2. ^  Justin Stoneman. Sweet Dream My LA Ex 2. Virgin Music. 2003. Retrieved Jan. 8, 2006.
3. ^  Angry Jack - Derby. Sweet Dream My LA Ex 3. BBC.co.uk. 2003. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2006.
4. ^  Jamie Gill. Sweet Dream My LA Ex 4. RachelStevensOnline. Oct. 7, 2003. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2006.
5. ^  Cortman Virtue Sweet Dream My LA Ex 5. RachelStevensOnline. 2003. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2006.
6. ^  Georgina Collins Sweet Dream My LA Ex 6. Amazon.co.uk. 2004. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2006.

References

• "Rachel Stevens Discography". EIL.com. link - last accessed on January 8, 2006. Formats and tracklistings.
• Rachel Stevens Online. link - last accessed on January 28, 2006. Chart information.

External links

• Amazon.com about the single
• Music video to My L.A. Ex.
• Live performance of My L.A. Ex.

•  • [ e] Rachel Stevens
Studio albums:
Funky Dory Come and Get It
Singles:
"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" "Funky Dory" "Some Girls" "More More More" "Negotiate with Love" "So Good" "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)"
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