Sweet Dreams My LA Ex

"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" is the debut single of English singer-songwriter Rachel Stevens. It was released on 15 September 2003 as the lead single from her debut 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 284,000 copies in the UK as of September 2021. Worldwide, the single peaked at number two in Denmark and earned a gold certification in Norway, where it reached number five.

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

Composition and inspiration

"Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" was 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. Originally the instrumental for the song were utilized in a track called "Phoney Lullaby", after Phoney Lullaby, the track was altered as a track called "Topbillin' Love", which was again rejected. The song was revised again as 'Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex'. 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 it's 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 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
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