"Keeping the Dream Alive" is a 1988 song by German pop and rock band Münchener Freiheit – also known as Freiheit in English-speaking countries – taken from their album ''

Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

''. The music was written by Aron Strobel and Stefan Zauner with lyrics by Timothy Touchton and Curtis Briggs, and the song was arranged by Andrew Powell, Armand Volker and Stefan Zauner. It was recorded in

Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a music recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, London, Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of ...

and mastered by Tonstudio Rico Sonderegger, with Volker as the producer. The performance by Münchener Freiheit with the London Symphony Orchestra included featuring additional vocals by the Jackson Singers. The song was originally recorded in German as "So lang' man Träume noch leben kann", and appeared on the album '' Fantasie''. The lyrics were later translated into English and re-recorded to be released on CBS. An instrumental version under the original German-language title "So lang' man Träume noch leben kann" appeared in 1987 on ''Schenk Mir Eine Nacht - Ihre Schönsten Lovesongs''.

Charts

It remains the band's only international hit, peaking at #14 in the UK Charts. Because it is the band's only charting hit in the UK, it is generally considered as a

one-hit wonder A one-hit wonder is any entity that achieves mainstream popularity, often for only one piece of work, and becomes known among the general public solely for that momentary success. The term is most commonly used in regard to music performers with ...

and, due to its December release, a Christmas song, being featured on many Christmas compilation albums.

Tracklist

German

*Side A: So lang’ man Träume noch leben kann" (Long Version) (6:58) *Side B: **"So lang’ man Träume noch leben kann" (Instrumental Version) (4:14) **"So lang’ man Träume noch leben kann" (Single Version) (4:14)

English

Single *Side A: "Keeping the Dream Alive" (Single Version) (4:09) *Side B: "The Land of Fantasy" (4:51) Maxi single #"Keeping the Dream Alive" (Single Version) (4:09) #"Keeping the Dream Alive" (Extended Version) (6:31) #"The Land of Fantasy" (4:51)

Popularity

Due to its December release and rich orchestral sound, "Keeping the Dream Alive" still receives much airplay at Christmas time in the United Kingdom, and can be found on many Christmas compilation albums. It is also popular with choirs throughout the world. The song failed to chart in the United States when it was originally released, gaining favour with the American public only after it was featured in the soundtrack for the film '' Say Anything...''.

Cover versions

There have been a number of covers of the song both in English and in German. In 2013, English pop singer

Kim Wilde Kim Wilde (born Kim Smith, 18 November 1960) is an English pop singer. She first gained success in 1981 with her debut single "Kids in America", which peaked at no. 2 in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award for Best British Female solo ...

covered the song on her album '' Wilde Winter Songbook'', but only in the deluxe edition of the album. In 2018, British pop music group The Fizz covered it in their album '' Christmas with the Fizz''. In 2019,

Björn Again Björn Again is an ABBA-inspired tribute act, tribute band from Australia, consisting of performers from various countries. The name is a reference to ABBA guitarist and vocalist Björn Ulvaeus. The band has performed worldwide since it was fo ...

covered the song in "Christmas Is Björn Again". In 2020, Rock Choir covered the song.

In popular culture

The song was featured on the soundtrack of the 1989 film '' Say Anything...'' directed by Cameron Crowe.

References

{{authority control 1988 songs 1988 singles Christmas songs British Christmas songs