Out of all the performers I've
worked with over the years, I was most touched when my
song, "Just A Dream Away" was selected to be the song which opened the 1984 Winter Olympics from Sarajevo. John Denver sang it while standing in the snow during the ABC-TV
Opening Ceremonies broadcast in February of 1984 - - a very special month in my life. Since then, both Placido Domingo and Dionne Warwick have recorded the song.
I originally composed JUST A DREAM AWAY in 1977 (while a
student at UCLA) for the Frank Sinatra Awards Concert for
which I won the Composing/Arranging Award. Besides being
able to perform at this concert hosted by Gene Kelly, I was given a check for $2000 by Frank Sinatra. Many years later -- 10, to be exact -- we had Mr. Sinatra on Solid Gold as a special guest host with Dionne. On the day of taping, when I first appeared in his dressing room to go over the music
we had recorded for him, he looked up with a grin on his
face and said, "You again? Did you spend all that money
already? Well, I'm afraid I can't help you this time --
I'm flat broke!!" Needless to say, I had great fun
spending the day with him...that's for sure!! On that same day, we also had Joe Piscopo on doing his infamous Frank Sinatra impersonations. It was amazing having the both of
them on stage together!!
Back to JOHN DENVER: After not seeing his performance of
JUST A DREAM AWAY since 1984, I recently found a video copy of it in my storage. Hearing it again after all these years
-- and after his passing -- I was deeply mmoved by how
beautiful and hauntingly ominous his rendition was. He was -- and, I'm sure, still continues to be -- a very dear Being.
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Just A Dream Away
Music by Michael Miller (ASCAP)
Words by Monica Riordan (ASCAP)
When a dream is born
A dreamer has to live for more
Believing what he's never known
He stands alone.
Where a chance begins
Wherever secret hopes pretend
Like daybreak on the darkest night
He'll see the light...
It's JUST A DREAM AWAY
You'll know it when you're there one day
Keep reaching for the world somehow
There's nothing that can stop you now,
Dream your way...dream it all.
Years of hope within
Then feeling what it's like to win
This dreamer's gonna find a way
To see that day.
It's JUST A DREAM AWAY
You'll know it when you're there one day
Keep reaching for the world somehow
There's nothing that can stop you now,
Dream your way...dream it all.
© 1984 -- Hook, Line and Singer Music/Cherry Mountain Music
(ASCAP)
