Sweet Dreams (Beyoncé Knowles Song)

Sweet Dreams (Beyoncé Knowles Song)

"Sweet Dreams" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). Originally titled "Beautiful Nightmare", it was leaked online in March 2008. The song was written and produced by Knowles, James Scheffer, Wayne Wilkins, and Rico Love. Columbia Records released "Sweet Dreams", the album's sixth single, to mainstream radio and rhythmic contemporary radio playlists in the United States on June 2, 2009, and elsewhere from July 13. It is an adventurous song composed in an electropop arrangement and its instrumentation includes synthesizers, a keyboard, and snare drums. Knowles employs slinky vocals to sing the haunting lyrics, which describe a romantic relationship that the female protagonist believes could be a dream.

"Sweet Dreams" was critically acclaimed by contemporary music critics, who praised its beats, electropop sound and Knowles' vocals. Some critics noted that the sliding bassline gave the song a dark quality and resembles the one used in some of Michael Jackson's songs on Thriller (1983) . "Sweet Dreams" gained popularity for its electro music style, which contrasts Knowles' earlier R&B, urban, and funk-tinged releases. The song was nominated for the Viewers Choice Award at the 2010 BET Awards. It topped the New Zealand Singles Chart, peaked at number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached the top five on singles charts in Australia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom among others. "Sweet Dreams" was certified platinum in Australia, New Zealand and the US.

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Adria Petty, and was filmed in Brooklyn, New York. It mainly uses a green screen and computer-generated effects, making the clip minimal and performance-based. The video features Knowles wearing a golden robot suit that was designed by French fashion designer Thierry Mugler. The video received favorable reviews from critics, who described it as high-fashion and noted that Knowles reprised part of the choreography from her 2008 video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". Knowles promoted the song by performing it live at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards and occasionally during the I Am... Tour (2009–10). "Sweet Dreams" was recognized as one of the most performed songs of 2009 at the 27th American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Pop Music Awards. It was used in a Cryster Geyser Water Japanese advertisement that featured Knowles.