written by David Foster, Babyface & Linda Thompson

“The Power Of The Dream” is a song co-written by David Foster, Babyface and Linda Thompson for the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics.
This evocative anthem was performed at the opening ceremony by Celine Dion accompanied by Foster on piano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

“The Power Of The Dream” was a great choice for that kind of event given its inspirational lyrics and powerful musical scenario with Dion being the perfect singer to deliver the song’s positive message with her amazing vocal performance.
“The Power Of The Dream” was eventually released as a single in Japan and certified gold there and it was also included on several editions of Dion’s hit singles from her album “Falling Into You.” Finally the song was internationally released on two compilations albums of the Canadian superstar respectively entitled, “The Collector’s Series, Vol.1” and “My Love – Essential Collection.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/the_power_of_the_dream.mp3|titles=The Power Of The Dreams|artists=Celine Dion]

Lead Vocals: Celine Dion
Keyboards: David Foster

Produced & Arranged by David Foster
Co-Produced by Babyface

Lyrics

Deep within each heart
There lies a magic spark
That lights the fire of our imagination
And since the dawn of man
The strength of just “I can”
Has brought together people of all nations

There’s nothing ordinary
In the living of each day
There’s a special part
Every one of us will play

Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
As the world gives us its best
To stand apart from all the rest
It is the power of the dream that brings us here

Your mind will take you far
The rest is just pure heart
You’ll find your fate is all your own creation
And every boy and girl
As they come into this world
They bring the gift of hope and inspiration

Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world in lights and hope and peace
We’ll pray that you will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here

There’s so much strength in all of us
Every woman child and man
It’s the moment that you think you can’t
You’ll discover that you can

Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
(To bring us closer to) the power of the dream
The world in lights and hope and peace
(We’ll pray that) it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here

Feel the flame (forever burn)
Teaching (lessons we must learn)
(To bring us closer to) the power of the dream
(The world in lights and hope and peace)
We’ll pray that it will always be
(It is) the power of the dream that brings us,

(The power of the dream)
(The faith in things unseen)
(The courage to embrace your fear)
(No matter where you are)
(To reach for your own star)
To realize the power of the dream
To realize the power of the dream

Back in 1974, “I Honestly Love you” was a worldwide hit for pop sensation Olivia Newton John. This soft ballad was another gem co-written by the late Peter Allen with Jeff Barry. Newton John’s version became a true evergreen. “I Honestly Love You” was a multi-genre hit reaching #1 on the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts.

It crossed over and became a top ten Country hit, won a couple of Grammys and propelled the talented singer’s career to new heights in North America.

In 1998, Newton John recorded a comeback album in Nashville with the cream of country producers like Chris Farren, Tony Brown and Gary Burr. The album, “Back With A Heart,” presented a well-dosed collection of adult contemporary and contemporary country songs mostly co-written by the singer. The new collection also included a remake of “I Honestly Love You,” arranged and produced by David Foster. The new version kept the emotional strength of the original, but added a modern pop twist with a keyboard driven arrangement and state of the art production. The singer’s expressive voice caresses the tune with sweet harmony vocals provided by the talented Babyface. The 1998 version was the first entry on Billboard’s Hot 100 for Newton John in six years, reaching #67. The track also broke the Top Twenty Adult Contemporary chart while a country remix reached #16 on the Country Music Sales chart. Its parent album, “Back With A Heart,” became a top ten hit on the Country Albums chart as well.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/i_honestly_love_you.mp3|titles=I Honestly Love You|artists=Olivia Newton John]

Lead Vocals: Olivia Newton John
Harmony Vocals: Babyface
Keyboards: David Foster

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Maybe I hang around here
A little more than I should
We both know I got somewhere else to go
But I got something to tell you
That I never thought I would
But I believe you really ought to know

I love you
I honestly love you

You don’t have to answer
I see it in your eyes
Maybe it was better left unsaid
This is pure and simple
And you should realize
That it’s coming from my heart and not my head

I love you
I honestly love you

I’m not trying to make you feel uncomfortable
I’m not trying to make you anything at all
But this feeling doesn’t come along everyday
And you shouldn’t blow the chance
When you’ve got the chance to say

I love you
I honestly love you

If we both were born
In anoother place and time
This moment might be ending in a kiss
But there you are with yours
And here I am with mine
So I guess we’ll just be leaving it at this

I love you
I honestly love you
I honestly love you

Written by Diane Warren

“Dream Away” is another one of those big productions of the nineties that brought together the talents of Diane Warren and David Foster. Warren, the most successful songwriter of the past decade, provided Foster with one of her trademark sweet melodies.

The Canadian music maker embellished the song, rich in effective hooks, with an inspired arrangement plus his usual top-notch production. What’s especially interesting here is the odd pairing of two “non-conventional” singers like producer/songwriter Babyface and UK pop/soul songbird Lisa Stansfield. The combination works really well here with their voices blending beautifully, on the sea of strings, keyboards and some gentle guitar that Foster orchestrated for them. Babyface is really at home on this soft Adult Contemporary treat, but it is Stansfield, usually a performer of sultry dance stuff, that is the true surprise. She sings the ballad with absolute ease and class. “Dream Away” was released in 1994 as the leading single from “The Pagemaster,” a movie with Macaulay Culkin. James Horner composed the film score and the soundtrack included another original song, “Whatever You Imagine,” written by Horner with Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, sung by Wendy Moten.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/dream_away.mp3|titles=Dream away|artists=Babyface – Lisa Stansfield]

Lead Vocals: Babyface & Lisa Stansfield
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Michael Thompson

Produced and Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

When this world
The real life world you’re living in
Just gets too much for you to take
When you find
Too many troubles on your mind
And feel just like there’s no escape

And it seems your heart’s forgotten how to believe
Turn a page in your soul
There’s a place you can go
Close your eyes and let your heart fly free

Dream away, dream away
Let imagination light your way
Take you as far as your heart can see
Dream away, dream away
To a place where hope is shining
Find your silver lining
Everything you need is just a dream away

Remember when
A dream could take you anywhere
Just a wish anything could be
When the farthest star was one more star you could reach
Take a look in your heart
‘Cause that’s where dreams are where it starts
Anything is real if you just believe

HOOK

All it takes is faith to make your dreams come true
And somewhere in this world there’ll be somebody
To share your dreams with you

HOOK