Daydreaming

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Tags: baillie walsh, blue lines, shara nelson, the wild bunch, willy wee

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Development

The Front Cover Of The Daydreaming Single Release

Quite probably the the first song produced for Blue Lines, Daydreaming was a product mostly of 3D and Tricky coalescing their lyrical ideas together on such things as house parties, drugs, the 1980′s under Margaret Thatcher and urban decay in Britain.

Additional Info

It was on the strength of a demo of Daydreaming that got Massive Attack signed to Circa Records back in 1990, which ultimately led the way to multi-million selling album career they possess now.

This was the first single off what would become Blue Lines and also be Massive Attack first ever commercial released single. Their first technical single of Any Love back in 1988 does not really count as it was produced in very limited quantities.

Maybe indicative of the productions values surrounding the recording of Blue Lines or not, but at the 02:58 – 03:03 duration mark in the song, the faint but distinct noise of a telephone ringing is heard, which does’nt seem to have any real place with the rest of the recording, perhaps being caught on tape at the studio while Daydreaming was being recorded.

Live Appearances

Willy Wee who featured in the promo video for Daydreaming, had previously been a founding member of The Wild Bunch soundsystem. Here he is with 3D in a picture from the one of their parties from the 1980's.

Daydreaming was played on all dates throughout the 1995 – 1999 touring period. It was typically the fourth or fifth song on the setlist. The live arrangement of the song benefits from a more upbeat melodic guitar riff in the chorus. Along with 3D, Tricky’s vocals are supplied by Daddy G and Shara Nelson’s by Deborah Miller, as neither of the original vocalists of the song have toured with Massive Attack. Since the end of the Mezzanine tour, Daydreaming has failed to make any of the live setlists.

Variations/Remixes

Luv It Mix – A mix of Daydreaming by Blacksmith, a UK urban/R&B producer from Brixton, London. Daydreaming would be the only song of Massive Attack’s he would ultimately end up remixing. Included on the 12″ vinyl single release, until the arrival of the Singles 90/98 Box Set where this remix was included on CD for the first time.

Luv It Mix

Luv It Dub – Much like the above mix, Blacksmith offers a more dub style alternative to the Luv It mix. Included on the 12″ vinyl single release, until the arrival of the Singles 90/98 Box Set where this remix was included on CD for the first time.

Luv It Dub

Brixton Bass Mix – Once more another remix from Blacksmith. Included on the 12″ vinyl single release, until the arrival of the Singles 90/98 Box Set where this remix was included on CD for the first time (even though it had appeared under the slightly altered name of the “Blacksmith/Daydreaming” remix on the Karmacoma E.P single release).

Brixton Bass Mix

Instrumental – Unlike many other instrumental versions of Massive Attack songs, this instrumental substantially changes the production and arrangment of the original Daydreaming, while of course removing the vocals as well. Included only on the Daydreaming single release, making this remix one of the notable exclusions from the Singles 90/98 boxset.

Instrumental

Sampled From

Wally Badarou, whose 1983 track "Mambo" was sampled heavily by Massive attack on Daydreaming.

Daydreaming uses a sample from the song “Mambo” by keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Wally Badarou. It appears primarily on his 1983 release “Echoes”. It is credited officially by Massive Attack.

Wally Badarou - Mambo

Notable Quotes

Tricky on the lyrical content of Daydreaming – “Daydreaming perfectly describes who we are. If me and G went out talking about beating and shooting people it wouldn’t be us. I love that sort of stuff. I’ve even tried writing hard aggressive raps. But, at the end of day, that’s not me. Rapping is about putting your personality across” [Rage Magazine - May 1991]

3D on how Massive Attack got signed to a major record label on the strength of Daydreaming – “VIRGIN/CIRCA WERE THE MOST INTERESTED AT THIS TIME-BUT THERE WAS A GENERAL SENSE OF CAUTION FROM THE INDUSTRY.I PLAYED EVERYONE A ROUGH VOCAL IDEA THAT I’D DONE WITH TRICKY-THIS BECAME DAYDREAMING-WE DEMO’D IT AND EVERYONE WNT CRAZY-EVERY ONE WANTED US -WE WENT WITH CIRCA-RELEASED DAYDREAMING AND FINISHED THE ALBUM” [The Raft Message Board - February 2002]

Lyrics

Shara Nelson:

I quietly observe standing in my space

Daydreaming

I quietly observe standing in my space

Daydreaming

3D:

Way that we say ‘em in style that we write ‘em in

Massive attack we keep it strong just like a vitamin

Going for the positive wiping out the negative songs

‘Cause brother it’s relative

The pass is picking up all the lyrics on the dance floor

That raise your spirit level ’cause it demands for

Tricky:

Attitude is cool degrees below zero

Up against the wall behaving like De Niro

Tricky’s performing taking his phono

Making a stand with a tan touch it like cocoa

Smooth to keep you moving at the back now

Free is the needle it’s moving through the track now

3D:

Dance to the drummer’s beats we need new sticks

Bounce around the vibes like acoustics

No drugs or pharmaceuticals for the body ain’t suitable

Stick with liquid me and trick we’ve drop

A paper which you use my tongue to lick with

Tricky:

Trouble and strife ain’t no sunshine in my life

Wiseguys get protection when they carry a knife

They shouldn’t have been born they’re making me yawn

But I just take it easy it’s a sunday morn’

3D:

So you come on light my fire and

Together we’ll grow forever watch my eight k rig go

Daddy G

Because my eight k rig goes boom boom

My eight k rig goes boom

3D:

Yeah rhymin’ the jam and uh we got the stamina

In case you never know us if we don’t give a damn and uh

And it’s hard to handle keep your distance

Resist and the posse gets the pleasure of this dance

The cool breeze that you welcome in the heat

You don’t see it but you feel it when it’s blowing on the street

Tricky:

If I was a rich man

Daddy G:

Da da dada

Tricky:

I quietly observe standing in my space

It’s the devious days they call the rat race

It’s a concrete jungle, evil in the town

Weebles, wobble, occasional squabble

But what happen when the bomb drops

Down

3D:

Don’t make sound

‘Cause the dancefloor’s a desert

And the dancers are parched

Do a rain dance and your brain’s still marsh

My heavy my brother get lighter than helium

Float above the world to break the tedium

Living in my headphones sony’s what I say to ‘em

The surreal boom of the budokan stadium

Shara Nelson:

Well I’m floating on air when i’m daydreaming

I quietly observe standing in my space

Tricky:

Well I’m tricky kid don’t deal with sadness

Can’t be with the one i love i love the one that i miss

I’m very down to earth but brain sits on top floor

Don’t need another lover just need, I’m insecure

3D:

The weather is a-changin’ the storms be shakin

The love that you take is equal to the love you’re makin

Here comes the sun little darlin here comes the sun

It’s alright

Tricky:

Yes tricky kid I check my situation

Maggie this Maggie that Maggie means inflation

Hip-hop you don’t stop cause i’m not sloppy

I like the beat so we need another copy

Rare colour still from the promo video for Daydraming that was directed by Baillie Walsh in September 1990.

3D:

We’re natives of the massive territory and we’re proud

Get peaceful in the dance, adapt the glory and the crowd

The problem ain’t a different kind of skin tricks

I love my neighbor I don’t wait for the olympics

See you go hooligan you’re trying to play the fool again

Tricky:

Caught you in the lost and found

3D:

When your posse weren’t around

Tricky:

No crowd

3D:

So you’re going for your tool again

Shara Nelson:

Daydreaming

I quietly observe standing in my space

Daydreaming

Well I’m floating on air when I’m daydreaming

Promo Video

This and the promo video for Just A Matter Of Time are the only Massive Attack promo videos to feature former Wild Bunch member Willee Wee.

This is the first video Walter Stern would direct for Massive Attack. His other two which he would direct in the future would be Teardrop and Angel.

Quotes About The Video

3D on the fortunate pairing of director Baillie Walsh with the song Daydreaming – “You know, I can’t hear Daydreaming without seeing the video anymore. Fortunately in Bailey we found a director who could perfectly visualise our sounds” [NME Magazine - February 1992]