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A series of open, slow chiming guitar chords echo, and following a sudden, expertly executed bass fill leading to the entry of drums and vocals, we enter a new world. The song Don’t Dream It’s Over is a simple and concise introduction to Crowded House, the New Zealand risen from the ashes of the art-rock band the Split Enz.

The sparse, back-to-basics combination of guitar, bass, and drums provide ample opportunity to wallow in thoughtful lyrics, alternating hope and despair. A sad, melancholy verse speaking of isolation is followed by a contrastingly hopeful chorus, featuring subtle harmonies, musical touches dripping with reverb, and group “hey now’s” peaking with an exquisite high note behind the word “dream” on a major chord.

Neil Finn, the lead vocalist and songwriter behind Crowded House once said he liked songs with a minor verse followed by a major chorus. While the verse here is not exclusively minor, the progression descends and feels slightly off. In contrast, the chorus ascends and is based on the repeated pattern I vi IV V with the crucial difference in that it starts on IV. This slight variation at first sounds slightly askew, but it’s familiar: used in the Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand.

Each chorus feels bittersweet after the loneliness of the verses, which capture the pessimism of modern times and a world-weary maturity, set in both the past and the present, while the choruses beg us to put contemplation aside and look to the future.

This alternating pattern is accentuated during the solo section. We start with a truly somber organ solo by producer Mitchell Froom, who played on the Elvis Costello album King of America. Some of the sweeter melodies are reminiscent that album’s song I’ll Wear it Proudly. The organ solo over the verse chord progression is followed by comparatively exuberant guitar solo played by Neil Finn. Both solo sections are given visual contrast in the left-to-right room journey music video, with the organ’s religious overtones accompanying “The Mission Room” and the upbeat guitar solo the “Dream Kitchen”.

After a third verse and chorus, the organ joins the trio, the introductory bass fill returns, as all instruments combine in an agreement to continue on together under a ride cymbal umbrella on the chord progression of the chorus. It’s almost as if on taking this musical journey, Crowded House has convinced the sad solo organ of the power of positive thinking. This musical symbolism, consciously applied or not, leads me to give Don’t Dream It’s Over a five star, perfect song rating.

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