Music Review: Expose "As Long As I Can Dream"

Expose

As Long As I Can Dream

Album: Expose

Year:  1993

           Jeanette Jurado believes there are still good people in the world in the  pedantic “As Long As I Can Dream.”

           A dour piano opens the single,  setting an earnest tone. She flips the newspaper over and puts her hand over her mouth. That poor family. The father is never going to be the same again. She stares out her window and then back at the newspaper. She feels like doing nothing today. Maybe later on, she might tackle the dishes. She’ll be ok. She needs to get out of her head for a moment. (“When this world that I see /Is too hard to take/And too much for me/And everything's in blue/When the rain's pouring down/And I can't find the sun/It don't mean the sun can't be found/It always comes through.”)

            In the pre-chorus, she thinks troubled people can change and depression will subside. (“There's not a soul that's lost /That can't find it's way/There's not a night that's long/That can't find the day.”)

           In the chorus, each day she wakes up, it’s another chance for the world to improve. There’s so much potential. Laws can repealed or made to help make the changes. People can stand up for what’s wrong. (“As long as I can dream,/There's a better world/Oh, there's a better world/I see it shining/And in my dreams, I see/There's a better world/Oh, there's a better world/As long as I can dream.”)

        She can’t allow herself to become cynical. She won’t let herself dwell on her mistakes and regret. She has to believe in herself. It’s what comforts her through her horrible days. (“In my heart, there's a place /Where there's always hope/

And always a way /To make it through the night/And in my soul, I believe/If I just have faith/Then I will be free/I'll be alright.”)

              The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

              In the bridge, they “na na” over the agape strings, working to restore belief.              

              The pre-chorus is sung again.

              Variations on the chorus are sung twice to end the single. (“There's a better world) there's a better world) And I can see it (I see it shining)/

Yes, it's shining on me /(In my dreams, I see) In my dreams, I see /(There's a better world) Just as long as I can dream/As long as I can dream/I see a better world/As long as I can dream/When rain is pouring down/It don't mean the sun can't be found/As long as I can dream.”)

                Jurado’s sincere vocals really wants to get involved in something to help. She scours the yellow pages for charities to send a donation. She tries to do acts of kindness whenever she can. The puritincal arrangement undercuts her, though with its judgement.

              Despite Jurado's excellent vocals, the hard-nosed “As Long As I Can Dream,” takes itself too seriously.