Songs of My Life #44 - Ronnie James Dio & Yngwie Malmsteen - Dream On - 1999

Songs of My Life #44 - Ronnie James Dio & Yngwie Malmsteen - Dream On.

I mentioned some time ago, when using "Walk This Way" as one of the Songs of My Life, that I don't particularly like Aerosmith the band; that I didn't mind some of their songs, but overall I just wasn't a fan. But - I did like the version of their song they did with Run DMC, for the reasons I stated then (you'll have to go into the archives to find that if you want further information).

Here is an even better example. "Dream On" is an average Aerosmith song. Find it and listen to it, and I'm sure you'll think 'meh'. I always did. And then this cover version was recorded for an Aerosmith tribute album, and life changed.

I'm happy to admit here that RJD is my hero. He is the greatest vocalist ever, bar none, to my ears and eyes. Yngwie is one of the finest guitarists ever, period. And here they both are, together on this unbelievably brilliant version of this usually drab song. But listen to this version. Listen to the emotion Dio brings to the table, perfectly emotive at the exact right points of the song. And then Yngwie masters the usually boring guitar riffs and solo into something magical and awesome. Together, they have made this a song for the ages, the perfect scenario of a cover version totally crapping all over the original. Yes, the Aerosmith boys laid the bones of the song, but it is Dio and Yngwie who make it a song. Still brilliant today \m/