Lucid Dreams (Juice Wrld song) explained

Lucid Dreams
Cover:Juice WRLD - Lucid Dreams.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Juice Wrld
Ep:JuiceWrld 9 9 9 Goodbye & Good Riddance
Recorded:2017
Genre:Emo rap[1]
Length:3:59
Label:
  • Grade A
  • Interscope
Producer:Nick Mira
Prev Title:All Girls Are the Same
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:Lean wit Me
Next Year:2018

"Lucid Dreams" (formerly "Lucid Dreams (Forget Me)")[2] is a song by American rapper Juice Wrld. It was officially released by Grade A Productions and Interscope Records on May 4, 2018, after previously being released on SoundCloud in June 2017. The song was produced by Nick Mira and debuted at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] peaking at number 2 on the chart.[4] The song has over 2.3 billion streams on Spotify, being one of the most-streamed songs on the platform. As of August 2024, the music video has over one billion views on YouTube. In February 2022 the song was certified Diamond by RIAA for selling over 10 million units in the U.S.[5]

A remix featuring fellow American rapper Lil Uzi Vert was recorded in 2018 but remained unreleased due to sample clearance issues. Posthumously, the remix leaked online in May 2021 after fans pooled together $12,000 to purchase the song from leakers.[6] On May 28, 2021, the remix was officially released as a part of the re-release of Goodbye & Good Riddance that commemorates the album's third anniversary.

Background

In a June 2018 interview with Lyrical Lemonade, Juice Wrld stated the song was made to be a "therapy session" during a period of relationship problems he was encountering. In the lyrics, he describes the pain of a girl breaking up with him, and in the verse he relates back to the title: saying he has lucid dreams thinking of her.

"Lucid Dreams" was initially released on SoundCloud on June 15, 2017, alongside the EP JuiceWrld 9 9 9.[7] It eventually accumulated 2.5 million plays, leading to an official release as a single on May 4, 2018.[8]

In November 2018, producer Nick Mira revealed that Sting owned 85% of the rights to "Lucid Dreams," which features an interpolation of his 1993 hit "Shape of My Heart".[9]

Yellowcard lawsuit

In October 2019, members of then-defunct pop punk band Yellowcard sued Juice Wrld for $15 million, claiming that "Lucid Dreams" copied the melody of their 2006 song "Holly Wood Died".[10] Following Juice Wrld's death on December 8, 2019, the band extended a "deadline for defendants to respond to the lawsuits" into February 2020. Yellowcard's law firm King & Fallow issued a statement disputing the $15 million figure in the lawsuit as "falsely reported" with the final figure yet to be determined. While expressing sympathies for Juice Wrld's sudden death, the firm said the action would be pursued despite "incredible mixed emotions" from the band and firm.[11] After Juice Wrld's mother became the representative of his estate, Yellowcard dropped the lawsuit on July 27, 2020, with the band's lawyer, Richard S. Busch, stating that the band was "very sympathetic not only of Juice Wrld's death, but also needed time to decide whether they really wanted to pursue the case against his grieving mother as the personal representative of his estate." Busch did however state that the case could be refiled if the band were to change their minds.[12]

Composition

"Lucid Dreams" runs for four minutes. The meter is common time (time) and the key is F minor.[13] The tempo is 84 BPM.[14] The song is structured around an interpolation of Sting's 1993 song "Shape of My Heart".[15]

Music video

A music video for "Lucid Dreams" was directed by Cole Bennett, released and uploaded on Lyrical Lemonade YouTube channel on May 11, 2018.[16] It features Juice Wrld trapped up to his head in a floor, with his body tied down, and has been described by Milca P. of HotNewHipHop as "psychedelic and abstract".[17] [18] The music video reached one billion views on August 7, 2024,[19] 6 years after the video was originally published.

Reception

The song debuted at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending May 26, 2018, with 10 million US streams and 4,000 digital downloads. The song jumped to number 35 the following week and then number 15.[4] [20] When it ascended to number nine, "Lucid Dreams" became Juice Wrld's first top 10 song on June 12, with 35.9 million US streams and 9,000 downloads.[21] Reaching number three on the chart in July,[22] the song lingered in the top 10 for months until it peaked at number two in October, blocked from the top spot by Maroon 5 and Cardi B's "Girls Like You".[22] [4] Following Juice Wrld's death in December 2019, "Lucid Dreams" re-entered the Hot 100 at number eight, becoming its 26th nonconsecutive week in the top ten.[23]

During the 2019 Grammy telecast, host Alicia Keys performed 30 seconds of "Lucid Dreams", singing and playing piano, during a segment on songs about heartache.[24]

In 2019, Billboard and NME ranked "Lucid Dreams" at number two and number one, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Juice Wrld songs.[25] [26]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018–2020)Peak
position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[27] 11
France (SNEP)[28] 65
France Radio (SNEP)[29] 16
Greece (IFPI)[30] 7
Iceland (Tonlist)[31] 15
Ireland (IRMA)[32] 11
Italy (FIMI)[33] 45
Latvia (LAIPA)[34] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[35] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[36] 13
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[37] 77
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 5
US Rolling Stone Top 100[39] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)Position
Australia (ARIA)[40] 38
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[41] 20
Denmark (Tracklisten)[42] 25
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 48
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 33
Portugal (AFP)[45] 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 23
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 90
UK Singles (OCC)[48] 53
US Billboard Hot 100[49] 12
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[50] 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[51] 41
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[52] 9
Chart (2019)Position
Australia (ARIA)[53] 91
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[54] 54
Portugal (AFP)[55] 97
US Billboard Hot 100[56] 48
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[57] 44
US Rolling Stone Top 100[58] 48
Chart (2020)Position
Australia (ARIA)[59] 84
Portugal (AFP)[60] 101
UK Singles (OCC)[61] 95
Chart (2021)Position
Global 200 (Billboard)[62] 175
Portugal (AFP)[63] 117

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010–2019)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[64] 51
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[65] 19

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United StatesMay 4, 2018Rhythmic contemporary[66]
United StatesJuly 17, 2018Contemporary hit radio[67]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Juice WRLD's Classic 'Lucid Dreams' Maxed Out the Pop Potential of Emo Rap. Billboard. December 8, 2019.
  2. Web site: Juice WRLD. Juice WRLD "Lucid Dreams (Forget Me)" (Official Audio). YouTube. March 3, 2018. June 7, 2018.
  3. Juice WRLD Makes Hot 100 Debut With 'Lucid Dreams & 'All Girls Are the Same'. Billboard. June 7, 2018.
  4. Maroon 5 & Cardi B's 'Girls Like You' Holds Atop Hot 100, Juice Wrld's 'Lucid Dreams' Lifts to No. 2. Billboard. Trust. Gary. October 1, 2018. October 2, 2018.
  5. Web site: May 28, 2021 . Juice WRLD 'Goodbye & Good Riddance' Anniversary Edition Released Feat. 2 New Songs . May 28, 2021 . HipHop-N-More . en-US.
  6. Web site: Lil Uzi Vert x Juice WRLD "Lucid Dreams" Remix LEAKING for $15,000 . YouTube.
  7. Web site: JuiceWRLD 9 9 9. SoundCloud. June 7, 2018.
  8. News: Tracking the astronomical rise of Chicagoland rapper Juice Wrld. Galil. Leor. Chicago Reader. June 7, 2018.
  9. Web site: Sting Owns 85 Percent of Juice WRLD's "Lucid Dreams"... But He's Not Mad About it. November 19, 2018.
  10. Yellowcard Sue Juice WRLD for Copyright Infringement Over 'Lucid Dreams'. Jon. Blistein. Rolling Stone. October 22, 2019.
  11. Kreps . Daniel . Yellowcard 'Torn' But 'Proceeding' With Juice WRLD 'Lucid Dreams' Lawsuit . . December 19, 2019 . December 19, 2019.
  12. News: Sisario. Ben. July 27, 2020. Yellowcard Quietly Drops Copyright Suit Against Juice WRLD. en-US. The New York Times. November 7, 2021. 0362-4331.
  13. Web site: Danny. Snodgrass Jr. Jarad. Higgins. Nicholas. Mira. Gordon. Sumner. Dominic. Miller. WRLD. Juice. October 23, 2018. Lucid Dreams. June 9, 2021. Musicnotes.com.
  14. Web site: KimBo "Lucid Dreams" Sheet Music (Piano Solo) in F# Minor - Download & Print. Danny. Snodgrass. Musicnotes.com. June 7, 2018. May 29, 2018.
  15. News: Caramanica . Jon . The Chart-Topping Deep Feelings of Juice WRLD . January 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190102040036/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/arts/music/juice-wrld-goodbye-good-riddance.html . January 2, 2019 . July 25, 2018. The New York Times .
  16. News: Juice WRLD Unveils Cole Bennett-Directed Video for "Lucid Dreams". PigeonsandPlanes. June 7, 2018.
  17. News: Juice WRLD Returns With Clip For "Lucid Dreams". HotNewHipHop. June 7, 2018.
  18. Web site: Cummings-Grady . Mackenzie . February 4, 2022 . Lil Bibby Reveals Juice WRLD's 'Lucid Dreams' Has Gone Diamond . March 31, 2023 . . en.
  19. News: Juice WRLD's Video For Psychedelic Emo Classic "Lucid Dreams' Crosses 1 Billion Views on YouTube. Billboard. August 7, 2024.
  20. On the Charts: Shawn Mendes Claims Third Number One Album. Rolling Stone. June 7, 2018.
  21. Juice WRLD Scores First Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 With 'Lucid Dreams'. Billboard. June 14, 2018.
  22. Web site: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Billboard.com.
  23. Brenda Lee's 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' Hits No. 3 on Hot 100; Juice WRLD, Tones and I & Burl Ives All Top 10. Billboard. December 16, 2019.
  24. Web site: Yoo. Noah. Grammys 2019: Alicia Keys Covers Juice WRLD, Kings of Leon for Some Reason. June 5, 2021. Pitchfork. February 11, 2019. en-US.
  25. Juice WRLD's 15 Best Songs: Critic's Picks. Michael. Saponara. Billboard. March 6, 2019. April 9, 2022.
  26. Web site: Juice Wrld's 20 greatest tracks. Kyann-Sian. Williams. NME. December 12, 2019. April 8, 2022.
  27. Web site: Track Top-40 Uge 34, 2018. Hitlisten. August 29, 2018.
  28. Web site: Top Singles (Week 51, 2019). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. fr. December 24, 2019.
  29. Web site: Top Radio (Week 41, 2018). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. fr. October 12, 2018.
  30. Web site: Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 29 2018. IFPI Greece. July 30, 2018.
  31. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög, Vika 50 – 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191227170037/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/. December 27, 2019. Tonlist. December 27, 2019.
  32. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. August 18, 2018.
  33. Web site: Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 50. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. December 14, 2019.
  34. Web site: Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 50. nedēļa. lv. LAIPA. December 13, 2019. December 14, 2019.
  35. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. July 9, 2018. July 6, 2018.
  36. Web site: VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 35, 2018. VG-lista. August 31, 2018.
  37. Web site: Top 100 Canciones: Semana 50. Productores de Música de España. December 18, 2019.
  38. Web site: Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista. Sverigetopplistan. August 31, 2018.
  39. Top 100 Songs. Rolling Stone. December 12, 2019. December 23, 2019. December 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216165747/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2019-12-12/. dead.
  40. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles 2018. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 10, 2019.
  41. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018. Billboard. 2 January 2013. December 4, 2018.
  42. Web site: Track Top-100 2018. Hitlisten. da. January 16, 2019.
  43. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2018. MegaCharts. nl. January 5, 2019.
  44. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 2018. Recorded Music NZ. December 13, 2018.
  45. Web site: Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 200 Singles 2018. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. August 11, 2020.
  46. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2018. Sverigetopplistan. sv. January 15, 2019.
  47. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2018 – hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. December 31, 2018.
  48. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2018. Official Charts Company. January 4, 2019.
  49. Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. 2 January 2013. December 4, 2018.
  50. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Year-End 2018. Billboard. August 14, 2019.
  51. Pop Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. 2 January 2013. December 5, 2018.
  52. Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. 9 December 2014. August 26, 2019.
  53. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2019. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 10, 2020.
  54. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 2 January 2013. December 6, 2019.
  55. Web site: Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. August 11, 2020.
  56. Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 2 January 2013. December 6, 2019.
  57. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 2 January 2013. December 6, 2019.
  58. Top 100 Songs of 2019. Rolling Stone. January 10, 2020. February 15, 2020. March 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200307013530/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/year-end/. dead.
  59. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2020. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 15, 2021.
  60. Web site: Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 53 de 2020 Índice De 27/12/2019 a 31/12/2020. es. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. May 7, 2022.
  61. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2020. Official Charts Company. January 5, 2021.
  62. Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021. Billboard. November 30, 2021. December 4, 2021.
  63. Web site: Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021 . pt. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. May 13, 2022.
  64. Decade-End Charts: Hot 100 Songs. Billboard. October 31, 2019. November 15, 2019.
  65. Decade-End Charts: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. October 31, 2019. January 17, 2020.
  66. Web site: Top 40/R Future Releases. All Access Media Group. June 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180615034514/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases. June 15, 2018.
  67. Web site: Top 40/M Future Releases. All Access Media Group. July 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180702230958/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases. July 2, 2018.