"Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" is a song by English singer-songwriter Rachel Stevens. It was released on 15 September 2003 as the lead single from her debut solo album, Funky Dory. Originally written for Britney Spears, the song was produced by Swedish duo Bloodshy & Avant. The single is Stevens's most successful single to date, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It was the 22nd-best-selling single of 2003 in the United Kingdom and has sold over 284,000 copies in the UK as of September 2021. Worldwide, the single peaked at number two in Denmark and earned a gold certification in Norway, where it reached number five.

Composition and inspiration

"Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" was written by Cathy Dennis, the lyrics were inspired by Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River", which is believed to be aimed at Britney Spears, his ex-girlfriend. Originally the instrumental for the song was utilized in a track called "Phoney Lullaby", after Phoney Lullaby, the track was altered as a track called "Topbillin' Love", which was again rejected. The song was revised again as 'Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex'. The lyrics are a message to the famous ex-lover who has talked about the relationship and break-up in public, with the person in the song now taking the time to deliver their side of the story.

:"If I were in your shoes

:I'd whisper before I shout

:Can't you stop playing that record again?

:Find somebody else to talk about

:If I were in your shoes

:I'd worry of the effects

:You've had your say but now it's my turn

:Sweet dreams my L.A. Ex"

The person in the song wishes their ex "sweet dreams", but accuses them of using the break-up to further themselves.

Originally the song was written by Dennis for Spears, who turned it down due to its subject matter. A few months later, Dennis still had not found someone to perform the song and offered it to Stevens, whom she had worked with when Stevens was a member of S Club 7. At the time Stevens had just begun work on her debut solo album and thought the song, which did not sound like anything out at the time, would make a good first single. Stevens said of the song in an interview, "The writers really got my personality and the direction I want to go in," she said. "The first single is a great example – the first time I heard it I knew it's what I wanted." In an interview, Stevens revealed that she recorded the song two weeks after S Club 7 announced their spilt.

The song is composed in a key of A, utilizing the Phrygian mode, while the underlying chords imply the Phrygian dominant scale.

Critical reception

"Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. The BBC called the song "perfectly pleasant" but "unlikely to set the world alight, despite heavy rotation on radio and TV". The review also went on to say that while Stevens is popular, she will "need stronger material than this to maintain a pop career past her first album".

Jamie Gill, in a review for Dotmusic, called the song "utterly addictive", while Amazon.co.uk called the song "sassy" and full of "feminine confidence". In a separate review on Amazon.com, Georgina Collins, called the song a "corker of a popsong", praising it for being catchy and fun to listen to.

The song was also nominated for ITV's annual Record of the Year prize, finishing 6th behind Westlife who won with their cover of Barry Manilow's "Mandy", and was also nominated at the 2004 BRIT Awards for Best British Single, losing out to Dido with her song "White Flag".

Chart performance

"Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" was a commercial success in the United Kingdom, debuting at number two on the UK Singles Chart, being held off from number-one by "Where Is the Love?" by Black Eyed Peas. It stayed in this position for two non-consecutive weeks, with a further three inside the top 10. Elsewhere in Europe, the song also went on to be a commercial success, reaching the top ten in Denmark, Ireland, and Norway. Despite receiving minor airplay, "Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" was not released in the United States.

In December 2003, the single was certified Silver for sales of 200,000 in the UK. By the end of 2003, the song was ranked the 22nd-best-selling single of the year in the United Kingdom.

  1. "Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" – 3:27
  2. "Little Secret" – 3:26
  3. "Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" (BMR Peaktime mix) – 6:15

European CD single

  1. "Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" – 3:27
  2. "Little Secret" – 3:26

European maxi-CD single

  1. "Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" – 3:27
  2. "Little Secret" – 3:26
  3. "Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex" (BMR Peaktime mix) – 6:15
  4. "Sweet Dreams MY L.A. Ex" (video) – 3:27

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from the European CD single liner notes.

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!scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100)

|95

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Year-end charts

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (2003)

!scope="col"|Position

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!scope="row"|Ireland (IRMA)

|55

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!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)

|22

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Certifications

References

  • Sweet Dream My L.A. Ex 1. Contact Music. Retrieved 8 January 2006.
  • Justin Stoneman. Sweet Dream My L.A. Ex 2. Virgin Music. 2003. Retrieved 8 January 2006.
  • Angry Jack - Derby. Sweet Dream My L.A. Ex 3. BBC.co.uk. 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2006.
  • Jamie Gill. Sweet Dream My L.A. Ex 4. RachelStevensOnline. 7 October 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2006.
  • Cortman Virtue Sweet Dream My L.A. Ex 5. RachelStevensOnline. 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2006.
  • Georgina Collins Sweet Dream My L.A. Ex 6. Amazon.co.uk. 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2006.
  • "Rachel Stevens Discography". EIL.com. link - last accessed on 8 January 2006. Formats and tracklistings.
  • Rachel Stevens Online. link - last accessed on 28 January 2006. Chart information.