When I'm not writing about military aviation for Simple Flying, you'll often find me listening to music while completing projects around the house. Such was the case recently when an "80's Old School Classics" playlist pushed a nearby speaker to its limits as I painted the walls of our mud room. As I stooped over to dip my thirsty brush into the pail of fresh paint, one particular song caught my attention.
The song was "Dreams" by Van Halen. I put my paintbrush down, sat atop my rickety wooden stepladder, and just listened. The nostalgia was palpable.
Like many of you, presumably, I was a teenager when I first heard this song in a music video on MTV. For those who haven't seen it, the video features 4 minutes and 54 seconds of the US Navy Blue Angels performing their dazzling aerial acrobatics in their McDonnel Douglas A-4 Skyhawks. As a kid, it was a sensory delight, one of the coolest things my youthful eyes and ears had ever experienced.
To this day, the song's triumphant chorus still gives me goosebumps. "It was a very, very spiritual moment, and that song is a very, very spiritual song." - Sammy Hagar, from an article on UltimateClassicRock.
com As the final notes of "Dreams" faded to silence, I picked up my trusty paintbrush to get back to work when it occurred to me that perhaps an audience consisting of military aviation enthusiasts might relate to this song as I do, with similar fond memories and personal connections. As such, I thought it might be fun to revisit that video, learn a little more about it, and share my findings with our Simple Flying audience. So, without further ado, please join me for a trip down memory lane as we learn the story behind the iconic music video for "Dreams" by Van Halen, featuring the legendary Blue Angels.
Click here for Blue Angels show dates and information. Roth's exit opens the door for the US Navy When Sammy Hagar replaced David Lee Roth as frontman of the legendary rock band Van Halen, it shook the foundation of rock music. Not only would it lead to one of music's most enduring and hotly contested debates among Van Halen fans, "Roth vs Hagar," but the juxtaposition of Roth's over-the-top showmanship with Hagar's no-frills style left fans wondering what to expect from the new-look Van Halen in 1985.
When 5150 , the band's first album with Hagar on vocals, was released in March 1986, they decided not to release any music videos to support the new record. Van Halen believed the best way to introduce fans to their new lead singer was not via music videos but live on stage where the "Red Rocker" truly shines. This decision was notable and unexpected, as Van Halen had previously released music videos supporting earlier albums.
Videos for songs like "Jump, Panama, and Hot for Teacher" were in heavy rotation on MTV, contributing to the band's overwhelming success. Nonetheless, Van Halen stood their ground, much to the chagrin of their record label, Warner Bros., who undoubtedly saw this as a missed opportunity amid the meteoric rise of the music video era.
A quick interview with Blue Angels #6 about how the Blue Angel solos pull off their magic. From the movie theater to music television Shortly after 5150 was released, a Warner Bros. executive attended a viewing of Top Gun, which was released just two months later, in May 1986.
Not only did the WB exec leave the theater feeling the need for speed, but he also felt the need for a more aggressive soundtrack. The exec loved the movie, which relied heavily on its soundtrack, but thought the fighter aircraft scenes would've been even better with hard rock music, which gave him an idea. " A couple of music executives from Warner Bros.
Music and MTV executives came to me two weeks before Liberty weekend after seeing the movie 'Top Gun.' They asked me if I could provide a Blue Angels video to air on MTV for Liberty Weekend. All of us selected the song 'Dreams' from the newest Van Halen album .
"-Jim Cross, video producer, from an article in the Pensacola News Journal Cross reached out to the Blue Angels for permission to use their footage in the video, and they were more than happy to oblige. " Of course, we didn't have any objection ."- Lt.
Doug Hocking, public affairs officer for the Naval Flight Demonstration squadron Van Halen manager Ed Leffler gave the green light on behalf of Eddie and the boys, and McDonnell Douglas agreed to provide extensive archival Blue Angels footage from the previous ten years. Within two weeks, all required parties were on board. Cross, with the assistance of producers John Moranville and Michael Polito, worked at a feverish pace, completing the video below in just three days, meticulously piecing together footage of the Blue Angels' spectacular maneuvers to align perfectly with the rhythm and emotion of "Dreams.
" " It's the most dramatic visual thing to appear on MTV. It is designed for rock 'n' roll and is visually very exciting."- Jim Cross, from an article in the Pensacola News Journal Make sure the sound on your listening device is on, and the volume is turned up.
..way up.
According to comments made on avgeekery.com by Lieutenant Al Cisneros who flew with the Blue Angels from 1975-1977 and also appears in the "Dreams" video, the pilots appearing in the video are: Lt. Al Cisneros Cdr.
Casey Jones Capt. Dan Keating LCdr. Don Simmons Lt.
John Miller and Lt. Vance Parker A dream come true for the US Navy The video was scheduled to air on MTV four times per day, from July 1 - July 8, as part of the Liberty Weekend celebration in New York, which commemorated the centennial anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Upon its debut, it quickly became a sensation.
The overwhelmingly positive response resulted in "Dreams" airing on MTV for two additional weeks, more frequently than originally planned. " Phone calls have been flooding into the MTV studio in Los Angeles with questions like "Who are they?" and "Where can I get a copy of the tape?" - Lt. Doug Hocking, public affairs officer for the Naval Flight Demonstration squadron Already enjoying a recruitment surge from Top Gun, a popular music video on MTV featuring one of the hottest bands in the country was icing on the cake as "Dreams" brought even more attention and awareness to the US Navy.
The video was essentially free publicity. " For something that costs the Navy nothing, we've had so much response from the public. It's unbelievable .
"- Lt. Doug Hocking, public affairs officer for the Naval Flight Demonstration squadron "I joined during an age where the movie Top Gun came out and the Blue Angels were making cool videos with Van Halen singing in the background." - Rear Adm.
Linda Wackerman, Deputy, Naval Inspector General "Dreams" was a win-win-win for all parties involved. The US Navy got a recruitment spike, Van Halen (and Warner Bros.) had another hit on their hands (reaching #22 on the Billboard Hot 100), and MTV had a viral video, which in those days meant people recorded it on their VCRs ("video cassette recorder" for our younger audience) and passed it around or invited friends over to watch it.
The US Navy and Marines' premier demonstration team has been wowing spectators since 1946. As with all music videos, its time in MTV's regular rotation eventually came to an end. However, unlike most music videos, the powerful fusion of rock music and military might remains uniquely etched in the minds of many who, since seeing the video, can't hear that song without visualizing those blue and yellow Skyhawks ascending the skies.
Ironically, in 1986, the US Navy retired A-4 Skyhawks. The following demo season found the Blue Angels flying McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornets. Keeping the dream alive The concept behind "Dreams" has since inspired fans to make similar music videos of their own.
Below are two videos featuring stunning updated Blue Angels footage, one produced in 2022 and the other in 2024. With each new iteration of "Dreams," the potent synergy between Van Halen's timeless track and the exhilarating world of military aviation is renewed, further cementing the lasting legacy of the Warner Bros. original.
In 2021, Sammy Hagar and his band "The Circle" celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Blue Angels, along with the 35th anniversary of "Dreams" by performing at the Afterburner Music Festival held on Huntington Beach in Southern California. The festival occurred immediately following the Pacific Airshow, featuring the Blue Angels. Sadly, Eddie Van Halen left us all too soon on October 6, 2020, at the age of 65, and now watches the Blue Angels from above.
"RIP Eddie Van Halen. Thank you for the amazing music and for reminding us to dream." - Blue Angels Association , October 6, 2020.
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