# D Ream
**D:Ream** is a British dance-pop group formed in 1992 in London by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Peter Cunnah and DJ Al Mackenzie, best known for the 1994 UK number-one single "Things Can Only Get Better", which became the unofficial anthem of [Tony Blair](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-blair)'s 1997 Labour election victory.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/d-ream-mn0000543352) • [2](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream) The group's catalog blends house, pop and soul, and it has continued recording and touring since Cunnah and Mackenzie reunited in 2008.[3](https://renownedforsound.com/interview-dream/) • [4](https://replayfest.co.uk/lineup/dream/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1992 in London, England, by Peter Cunnah and DJ Al Mackenzie[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/d-ream-mn0000543352) |
| Biggest hit | "Things Can Only Get Better", released 18 January 1993 on Magnet/FXU; re-release topped the UK singles chart for four weeks in 1994[2](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream) • [5](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/apr/03/artsfeatures1) |
| Debut album | *D:Ream On Volume 1* (1993) reached No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and stayed on the chart for 37 weeks, achieving platinum status[6](https://www.musicradar.com/news/d-ream-classic-album) |
| Political afterlife | Unofficial anthem of Labour's 1997 general election victory under Tony Blair; revived in 2024 when protester Steve Bray played it over Rishi Sunak's rain-soaked election announcement[2](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream) • [7](https://www.nme.com/news/music/dream-things-get-better-interview-brian-cox-glastonbury-election-2024-3760472) |
| Famous alumnus | Early keyboard player Brian Cox, now a professor of particle physics and television presenter, rejoined the band on stage at Glastonbury 2024[4](https://replayfest.co.uk/lineup/dream/) |
| Chart record | Two UK Top 10 albums (*D:Ream On Vol. 1*, 1993; *World*, 1995) and ten Top 40 singles[8](https://dream18.bandcamp.com/album/do-it-anyway?from=discover_page) |
| Recent work | Albums *Open Hearts Open Minds* (2021), *The Best Thing* (2023), and *Do It Anyway* (2025)[4](https://replayfest.co.uk/lineup/dream/) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/d-ream-mn0000543352) |
## Formation and early years
Peter Cunnah came to London from [Northern Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-ireland), where he had fronted the indie band Tie the Boy, signed to U2's Mother Records.[6](https://www.musicradar.com/news/d-ream-classic-album) • [9](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/jun/05/how-we-made-d-ream-things-can-only-get-better-tony-blair-election-alistair-campbell-) After the band broke up he immersed himself in London's club scene, and met Mackenzie, who ran a night at the Brain Club in Soho.[10](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/qa-90s-dance-duo-dream/) Cunnah would watch Mackenzie DJ and imagine a middle ground between his own songwriting and the house music grooves Mackenzie played.[6](https://www.musicradar.com/news/d-ream-classic-album)
The first product of the partnership was "U R the Best Thing", which [Pete Tong](https://www.edgepedia.org/pete-tong) made an Essential Tune and which also earned an Essential Tune distinction for its Sasha remix.[6](https://www.musicradar.com/news/d-ream-classic-album) On its first release in July 1992 the single stalled at number 72 in the UK chart; re-issued in 1993 it reached number 19, and a third release in spring 1994 went top five.[11](https://talkaboutpopmusic.com/2019/11/16/where-are-they-now-dream/) The duo's early home-made tracks, built on an Atari 1040 STE, a Fostex M80 eight-track, and samplers including an Akai S900, were given new life with producer Tom Frederikse at the Roundhouse studio.[6](https://www.musicradar.com/news/d-ream-classic-album)
## Things Can Only Get Better
The song that defined the group began as a Stones-flavored idea Cunnah developed with co-writer Jamie Petrie around 1990, without a chorus.[2](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream) The title came from an office remark: when Cunnah was upset at work, a colleague told him, "Cheer up, things can only get better," and he recorded the phrase on a Walkman in the toilet.[9](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/jun/05/how-we-made-d-ream-things-can-only-get-better-tony-blair-election-alistair-campbell-) • [2](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream) An instrumental version was tested at the Love Ranch club, where Mackenzie had a residency, and the crowd reaction convinced the pair.[2](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream)
Released as a single on 18 January 1993, it initially stalled at number 23 in the UK chart.[2](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream) • [12](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/culture/article/20240626-d-reams-unlikely-pop-song-that-became-a-defining-british-political-anthem) The group toured as the opening act for [Take That](https://www.edgepedia.org/take-that), Britain's biggest boy band, which brought an audience of young fans; when the song was reissued it topped the British singles chart for four weeks in 1994.[12](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/culture/article/20240626-d-reams-unlikely-pop-song-that-became-a-defining-british-political-anthem) • [5](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/apr/03/artsfeatures1)
## The New Labour anthem
When [New Labour](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-labour) sought a replacement for the traditional socialist dirge "The Red Flag" at party events, the song fit the party's rebranding under Tony Blair.[12](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/culture/article/20240626-d-reams-unlikely-pop-song-that-became-a-defining-british-political-anthem) Cunnah's manager Jaz Summers proposed letting Labour use it; Cunnah was reluctant but agreed, and D:Ream played at Labour meetings and rallies during the 1997 campaign, which ended in Blair's landslide on 1 May 1997.[13](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/when-djs-ruled-the-world-5434135.html) • [12](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/culture/article/20240626-d-reams-unlikely-pop-song-that-became-a-defining-british-political-anthem) Cunnah later toured with the campaign on the "Prescott Express", performing alongside Blair.[5](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/apr/03/artsfeatures1)
The association cut both ways. Cunnah has described a love/hate relationship with the song, saying it made him successful but "became a shadow under which I lived for a long, long time".[14](https://www.eonmusic.co.uk/d-ream-peter-cunnah-eonmusic-interview-may-2021.html) In 2024 the song returned to public attention when the anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray played it from a portable stereo as [Rishi Sunak](https://www.edgepedia.org/rishi-sunak) announced the general election in the rain outside 10 [Downing Street](https://www.edgepedia.org/downing-street); the clip went viral and the song entered the iTunes top 10 within 24 hours.[7](https://www.nme.com/news/music/dream-things-get-better-interview-brian-cox-glastonbury-election-2024-3760472) • [15](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/2024/06/01/things-can-only-get-better-sunaks-election-chant-reckoning-was-perfection/) The renewed attention led to the band being booked for [Glastonbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/glastonbury) 2024.[7](https://www.nme.com/news/music/dream-things-get-better-interview-brian-cox-glastonbury-election-2024-3760472)
## Brian Cox and the Glastonbury reunion
The band's early keyboard player was [Brian Cox](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-cox-physicist), who later became a professor of particle physics and a science broadcaster; he had also served as the band's tour manager before joining on keyboards.[4](https://replayfest.co.uk/lineup/dream/) • [2](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream) At Glastonbury 2024, founding members Cunnah and Mackenzie were joined on stage at Worthy Farm by Cox for "Things Can Only Get Better", a performance Cox described as his first playing the song since 1997.[4](https://replayfest.co.uk/lineup/dream/) • [16](https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/culture/glastonbury-2024-brian-cox-d-ream-labour-b2571094.html) The song had accumulated almost 50 million streams on Spotify by that point.[4](https://replayfest.co.uk/lineup/dream/)
## Breakup and reunion
Success strained the group. Mackenzie left over musical differences around the time of the number one, having grown tired of the promotional machine.[12](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/culture/article/20240626-d-reams-unlikely-pop-song-that-became-a-defining-british-political-anthem) • [10](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/qa-90s-dance-duo-dream/) Cunnah developed a cocaine habit during the Take That tour period and entered recovery in the mid-1990s.[13](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/when-djs-ruled-the-world-5434135.html) • [10](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/qa-90s-dance-duo-dream/) The second album *World* (1995) sold far less than the debut, and royalty disputes led Cunnah to dismantle the group.[5](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/apr/03/artsfeatures1) • [10](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/qa-90s-dance-duo-dream/)
Cunnah and Mackenzie got the band back together in 2008 and have released music periodically since, including *In Memory Of...* (2011), *Open Hearts Open Minds* (2021), the hits collection *The Best Thing* (2023), and the album *Do It Anyway* (2025).[14](https://www.eonmusic.co.uk/d-ream-peter-cunnah-eonmusic-interview-may-2021.html) • [4](https://replayfest.co.uk/lineup/dream/) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/d-ream-mn0000543352) The duo continues to tour, with festival appearances scheduled into 2026.[17](https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/dream-5bd6cf50.html)
## References
1. [D:Ream Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/d-ream-mn0000543352)
2. [How we wrote 'Things Can Only Get Better' by D:Ream, Songwriting Magazine](https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/things-can-only-get-better-d-ream)
3. [Interview: D:Ream, Renowned for Sound](https://renownedforsound.com/interview-dream/)
4. [D:Ream at Replay Festival 2026, Replay Festival](https://replayfest.co.uk/lineup/dream/)
5. [Labour pains, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/apr/03/artsfeatures1)
6. [D:Ream on their road to platinum success with D:Ream On Volume 1, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/news/d-ream-classic-album)
7. [D:Ream on being booked for Glastonbury and the return of 'Things Can Only Get Better', NME](https://www.nme.com/news/music/dream-things-get-better-interview-brian-cox-glastonbury-election-2024-3760472)
8. [Do It Anyway, D:Ream, Bandcamp](https://dream18.bandcamp.com/album/do-it-anyway?from=discover_page)
9. [How we made D:Ream's election anthem Things Can Only Get Better, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/jun/05/how-we-made-d-ream-things-can-only-get-better-tony-blair-election-alistair-campbell-)
10. [Q&A: 90s dance duo D:REAM, Classic Pop](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/qa-90s-dance-duo-dream/)
11. [WHERE ARE THEY NOW? D:Ream, Talk About Pop Music](https://talkaboutpopmusic.com/2019/11/16/where-are-they-now-dream/)
12. [D:Ream's Things Can Only Get Better: The unlikely pop song that became a defining British political anthem, BBC](https://bbcinsight.pages.dev/culture/article/20240626-d-reams-unlikely-pop-song-that-became-a-defining-british-political-anthem)
13. [When DJs ruled the world, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/when-djs-ruled-the-world-5434135.html)
14. [D-Ream Peter Cunnah eonmusic interview May 2021, eonmusic](https://www.eonmusic.co.uk/d-ream-peter-cunnah-eonmusic-interview-may-2021.html)
15. [Things can only get better? Rishi Sunak's election chant reckoning was perfection, The Irish Times](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/2024/06/01/things-can-only-get-better-sunaks-election-chant-reckoning-was-perfection/)
16. [Professor Brian Cox reunites with D:Ream at Glastonbury, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/culture/glastonbury-2024-brian-cox-d-ream-labour-b2571094.html)
17. [D:Ream Concert Setlists, setlist.fm](https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/dream-5bd6cf50.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Ensembles and groups › Rock, pop, and metal bands › Rock, indie, and pop groups*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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