Princess Diana was undoubtedly an exceptional figure. We all know how much she destroyed the norms imposed by society and the royal family. Many would say, ‘Princesses don’t listen to rock,’ right? Of course not, Diana listened to rock music, and her close relationship with Elton John and Freddie Mercury put her on the rock lovers’ radar in the ’80s.
The rock scene in the ’80s was quite lively. Countless bands were rocking the rock scene, some leaving their mark on music history. However, there was a band that was among the favorites of not only the rock scene but also Princess Diana. The Princess even sang their songs with her sons William and Harry.
This band was Supertramp. Supertramp blossomed from the fertile ground of the ’60s English rock scene and built a reputation with their sound that successfully blended prog rock and pop sounds. Their third studio album ‘Crime Of The Century’ became the band’s breakthrough in many countries. ‘Dreamer,’ the first single of the release, on the other hand, became a favorite of Diana’s time with her children.
Roger Hudson, who joined a conversation with Louder Sound in 2021, shared a sweet anecdote about this song. In 2007, the Princess’ sons still remembered that song, and when they were preparing a memorial concert for their mother, Hudson was the first name that came to mind. Hudson performed this song in memory of the Princess in front of 60,000 people and millions on television at Wembley Stadium.
“I had laryngitis and didn’t know whether I’d sing or squawk, but I was happy to accept Princes William and Harry’s invitation to appear,” the rocker said, remembering Diana’s sons’ invitation. “We never met, but I’ve nothing but admiration for Diana and all she stood for. Prince William told me that as kids, they sat around and sang Supertramp songs with their mother, which touched me deeply. They both filled me with hope for England’s future.”
‘Dreamer’ was a song Hudson wrote during his teenage years. When Roger was 19 years old, he composed the music on his piano at his mother’s house. He had recorded a demo singing the song and playing it on a Wurlitzer. As for percussion, there was cardboard.
Hudson had previously revealed that that song has had a special place for him. He had always approached the piano with great passion, and one day, when he sat down at the piano, this song almost exploded in his head. When he recorded and listened to it, all he felt was a sound like magic.
When he entered the studio after founding his band, he had a much better technical background than cardboard. They were going to re-record the song, but Hudson said it was pretty difficult to recreate it. Nevertheless, they succeeded and released the track in November 1974, in which many names, including Diana, would immerse themselves in their pianos.
