1991 Jason Donovan: Any Dream Will Do

No longer part of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman roster, 'Any Dream Will Do' is a song from a nineties revival of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' at the London Palladium where Donovan played lead under Steven Pimlott's direction. A staple of school and amateur productions from the day it was written, this version takes no chances with the formula and plays it straight and true with Donovan himself (despite that leather jacket cover pose) acquiescing by abandoning any pop star touches to sing in bland character that doesn't try to be bigger than the song. 'Any Dream Will Do' always had a pretty melody underscored by those backing 'Ah ahhs' and this is no different. It veers close to an exaggerated Morecambe and Wise dance routine on the "A crash of drums, a flash of light. My golden coat flew out of sight" middle eight, but that's about as showbiz as it gets; the rest remains strictly draughty church hall and the song is allowed to stand or fall by itself. That it stands is not down to Donovan per se; this version is respectful enough for it to be anybody be up there singing, but its number one status surely is.