Hilary Duff Reflects on "What Dreams Are Made Of"
The familiar voice of a young Hilary Duff repeating “Hey now, hey now” instantly evokes nostalgia for millennials. However, Duff herself didn’t fully connect with one of her most iconic songs until recently.
Separation from Early Music
In a conversation on the Therapuss podcast, host Jake Shane praised “What Dreams Are Made Of,” asking if Duff recognized the song's potential during recording.
“Absolutely not,” Duff replied. “I don't even remember recording that song.”
Duff explained her feelings of distance from the track when it was released in 2003 as part of the Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack.
“It was a weird time, and it wasn’t technically my song. It was a Lizzie McGuire song,”she said, adding that Disney’s copyright restrictions prevented her from performing it live.
“There was such a separation back then of me and my music and Lizzie McGuire,” Duff said. “I didn't really get to perform that song live because I didn't own it.”
Reconnecting with the Song
Despite the early detachment, Duff now finds great joy in the song’s popularity, appreciating how beloved it has become across generations.
She even hinted at possibly including it in future live performances as she plans her comeback to the pop music scene.
Summary
Hilary Duff once felt disconnected from “What Dreams Are Made Of” due to its association with Lizzie McGuire and copyright limits, but she now embraces its enduring impact and may reclaim it on tour.