That video was on heavy HEAVY rotation back then. You’d see it twice on MTV before leaving for school and then hear it on your radio during the walk there, on multiple stations simultaneously if you lived in a big enough market.
The guy’s lasting appeal can’t be doubted. As recently as last week I overheard a conversations about the guy, and not from people who only remember the video. He had real fans, no question.
However the Dream thing is...it’s a promotion thing. The yearbook staff were hacks to use such a proprietary and copyrighted concept. It could have been Jagged Little Pill or Blood Suger Sex Magic or C&C Music Factory themed had it been a different month.
Mine that year was “The Art of Being a Chemic” which is also hack but also complete nonsense to most people who didn’t go to that school. It turns out 15 year olds suck at everything, who knew?