Alligator Sky
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Alligator Sky
| cover = Owl City - Alligator Sky.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Owl City featuring Shawn Chrystopher
| album = All Things Bright and Beautiful
| released = March 22, 2011
| recorded = 2010–2011
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Electropop{{cite web|url=http://www.jsyk.com/2011/03/24/owl-city-alligator-sky/|title=Owl City Debuts at No. 1 on iTunes With New Single 'Alligator Sky'|website=JSYK.com|author=Nadine Cheung|date=March 24, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326173856/http://www.jsyk.com/2011/03/24/owl-city-alligator-sky/|archivedate=March 26, 2011|access-date=May 26, 2023}}|hip hop{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663518/owl-city-all-things-bright-and-beautiful.jhtml|title=Owl City Moves Out Of The Basement On All Things Bright And Beautiful|author=James Montgomery|website=MTV|date=May 9, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628025625/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663518/owl-city-all-things-bright-and-beautiful.jhtml|archivedate=June 28, 2012|access-date=June 19, 2025}}}}
| length = {{unbulleted list|3:05 (album version)|3:14 (No Rap edit)|3:11 (version featuring B.o.B)|3:07 (version featuring Big Boi)}}
| label = Universal Republic
| writer = {{hlist|Adam Young|Shawn Chrystopher|Bobby Ray Simmons Jr.|Antwan André Patton}}
| producer = Adam Young
| chronology = Owl City
| prev_title = Peppermint Winter
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Galaxies
| next_year = 2011
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Shawn Chrystopher
| type = singles
| prev_title = One of My Homies
| prev_year = 2010
| title = Alligator Sky
| year = 2011
| next_title = Minding My Business
| next_year = 2013
}}
{{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = OwlCityAlligatorSky.ogg
}}
}}
"Alligator Sky" is a song by American electronica project Owl City from his third studio album All Things Bright and Beautiful. It was released as the lead single from the album on March 22, 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/alligator-sky-mw0002138391|title=Alligator Sky - Single by Owl City|website=AllMusic|access-date=May 26, 2023}} Four versions of the song were released: The first features Californian rapper Shawn Chrystopher, the second version omits Chrystopher's vocals,{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/1ySt8XwpFybd76xgZHUa2R|title=Alligator Sky (No Rap Version) - Song by Owl City|website=Spotify|access-date=June 12, 2025}} a third version featuring Atlanta rapper B.o.B leaked online,{{cite web|url=http://www.mzhiphop.com/|title=The Best Of April: Owl City Feat. B.o.B. - Alligator Sky (2011)|date=May 1, 2011|website=MZ Hip Hop|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501233547/http://www.mzhiphop.com/|archivedate=May 1, 2011|access-date=January 13, 2012}} and a fourth version featuring vocals by Big Boi of Atlanta hip-hop duo OutKast also leaked online.{{Cite news |url=https://www.imdb.com/news/ni10551483/ |title=Big Boi enhances Owl City's new single 'Alligator Sky' |date=May 12, 2011 |work=HitFix |access-date=April 4, 2012}} The song debuted at the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Electronic Track chart.
Background
Adam Young stated in an interview with AOL that he experimented with different sounds on the album All Things Bright and Beautiful and that "Alligator Sky" is where he 'pulled the hip-hop vibe, stating; "... I am a big fan of the way hip-hop music is put together and everything that goes into it—being so beat-heavy and just focusing on the rhythm side of it, sometimes more than melody. But I wanted to marry those two ideas and just focus on the rhythm side of it then have this rapper do verses just as a new look to it."{{Cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=22542|title=Alligator Sky by Owl City Songfacts|website=Songfacts|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826180641/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=22542|archivedate=August 26, 2011|access-date=January 13, 2012}}
According to Young, the song was inspired by the 2008 animated science fiction film, WALL-E.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/owl-city-all-things-bright-beautiful-goodwyn.aspx|title=Owl City Reveals All Things Bright and Beautiful|website=CBN.com|publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network|access-date=August 11, 2023}} Explaining the concept of the title of the song, he stated, "It's about how there are so many weird things coming at you every day. Why not just meet them head on and take charge even though you have no say over what’s going to happen? You and those around you are what matter most."{{cite magazine|url=https://hmmagazine.com/owl-city-debuts-video-for-alligator-sky/|title=Owl City debuts video for Alligator Sky|magazine=HM|author=Doug Van Pelt|date=May 6, 2011|access-date=February 8, 2023}}
Critical reception
"Alligator Sky" was met with positive reviews from music critics. Billboard magazine stated, "it's pretty much an exact rewrite of Young's original smash, from the bubbly electronics to the Ben Gibbard-approved melodic choices to the overblown optimism."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/owl-city-alligator-sky-1067819/|title=Owl City, Alligator Sky|magazine=Billboard|date=April 22, 2011|access-date=July 13, 2023}} Robbie Daw of Idolator praised the Long Lost Sun remix version of the song for its, "dreamy keyboard riffs, insistent hand claps and upbeat production" that brings out Owl City's "wall of sound."{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/5819802/long-lost-sun-remix-owl-city-alligator-sky|title=Hear The Bright And Shiny Long Lost Sun Remix Of Owl City's Alligator Sky|website=Idolator|author=Robbie Daw|date=April 11, 2011|access-date=July 13, 2023}}
Music video
The music video for "Alligator Sky" premiered on VEVO on April 29, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.vevo.com/watch/owl-city/alligator-sky/USUV71100392|title=Alligator Sky - Owl City ft. Shawn Chrystopher|publisher=VEVO|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620194238/http://www.vevo.com/watch/owl-city/alligator-sky/USUV71100392|archivedate=June 20, 2016|access-date=June 15, 2025}} It was released elsewhere such as MTV and iTunes on May 6,{{Cite web |url=http://www.owlcitymusic.com/alligatorsky/ |title=Owl City | Alligator Sky |publisher=Owlcitymusic.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402122204/http://www.owlcitymusic.com/alligatorsky/ |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=January 13, 2012}} and was directed by Steve Hoover and produced by Endeavor Media.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/owl-city/742188/alligator-sky.jhtml|title=Owl City - "Alligator Sky"|website=MTV|date=May 6, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628030340/http://www.mtv.com:80/videos/owl-city/742188/alligator-sky.jhtml|archivedate=June 28, 2012|access-date=June 15, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.beehave.fr/videos/owl-city-alligator-sky-clip-making-off.html |title=Owl City - Alligator Sky (clip + making off) | Vidéos |date=May 13, 2011 |publisher=Beehave.fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310112248/http://www.beehave.fr/videos/owl-city-alligator-sky-clip-making-off.html |archive-date=March 10, 2012 |access-date=January 13, 2012|language=French}} Young uploaded 'Behind the Scenes' footage of the video a few days prior to the release on April 22,{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/owl-city-exclusive-behind-scenes-look-new-video-alligator-sky-wbna42719612|title=Owl City: Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at New Video for "Alligator Sky"|website=Today|author=Erik Pedersen|date=April 22, 2011|access-date=February 8, 2023}} which explained the concept for the video; saying that it's about two men (Young and Chrystopher) leaving earth, but unlike many videos with a similar theme, they aren't leaving a post-apocalyptic earth, instead, there is a big celebration about leaving a very polluted earth. In the video the earth is shown as a planet that has terrible living conditions. The celebration is because they are leaving earth to find a better planet in outer space. As shown in the music video the duo are taking samples of earth with them to outer space to archive them.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZunyRVWkX6A|title=Alligator Sky (The Making Of)|website=YouTube|date=April 26, 2011|access-date=June 15, 2025}}
Young's "Alligator Sky" self makes an appearance at the end of the music video for "Deer in the Headlights" where he is nearly run over by himself driving the DeLorean (from Back to the Future) after coming to the year 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.owlcitymusic.com/|title=Owl City - Watch 'Deer in the Headlights' Now!|website=www.owlcitymusic.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715025615/https://www.owlcitymusic.com/|archivedate=July 15, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2020}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = CD single
| title1 = Alligator Sky
| length1 = 3:13
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/alligator-sky-single/1444303488|title=Alligator Sky - Single by Owl City|website=Apple Music|access-date=March 9, 2023}}
| title1 = Alligator Sky
| note1 = featuring Shawn Chrystopher
| length1 = 3:04
| title2 = Alligator Sky
| note2 = No Rap Edit
| length2 = 3:14
| title3 = Alligator Sky
| note3 = Long Lost Sun Remix
| length3 = 3:11
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 7" vinyl
| title1 = Alligator Sky
| note1 = featuring Shawn Chrystopher
| length1 = 3:04
| title2 = Alligator Sky
| note2 = Long Lost Sun Remix
| length2 = 3:11
}}
Charts
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|type=single|507295|name=Alligator Sky}}
{{Owl City}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Adam Young
Category:Universal Republic Records singles