Beautiful Times
{{Infobox song
| name = Beautiful Times
| cover = Beautiful Times Owl City.jpeg
| artist = Owl City featuring Lindsey Stirling
| EP = Ultraviolet
| released = April 8, 2014
| type = Single
| genre =
| recorded =
| studio = Sky Harbor Studios, Owatonna, Minnesota
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=24}}
| label = Republic
| writer = {{hlist|Adam Young|Lindsey Stirling}}
| producer = Young
| chronology = Owl City
| prev_title = Good Time
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Tokyo
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Lindsey Stirling
| type = singles
| prev_title = Beyond the Veil
| prev_year = 2014
| title = Beautiful Times
| year = 2014
| next_title = Shatter Me
| next_year = 2014
}}
{{External music video|type=single|{{YouTube|gfA-tPKPoNs|"Beautiful Times"}}}}
}}
"Beautiful Times" is a song by American electronica project Owl City. The song features American violinist Lindsey Stirling and was released on April 8, 2014, as the lead single from his fourth EP, Ultraviolet.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/owl_city_streams_new_single_beautiful_times_ft-_lindsey_stirling/|title=Owl City streams new single, Beautiful Times (ft. Lindsey Stirling)|magazine=Alternative Press|author=Matt Crane|date=April 8, 2014|access-date=February 10, 2023}}
Background
In early 2014, Young revealed the album artwork for his single, "Beautiful Times", through his Instagram account.{{cite web|url=http://instagram.com/p/mQjkvbgWRv/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/owlcityofficial/689207199444067439 |archive-date=December 25, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Piece five of the April single album artwork on Instagram |publisher=Instagram |access-date=February 19, 2023}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://instagram.com/p/mQJU3IgWQE/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/owlcityofficial/689091758994318340 |archive-date=December 25, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Piece four of the April single album artwork on Instagram |publisher=Instagram |access-date=February 19, 2023}}{{cbignore}} On April 4, 2014, Owl City released a teaser for "Beautiful Times".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/owl_city_to_release_new_single_beautiful_times/|title=Owl City to release new single, Beautiful Times|magazine=Alternative Press|author=Michele Bird|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=February 10, 2023}} The song was written by Young and Lindsey Stirling, while Young also handled production. The track runs at 136 BPM and is in the key of A major, according to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, by Alfred Music Publishing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0133819|title=Owl City "Beautiful Times" Sheet Music|website=musicnotes.com|publisher=Alfred Music Publishing|access-date=February 27, 2023}} Young's range in the song spans from the notes E4 to A5. The song has been described as an "upbeat" track.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-owl-citys-whimsical-beautiful-times-video-premiere-70611/|title=Watch Owl City's Whimsical Beautiful Times Video – Premiere|magazine=Rolling Stone|author=Nick Murray|date=June 26, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2023}} The song features Lindsey Stirling who played violin on the track. According to Young, "Beautiful Times" was the first track he wrote for the EP when he got home from tour.{{cite web|url=https://www.owlcitymusic.com/bio/|title=Owl City – Bio|website=owlcitymusic.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626044438/https://www.owlcitymusic.com/bio/|archivedate=June 26, 2014|access-date=March 25, 2023}} About the song's meaning and working with Stirling, Young stated:
{{blockquote|"It is an anthem for those who search for strength to rise above hardship. I was honoured to work with yet another of my favourite artists, Lindsey Stirling, who was kind enough to grant me the honour of featuring her. I hope you enjoy the song as much as I enjoyed creating it."{{cite web|url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/news/Beautiful_Times/53644/p1/|title=Lindsey Stirling plays on Owl City's latest single|website=Cross Rhythms|date=April 23, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2023}}}}
Critical reception
Christian Rockafeller of Music Times called the music video "a gorgeous and whimsical cinematic tale." Musically, he praised Stirling's contribution to the track describing it as "inimitable and impressive."{{cite web|url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/7133/20140627/watch-owl-city-beautiful-times-video-from-ultraviolet-ep-republic-records-features-violinist-lindsey-stirling-video.htm|title=WATCH: Owl City 'Beautiful Times' Video from Ultraviolet EP (Republic Records) Features Violinist Lindsey Stirling [VIDEO]|author=Christian Rockafeller|website=Music Times|date=June 27, 2014|access-date=March 4, 2023}}
Music video
On June 26, 2014, the music video for "Beautiful Times" premiered via Rolling Stone. Speaking about the video he stated, "I've been on a few sets where everyone is on edge and it throws the whole thing off. A positive atmosphere really makes all the difference in the world." The music video showcases a young boy sleeping in his bedroom when his toys and room suddenly comes to life,{{cite web|url=https://hot1047.com/owl-city-feat-lindsey-stirling-beautiful-times-official-music-video/|title=Watch Owl City's Magical Music Video for 'Beautiful Times' (Feat. Lindsey Stirling)|website=KKLS-FM|date=June 28, 2014|author=Thomas Chau|access-date=June 12, 2025}} while clips of Young and Stirling performing the song are featured throughout the video.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic and digital liner notes.{{cite web|title=Owl City – Beautiful Times / Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/beautiful-times-mw0002644128/credits|publisher=All Music|access-date=October 7, 2021}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Ultraviolet|type=Digital liner notes|others=Owl City|publisher=Republic|year=2014}}
- Owl City – composer, lyricist, primary artist, producer, mixing, recording
- Lindsey Stirling – composer, lyricist, featured artist, violin
- Shinnosuke Miyazawa – recording
- Robert Orton – mixing
Charts
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for "Beautiful Times" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| April 8, 2014 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | Republic |{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/beautiful-times-feat.-lindsey/id848215574|title=Beautiful Times (feat. Lindsey Stirling) - Single by Owl City|website=Apple Music|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626023504/https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/beautiful-times-feat.-lindsey/id848215574|archivedate=June 26, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2023}} |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Owl City}}
{{Authority control}}