Good Time (Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen song)

On June 14, 2012, Adam Young announced that he would be collaborating with Carly Rae Jepsen on a new song, projecting that it would be released on June 26, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/owlcity/status/213409929699135489|title=Incredibly thrilled to announce that @carlyraejepsen and I will be releasing our new single, "Good Time" on 6/26.|website=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227143206/https://twitter.com/owlcity/status/213409929699135489|archivedate=2014-02-27|access-date=2023-10-08 |first=Adam |last=Young |date=2012-06-14 }} On June 20, Young pre-released the single "Good Time" via his SoundCloud account.{{cite magazine|last=Hoffa|first=Meredith|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/06/20/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time-single/|title=Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City have a 'Good Time' in new collaboration: Hear it here | EW.com|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=2012-06-20|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622125129/http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/06/20/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time-single/|archivedate=2012-06-22|access-date=2012-06-21}} On June 26, the song was officially released on iTunes.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/482861/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-team-up-for-good-time-summer-anthem-listen |title=Carly Rae Jepsen & Owl City Team Up for 'Good Time' Summer Anthem: Listen |magazine=Billboard |first=Brennan |last=Carley |date=2012-06-20 |access-date=2012-06-21 }} In 2013, an acoustic version of the song was released on Owl City's The Midsummer Station - Acoustic EP.{{cite web|url=http://www.alterthepress.com/2013/07/owl-city-announce-midsummer-station.html|title=Owl City Announce The Midsummer Station Acoustic EP|website=Alter the Press!|access-date=2023-10-08 }}

According to Young, the collaboration happened to be a "happy accident".{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/e8x73h/owl-city-carly-rae-jepsen-duet-good-time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014095019/https://www.mtv.com/news/e8x73h/owl-city-carly-rae-jepsen-duet-good-time|url-status=dead|archive-date=2023-10-14|title=Owl City Calls Carly Rae Jepsen Duet 'A Happy Accident'|website=MTV|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=2012-06-21|access-date=2023-10-08}} Young also added: "It was this whole worlds-collide thing, and it was this kind of dream come true... [It was] so kind to lend her talent to this song, so yeah, it worked out."

Jepsen recalled: "Actually [I found out about the track] through [my label head] Scooter Braun. He sort of played me the song in one of the first weeks I came down to L.A. to meet him. I heard it and I was just like, 'This is amazing. I would love to sing on this.'"{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1688530/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-collaboration.jhtml|title=Carly Rae Jepsen Talks 'Amazing' Owl City Duet 'Good Time'|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|website=MTV|date=2012-06-27|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630222940/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1688530/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-collaboration.jhtml|archivedate=2012-06-30|access-date=2023-10-08}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = About.com

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}Bill Lamb. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120712185051/http://top40.about.com:80/od/singles/gr/Owl-City-And-Carly-Rae-Jepsen-Good-Time.htm Review: Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen - 'Good Time'] About.com. Retrieved July 30, 2024.

}}

The song has received positive reviews from critics, including Billboard: "It only makes sense that he's joined by Jepsen...[on] a track that could become a radio staple for the rest of the summer," and Entertainment Weekly: "'Good Time' goes down easier than a frozen margarita at a beachfront tiki bar."

On his site The Re-View, British critic Nick Bassett referred to the song as "an uplifting, out and out pop duet which will most definitely ensure that neither artist has to settle for a 'one hit wonder' tag."{{Cite web|url=http://there-view.tumblr.com/post/25220215778/owl-city-and-carly-rae-jepsen-good-time|title=Owl City Feat. Carly Rae Jepsen: Good Time (New Single)|access-date=July 1, 2012|archive-date=November 30, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121130110244/http://there-view.tumblr.com/post/25220215778/owl-city-and-carly-rae-jepsen-good-time|url-status=dead}} Lewis Corner of Digital Spy stated that the track is an "addictively fizzy, sweet treat."{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/single-reviews/a402436/owl-city-ft-carly-rae-jepsen-good-time-single-review/|title=Owl City ft. Carly Rae Jepsen: 'Good Time' – Single review|website=Digital Spy|author=Lewis Corner|date=August 29, 2012|access-date=January 28, 2023}} Jocelyn Vena of MTV compared the song's lyrics to Katy Perry's, "Last Friday Night" and the Black Eyed Peas', "I Gotta Feeling" for its references to, "sleeping in their clothes after all that partying, staying up all night and generally pledging to have fun."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1687995/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time.jhtml|title=Carly Rae Jepsen, Owl City Stay Up All Night On 'Good Time'|website=MTV|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|date=2012-06-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623235110/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1687995/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time.jhtml|archivedate=2012-06-23|access-date=2023-10-08}} Bill Lamb of About.com stated, "The pair are ultimately very charming and appealing together. It is quite possible they may have another chart-topping pop hit to follow up each of their #1 debut singles." However, he criticized the song by stating, "there is nothing that sounds original here."

Slate's Forrest Wickman also called it a "worthy successor" to "Call Me Maybe". He pointed to how "the song opens with a familiar story, and then subverts it, by removing anything that's not squeaky clean." Like Kesha in "TiK ToK," the singer begins the song waking up after a night of hard partying, in his clothes with a song by Prince inside his head. But in contrast, Wickman observes, he's "on the right side of the bed", not hung over, and ready to go out again the next evening. "When a children's choir is tossed in at the end, it's a bit gratuitous, but in this wholesome song why not," he concludes. "'Good Time' is a guilty pleasure, without the guilt."{{cite news|last=Wickman|first=Forrest|title=Carly Rae Jepsen Returns with Another Guiltless Pleasure|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/07/24/carly_rae_jepsen_good_time_video_with_owl_city_watch_it_here_.html|newspaper=Slate|date=July 24, 2012|access-date=July 30, 2012}} Rolling Stone called the song "mediocre dance pop".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/kiss-20120918|title=Carly Rae Jepsen – Kiss|first=Jon|last=Dolan|date=September 18, 2012|access-date=September 29, 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone}} Chris Richards of The Washington Post noted that song doesn't get good until Jepsen's verse.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/carly-rae-jepsen-and-owl-city-its-always-a-good-time-its-trending-but-is-it-good/2012/06/21/gJQA45Q7sV_blog.html|title=Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City, 'Good Time': It's trending, but is it good?|newspaper=The Washington Post|author=Chris Richards|date=June 21, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2023}}

In the US, the song debuted at number 32 on the US Pop Songs chart and number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week dated July 4, reaching number eight a few weeks after.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475355/taylor-swifts-never-ever-fever-persists-at-no-1-on-hot-100|title=Taylor Swift's 'Never Ever' Fever Persists At No. 1 On Hot 100|date=August 29, 2012|magazine=Billboard|author=Gary Trust|access-date=October 8, 2023}} The song is the second (and, as of 2025, the most recent) to make the top ten on the chart for both artists; Owl City's first top ten single since "Fireflies", and Jepsen's second consecutive one after "Call Me Maybe." It had sold a million copies in the United States by August 29, 2012, and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. It sold 2,249,000 copies in the US by the end of 2012.{{cite news |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-top-songs-2012-155237610.html |title=Chart Watch Extra: Top Songs of 2012 |first=Paul|last=Grein|work=Chart Watch|publisher=Yahoo Music |date=January 3, 2013 |access-date=January 5, 2013 }}

It peaked atop the charts in Canada and New Zealand, becoming Owl City's first number one single and Jepsen's second in both countries. The song debuted at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart on August 26, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20120826/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart: 25 August 2012 - 31 August 2012|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=October 8, 2023}} It rose to number five the following week, becoming Owl City's first top 5 UK hit since “Fireflies” reached number 1 in early 2010, and Jepsen’s second top 5 UK single of 2012.

A teaser for the music video was released on June 20, 2012.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/owl_city_release_good_time_video_teaser/|title=Owl City release "Good Time" video teaser|magazine=Alternative Press|date=July 20, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2023}} The music video was directed by Declan Whitebloom and officially premiered via Vevo on July 24.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/07/24/carly-rae-jepsen-and-owl-city-have-a-grillout-and-dance-in-good-time-video-watch/|title=Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City "Good Time" music video|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|author=Erin Strecker|date=July 24, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2023}} Most of the video was shot at Silver Mine Lake in Harriman State Park in New York and the rest in New York City.{{cite web|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1689029/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time.jhtml|title=Carly Rae Jepsen, Owl City Go Camping For 'Good Time' – Music, Celebrity, Artist News|website=MTV|date=July 3, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706074918/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1689029/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time.jhtml|archivedate=July 6, 2012|access-date=September 7, 2012}}

The music video begins with Jepsen waiting by her Fiat 500 in front of an apartment, when her friends then come out and join her. They then drive away from the haze of New York City. As they drive away, the video alternates between shots of Jepsen and Young with his own group in a Mercury Cougar as they drive down a forest road.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/watch-carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-have-a-good-time-in-new-video-480871/|title=Watch Carly Rae Jepsen, Owl City Have a 'Good Time' in New Video|magazine=Billboard|author=Jason Lipshutz|date=July 24, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2023}} They eventually meet up at a small cabin-like building and start drinking slushies.{{cite web|url=http://blog.music.aol.com/2012/07/24/owl-city-carly-rae-jepsen-good-time-video-premiere/|title=Owl City, Carly Rae Jepsen 'Good Time' Video Premiere|website=AOL Music|author=Caitlin White|date=July 24, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729050032/http://blog.music.aol.com/2012/07/24/owl-city-carly-rae-jepsen-good-time-video-premiere/|archivedate=July 29, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2023}} As Jepsen's verse starts, she is shown walking through the forest, with other shots of the rest of the group walking and coming to a campground. Once the hook and chorus begin, Young is seen by a lake, along with other shots of Jepsen and the rest of the group. As the sky darkens, they start dancing around a bonfire.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/owl-city-and-carly-rae-jepsen-good-time-video-is-squeaky-cute-watch/|title=Watch: Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen combine for a squeaky-clean Good Time|website=Uproxx|author=Katie Hasty|date=July 24, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2023}} The video concludes with shots of the group dancing and partying through the night.

File:Carly Rae Jepson-DSC 0139-10.20.12 (8107372619).jpg

Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen performed "Good Time" at America's Got Talent Wild Card results show on August 22, 2012,{{cite web|last=Hilton|first=Perez|title=Carly Rae Jepsen & Owl City Light Up America's Got Talent With Their Good Times!|url=http://perezhilton.com/2012-08-23-carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time-video-watch|publisher=PerezHilton.com|access-date=August 28, 2012|date=August 23, 2012|archive-date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403200628/http://perezhilton.com/2012-08-23-carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time-video-watch|url-status=dead}} and the next day on Today.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Christina|title=Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen Sing 'Good Time' On The 'TODAY' Show|url=http://idolator.com/6841272/owl-city-and-carly-rae-jepsen-sing-good-time-on-the-today-show|work=Idolator|date=August 24, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012|format=August 24, 2012}} The duo also performed it in New York on August 25, 2012, during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, an event that marks the start of the U.S. Open;{{cite web|last=Montalvo |first=Megan |title=Arthur Ashe Kids' Day – Festivities Kick Off U.S. Open |url=http://www.queenstribune.com/feature/Feature_082312_ArthurAsheKidsDay.html |work=Queens Tribune |access-date=August 25, 2012 |date=August 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906031215/http://www.queenstribune.com/feature/Feature_082312_ArthurAsheKidsDay.html |archive-date=September 6, 2012 }} The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 28,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/watch_owl_city_perform_good_time_with_carly_rae_jepsen_on_jay_leno/|title=Watch Owl City perform "Good Time" with Carly Rae Jepsen on Jay Leno|magazine=Alternative Press|date=August 29, 2012|access-date=October 8, 2023}} and Conan on August 29. Jepsen performed "Good Time" with Cody Simpson on Justin Bieber's Believe Tour (selected dates), and with Jared Manierka on her headlining The Summer Kiss Tour.

In October 2012, Alabama singer and songwriter Allyson Nichole Burnett filed a copyright infringement suit authored by attorney Neville Johnson in a California federal court against Jepsen and Young as well as several publishing companies and performing rights groups. She claimed that Young, Matt Thiessen and Brian Lee copied a prominent motif of her 2010 song, "Ah, It's a Love Song". The lawsuit noted several similarities between the two songs, including an identical pitch sequence (5-3-5-3-2), melodic contour (down, up, down, down), rhythmic construction (8th rest, 8th note, 8th note, 8th note, 8th note, 8th rest, quarter note), and timbre (textless vocals).Gardner, Eriq. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474401/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-citys-adam-young-sued-for-alleged-good-time-theft Carly Rae Jepsen, Owl City's Adam Young Sued for Alleged 'Good Time' Theft]. Billboard. October 30, 2012. Accessed from November 4, 2012. Burnett also stated that she suffered "emotional and psychological damage" from fans asking why she copied the song.

In January 2014, Jepsen's music publishing company, BMI, reached an agreement with Burnett to place over $800,000 in royalties in an escrow account for the plaintiff's benefit. In return, Burnett agreed to drop her lawsuit.{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2014/01/31/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-good-time-ally-burnett-lawsuit-bmi/#comments-fullwrapper |title=Carly Rae Jepsen & Owl City – Still Waging Battle Over 'Good Time' ... Publishing Co. Releases $800K |publisher=TMZ.com |date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=February 1, 2014}} In June 2014, the suit was dropped, after an investigation revealed the song to be an original work. The royalties in escrow were returned to both, with Owl City receiving $525,901.77.{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2014/06/09/carly-rae-jepsen-owl-city-settlement-proposed-good-time/|title=Carly Rae Jepsen & Owl City – $500K Victory in 'Good Time' Legal War|date=June 9, 2014|work=tmz.com|access-date=March 23, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/carly-rae-jepsen|title=Carly Rae Jepsen | The Canadian Encyclopedia|website=thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}

• ;Digital download

1. "Good Time" – 3:26

• ;CD single

1. "Good Time" – 3:26
2. "Good Time" (Adam Young Remix) – 3:10

• ;UK digital remixes EP{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/good-time-remixes-ep/1444297211 |title=iTunes Music – Good Time (Remixes) – EP by Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen |publisher=iTunes Store |date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=November 5, 2012}}

1. "Good Time" – 3:26
2. "Good Time" (Adam Young Remix) – 3:10
3. "Good Time" (Fred Falke Full Remix) – 6:18
4. "Good Time" (Wideboys Club Remix) – 5:31

;Recording{{cite AV media notes |title=Good Time |others=Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen |year=2012 |type=liner notes |publisher=Universal Republic, School Boy Records, 604 Records, Interscope Records |id=0602537126637}}

• Owl City's vocals recorded at Sky Harbor Studios, Owatonna, Minnesota, United States
• Carly Rae Jepsen's vocals recorded at Signalpath Studios, Almonte, Ontario, Canada
• The Minneapolis Youth Chorus's vocals recorded at The Terrarium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

;Personnel

• Adam Young – songwriter, producer, recording, instruments, Minneapolis Youth Chorus vocal recording, vocals
• Matthew Thiessen – songwriter, background vocals
• Brian Lee – songwriter
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Carly Rae Jepsen – vocals
• Robert Orton – mixing
• Minneapolis Youth Chorus – additional vocals
• Ryan Stewart – Carly Rae Jepsen vocal production
• Ken Friesen – Carly Rae Jepsen vocal recording

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Good Time"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Good Time|type=single|artist=Owl City feat. Carly Rae Jepsen|relyear=2012|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=5|access-date=February 26, 2024|certyear=2015|certmonth=12}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen|title=Good Time|award=Gold|type=single|certyear=2013|relyear=2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Owl City|title=Good Time|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=April 24, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Good Time|type=single|artist=Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|region=Germany|award=Gold|access-date=January 10, 2013}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Good Time|type=single|artist=Owl City feat. Carly Rae Jepsen|relyear=2012|certyear=2019|region=Italy|award=Platinum|id=6456|access-date=April 1, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|relyear=2012|certyear=2017|certmonth=6|title=Good Time|artist=Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|digital=true|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen|title=Good Time|award=Platinum|number=3|digital=true|relyear=2012|access-date=December 22, 2024|certyear=2024|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Good Time|type=single|artist=Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen|relyear=2012|certyear=2021|access-date=July 30, 2021|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|id=11339-3415-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Good Time|type=single|artist=Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen|relyear=2012|certyear=2012|access-date=September 25, 2012|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=2|salesamount=2,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|certyear=2013|relyear=2012|artist=Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen|title=Good Time|award=Platinum|number=2|id=6230|type=single|streamsonly=true}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=Good Time|artist=Carly Rae Jepsen with Owl City|award=Platinum|streamsonly=true|relyear=2013|certyear=2024|certmonth=1|access-date=February 28, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streamsonly=true|streaming=true}}

• List of Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles of 2012
• List of number-one singles from the 2010s (New Zealand)
• List of UK top-ten singles in 2012

{{reflist}}

{{Owl City}}

{{Carly Rae Jepsen}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2012 singles

Category:Owl City songs

Category:Carly Rae Jepsen songs

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:604 Records singles

Category:Songs written by Adam Young

Category:2012 songs

Category:Songs written by Matt Thiessen

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Universal Republic Records singles

Category:Songs written by Brian Lee (songwriter)

Category:Songs involved in plagiarism controversies

Category:Male–female vocal duets

Category:Harriman State Park (New York)

Category:American dance-pop songs

Category:Canadian dance-pop songs