Peppermint Winter
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Peppermint Winter
| cover = Peppermint_Winter.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Owl City
| album =
| released = November 22, 2010
| recorded = 2010
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Synth-pop
- electropop{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/vdnez1/bop-shop-holiday-lizzo-kylie-minogue-owl-city|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223201352/https://www.mtv.com/news/vdnez1/bop-shop-holiday-lizzo-kylie-minogue-owl-city|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 23, 2022|title=Bop Shop Holiday Edition: Songs From Lizzo, Kylie Minogue, And More|website=MTV|date=December 23, 2022|access-date=May 7, 2023}}
- Christmas}}
| length = 4:00
| label = Universal Republic
| writer = Adam Young
| producer = Young{{cite AV media notes|title=Peppermint Winter|type=Digital liner notes|others=Owl City|publisher=Universal Republic|year=2010}}
| prev_title = To the Sky
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Alligator Sky
| next_year = 2011
}}
"Peppermint Winter" is a song by American electronica project Owl City. The song was released on November 22, 2010, as a Christmas single. The song was written and produced by Adam Young.
Background
Adam Young of Owl City was working on his third studio album, when he decided to release a Christmas single, "Peppermint Winter" on iTunes in November 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.drivenfaroff.com/2010/11/24/owl-city-releases-new-song-working-on-new-album/|title=Owl City Releases New Song; Working On New Album|author=Bryce Jacobson|date=November 24, 2010|website=Driven Far Off|access-date=June 15, 2025}} He wrote on Last.fm that it is about his "...own participation in snowball fights and sidewalk shoveling. Sleigh rides, present-giving and receiving and of course, the ingestion of marvelous Yuletide nutrition (or lack thereof), namely sugar cookies, hot chocolate and peppermint candy canes..."{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}
Composition
"Peppermint Winter" is a light, waltz-like song that incorporates synth beats and vocals. The beat is mainly formed by jingle bells and occasional heavy drums. Piano is often featured, as well as some orchestrations, such as wooden string instruments and woodwinds. The track runs at 154 BPM and is in the key of C major.{{Cite web|url=https://musicstax.com/track/peppermint-winter/7MqDwR9yskBfZCybiNKlef|title=Key and BPM of Peppermint Winter by Owl City|publisher=Musicstax.com|date=November 22, 2010|access-date=February 19, 2023}} Adam's range in the song spans from the notes C4 to A5.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0111854|title=Owl City "Peppermint Winter" Sheet Music|website=musicnotes.com|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=February 19, 2023}}
Critical reception
"Peppermint Winter" received positive reviews from music critics. Becky Bain of the Idolator stated, "the saccharine love song to snowballs and sleigh rides gives us the same feeling we get when we eat too many candy canes in one sitting."{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/5698781/owl-city-offers-some-seasonal-whimsy-in-peppermint-winter|title=Owl City Offers Some Seasonal Whimsy in Peppermint Winter|author=Becky Bain|website=Idolator|date=November 23, 2010|archiveurl=https://archive.ph/Td8n|archivedate=July 11, 2012|accessdate=June 19, 2011}} The Napster blog gave the song a positive review, writing that the song "is cut from the same cloth" as his previous song "Fireflies" and calling the song "light and sugary like the candy canes on a Christmas tree". The review continues stating that while the song "might not become a classic like "Christmas Wrapping" from The Waitresses", "who can really say no to just one more Christmas song?"{{cite web|url=http://blog.napster.com/napster/2010/11/owl-city-peppermint-winter.html|title=Owl City - Peppermint Winter|website=Napster|date=November 23, 2010|accessdate=June 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126095753/http://blog.napster.com/napster/2010/11/owl-city-peppermint-winter.html|archive-date=November 26, 2010|url-status=dead}} Athena Serrano of MTV called the track an, "electropop holiday bop filled with the magic and whimsical spirit of the festive season," praising the song for its, "mystical synths."
Charts
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for "Peppermint Winter" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| November 22, 2010 | rowspan="3"| Universal Republic | {{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/peppermint-winter-single/1445276365|title=Peppermint Winter - Single by Owl City|website=Apple Music|accessdate=October 6, 2014}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australia
| December 6, 2010 | rowspan="2"| CD |
| scope="row"| United States
| December 14, 2010 | {{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/peppermint-winter-mw0002083186|title=Peppermint Winter - Owl City|website=AllMusic|access-date=February 19, 2023}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|type=single|1439427|name=Peppermint Winter}}
{{Owl City}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American Christmas songs
Category:Universal Republic Records singles