Stars in the Sky
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Stars in the Sky
| cover = Kid Cudi - Stars in the Sky.jpg
| alt = The singer of this song, Kid Cudi, is visible here on the cover art for the song in a flying egg-shaped vehicle belonging to a villain named Doctor Robotnik with other flying robots alongside it.
| type = single
| artist = Kid Cudi
| album =
| released = {{Start date|2022|03|25}}
| recorded = 2022
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Dance-pop
| length = {{Duration|03:05}}
| label = Republic
| writer = {{hlist|Brandon Benjamin|David Biral|Denzel Baptiste|Oladipo Omishore|Scott Mescudi|Montero Hill}}
| producer = {{hlist|Splititupbenji|Take a Daytrip|Dot da Genius}}
| chronology = Kid Cudi
| prev_title = Want It Bad
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title = Talk About Me
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|efiLdiBk1f8|"Stars in the Sky"}}}}
}}
"Stars in the Sky" is a song by American musician Kid Cudi. Created for the film Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), it was released as a single in promotion of both the film and its soundtrack on March 25, 2022, through Republic Records.The song was written by Cudi himself alongside Lil Nas X and its producers, Splititupbenji, Take a Daytrip, and Dot da Genius. The accompanying music video released on YouTube on the same day of the song's release and also received overall positive reviews.
Background and release
Kid Cudi released a teaser for "Stars in the Sky" on his Twitter account on March 24.{{Cite web |last=Deschamps |first=Marc |date=March 23, 2022 |title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Movie Theme Song Teaser Dropped by Kid Cudi |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-theme-song-teaser-kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716173415/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-theme-song-teaser-kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky/ |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}} In addition to his announcement for the single, he also stated the intention to do a film screen with some of his followers.{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Listen to Kid Cudi's upbeat new song 'Stars In The Sky' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-kid-cudis-upbeat-new-song-stars-in-the-sky-3190269 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810144132/https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-kid-cudis-upbeat-new-song-stars-in-the-sky-3190269 |archive-date=August 10, 2022 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}
"Stars in the Sky" was released by Republic Records at midnight on March 25, 2022;{{Cite magazine |last=Zemler |first=Emily |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Kid Cudi Enters the 'Sonic the Hedgehog' Universe With 'Stars in the Sky' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky-video-1326610/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408154713/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky-video-1326610/ |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Stars in the Sky [From Sonic The Hedgehog 2] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/stars-in-the-sky-from-sonic-the-hedgehog-2--mr0005709938 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |publisher=AllMusic}} the song was available for pre-save on music streaming services the day prior.{{cite tweet|author=Kid Cudi|author-link=Kid Cudi|user=KidCudi|number=1506664172716793860|title=Kid Cudi on Twitter: "Stars in the Sky tomorrow. Pre-save and be the first to hear. #SonicMovie2 @sonicmovie
On April 9, 2022, Cudi performed a medley of "Stars in the Sky" and "Pursuit of Happiness" at the Kids' Choice Awards for the first time.{{cite press release |title=Grammy Award-Winning Multiplatinum Kid Cudi and Multiple Grammy Award-Nominated Jack Harlow to Perform at "Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2022 |date=March 31, 2022 |publisher=Nickelodeon |url=http://thefutoncritic.com/video/2022/03/31/grammy-award-winning-multiplatinum-kid-cudi-and-multiple-grammy-award-nominated-jack-harlow-to-perform-at-nickelodeons-kids-choice-awards-2022-811410/20220331nickelodeon01/ |via=The Futon Critic |access-date=March 31, 2022}}{{cite magazine |author=Paul Grein |date=March 31, 2022 |title=Kid Cudi & Jack Harlow to Perform at 2022 Kids' Choice Awards: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/kids-choice-awards-performers-kid-cudi-jack-harlow-1235052539/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528023735/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/kids-choice-awards-performers-kid-cudi-jack-harlow-1235052539/ |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |access-date=March 31, 2022 |magazine=Billboard}}
Reception
Aaron Williams of Uproxx wrote that the song seemingly contained elements of indie rock, Tom Breihan of Stereogum described it as a "bleepy, uptempo dance-pop track" while saying that it "definitely sounds like a song from a kids' movie." Breihan also said that it was a "pretty weird look for Kid Cudi" and believed that "maybe it'll be a hit".{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Kid Cudi Shares New 'Sonic The Hedgehog 2' Single "Stars In The Sky": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2180958/kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky/music/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523130858/https://www.stereogum.com/2180958/kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky/music/ |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=Stereogum |publisher=}} Jordan Rose of Complex noted that the song "captured the lighthearted and fast nature of Sonic 2", while Jessica McKinney from the same entertainment company said that "Stars in the Sky" found Kid Cudi "dancing over galactic production".{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Jordan |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Watch Kid Cudi's Video for New 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' Song "Stars in the Sky" |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-rose/kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky-song-stream-sonic-2 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=Complex |language=en |archive-date=December 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212155450/https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-rose/kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky-song-stream-sonic-2 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=McKinney |first=Jessica |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Best New Music This Week: NIGO, Latto, Kid Cudi, and More |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-mckinney/best-new-music-this-week-nigo-latto-kid-cudi |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=Complex |language=en}} Writing for ComicBook.com, Cade Onder described the song as a "banger" while also saying that it "fits well with the heart of Sonic the Hedgehog 2."{{Cite web |last=Onder |first=Cade |date=March 27, 2022 |title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Movie Theme Song Released by Kid Cudi |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-song-kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky/ |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716173347/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-song-kid-cudi-stars-in-the-sky/ |url-status=live }} Emily Zemler of Rolling Stone wrote that some of the song's lyrics referenced some of Kid Cudi's previous songs, including his 2008 and 2009 singles "Day 'n' Nite" and "Rollin'", respectively.
Music video
The music video displays Kid Cudi recording the song in a recording studio, but he is interrupted by a message from Doctor Robotnik on his cell phone, who invites Cudi to join him. Cudi preemptively accepts and leaves the studio, where he finds a flying vehicle. He starts the vehicle and flies off at high speed while continuing to sing the song, in addition to the video clip showing footages (some hitherto unpublished) of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, both in its original filmage version and in a 8-bit recreation.
The musician teams up with Sonic and Tails to stop Robotnik, who is already in Green Hills, inside a giant robot resembling himself.{{Cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Wade |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Watch: Kid Cudi releases new 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' track, 'Stars in the Sky' |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2022/03/25/Kid-Cudi-Sonic-Hedgehog-Stars/4311648204937/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website= |publisher=United Press International |language=en}} Cudi also builds a mech that resembles himself and with one punch, destroys Robotnik's robot, and later celebrates with a fist bump with Tails and Sonic, who gives the musician one of his powered quills and opens a ring portal so Cudi can return to the recording studio.
The music video was also released the same day the song was on YouTube.{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Kid Cudi Shares Video for New Song "Stars in the Sky" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-kid-cudi-new-song-stars-in-the-sky/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123135223/https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-kid-cudi-new-song-stars-in-the-sky/ |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} In a review for the music video, Tom Skinner of NME said in regards to the music video that it contained "fun accompanying visuals that intersperse clips of Cudi performing in the studio with shots from the forthcoming movie", and some graphics from the 1991 game Sonic the Hedgehog. Christian Hodge of Screen Rant wrote that the music video was a "fun romp", but questioned whether it presented an excessive amount of the film's plot before its release.{{Cite web |last=Kenneally |first=Cerys |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Kid Cudi shares new Sonic the Hedgehog 2 song "Stars In The Sky" |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/kid-cudi-shares-new-sonic-the-hedgehog-2-song-stars-in-the-sky |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}
Personnel
Personnel derived from Apple Music:
{{div col}}
- Kid Cudi – vocals, songwriter
- Lil Nas X – songwriter
- Dot da Genius – production, songwriter
- Take a Daytrip – production, songwriter
- Splititupbenji – production
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Patrizio Pigliapoco – mixing
- Igancio Partales – mixing
- Tyler Lindsay – assistant mixing
- Brad Lauchert – assistant mixing
- William J. Sullivan – recording
- Drew Sliger – recording
{{div col end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kid Cudi songs}}
{{Sonic the Hedgehog in other media}}
Category:Republic Records singles
Category:Songs written by Kid Cudi
Category:Songs written by Dot da Genius
Category:Works based on Sonic the Hedgehog
Category:Songs written for films
Category:Song recordings produced by Take a Daytrip
Category:Songs written by Lil Nas X
Category:Animated music videos