Time to Pretend

{{Infobox song

| name = Time to Pretend

| cover = 200px-MGMT Time To Pretend 7inch.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = MGMT

| album = Oracular Spectacular

| B-side = "Metanoia"

| released = March 3, 2008

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = * Electronic rock{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10761-oracular-spectacular/|title=MGMT: Oracular Spectacular Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Harvey|first=Eric|date=22 October 2007|access-date=7 April 2023}}

glam rock

| length = 4:19

| label = Columbia{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/shaun_keaveny/rotw.shtml |title= Record of the Week |work=BBC Radio |first= Shaun |last= Keaveny |accessdate= February 6, 2008 }}

| writer = Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser

| producer = Dave Fridmann

| prev_title = Weekend Wars

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = Electric Feel

| next_year = 2008

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|B9dSYgd5Elk|"Time to Pretend"}}}}

}}

"Time to Pretend" is a song by the American indie band MGMT, released as the lead single from their debut studio album Oracular Spectacular (2007) on March 3, 2008. An earlier version had been released on their Time to Pretend EP. The single was released as a 7" and CD single featuring the B-sides "Weekend Wars" (BBC Radio 1 Session){{cite web | url = http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=428836 | title = MGMT Time To Pretend UK 7" RECORD (428836) | work = eil.com | accessdate = October 24, 2008}} and "Metanoia", respectively.{{cite web | url = http://angryape.com/news/050208-mgmt-ready-uk-debut-single-time-to-pretend | title = MGMT Ready UK Debut Single Time To Pretend | work = Angry Ape | accessdate =February 5, 2008}} In early 2009, the song was re-released in the UK. The song was ranked at number 493 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time",{{cite web |url=http://cbs2chicago.com/entertainment/rolling.stone.songs.2.1721498.html |title='Rolling Stone' Updates '500 Greatest Songs' List |date=May 28, 2010 |publisher=CBS 2 Chicago |accessdate=June 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614061834/http://cbs2chicago.com/entertainment/rolling.stone.songs.2.1721498.html |archivedate=June 14, 2010 }} and its parent album, Oracular Spectacular, was ranked at number 494 on the publication's additional list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/mgmt-oracular-spectacular-2-156861/ |title=My Favorite Things, Part II |date=May 31, 2012 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=November 26, 2018}} The song was also ranked at number 90 on NME{{'}}s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Background

The track was originally recorded for the Time to Pretend EP (2005). It was re-recorded for the Oracular Spectacular album.

From a quote from live at Abbey Road:

{{cquote|We wrote "Time to Pretend" our senior year of college, and the music was inspired by a praying mantis we had in our house. She laid eggs and it died, and we laid the egg case on this kinda model pirate ship on the mantle piece, and the eggs hatched and all these baby praying mantises were climbing up the rigging of the ship, and it was pretty crazy...uhm so the music was inspired by our praying mantis that liked to dance to The Clash {laugh} and the lyrics are just about us imagining being rock stars ... and yeah, fantasy rock star life.}}

Music video

The music video for the song contains references to Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1973 film The Holy Mountain{{cite web |last=Morrison |first=Kyle |title=MGMT |url=http://dejourmagazine.com/wordpress/?p=235 |work=DEJOUR Magazine. Cultural Commentary. |publisher=Brash Publisher Network |accessdate=November 7, 2012 |date=May 14, 2008 |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123112055/http://dejourmagazine.com/wordpress/?p=235 |url-status=dead }} and the 1954 novel Lord of the Flies. The video was directed by Ray Tintori, and features a cameo appearance by American recording artist Caroline Polachek.

Tiscali Music gave the video a rating of 10 out of 10.{{cite web | url = http://www.tiscali.co.uk/music/music-video/index.html?id=4687 | title = Time to Pretend: video review | work = Tiscali Music | accessdate = February 6, 2008 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.vevo.com/watch/mgmt/time-to-pretend/USSM20800053 | title = Time To Pretend video | work = Vevo | accessdate = February 14, 2010 }} A 3D version of the video with minor changes to the original was also produced.

Track listing

{{tracklist

| headline = 7" Single

| title1 = Time to Pretend

| length1 = 4:19

| title2 = Weekend Wars

| note2 = BBC Radio 1 session

| length2 = 4:34

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = 2 Track Promo

| title1 = Time to Pretend

| length1 = 4:19

| title2 = Time to Pretend

| note2 = Clean

| length2 = 4:20

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Radio Edit Promo

| title1 = Time to Pretend

| note1 = Radio edit

| length1 = 4:11

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = 2009 Digital Download

| title1 = Time to Pretend

| length1 = 4:21

| title2 = Future Reflections

| note2 = Triple J live recording

| length2 = 4:10

}}

Personnel

Personnel taken from the Song Exploder podcast.{{Cite episode |url=https://songexploder.net/mgmt |title=Episode 62: MGMT |series=Song Exploder |date=2016 }}

MGMT

Andrew VanWyngarden – vocals, synthesizers, drums
Ben Goldwasser – vocals, synthesizers, piano, sampling

Additional performer

Dave Fridmann – Thingamagoop

Reception

Kevin O'Donnell wrote in Rolling Stone that "Time to Pretend is a space-rock gem that mocks the clichéd coke-and-hookers rock-star lifestyle, over big synth whooshes."{{cite magazine | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17323914/artist_to_watch_mgmt | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071116051221/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17323914/artist_to_watch_mgmt | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 16, 2007 | title = Artist to Watch: MGMT | magazine = Rolling Stone | first = Kevin | last = O'Donnell | accessdate = November 14, 2007 }}

The song hit #38 on the Mediabase Alternative chart.{{cite web |url=http://w2.mediabase.com/mmrweb/AllAccess/Charts.asp?format=r3MM&showtopn=500&cutoff=1 |title=US Alternative Radio Airplay Monitor |website=Mediabase |accessdate=February 5, 2008}} Time critic Josh Tyrangiel named Time to Pretend the #8 song of 2008.Time, December 22, 2008, pp. 47–8. The song was #3 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008,{{cite magazine |date=December 25, 2008 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24947047/the_100_best_singles_of_2008/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227111805/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24947047/the_100_best_singles_of_2008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 27, 2008 |title=The 100 Best Songs of 2007 |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=December 25, 2008}} #4 on NME's Best Singles of 2008,{{cite web | url = https://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=10&title=title_271&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 | title = NME's Track Of The Year 2008 | website = NME | accessdate = December 12, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121009093435/http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=10&title=title_271&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 | archive-date = October 9, 2012 | url-status = dead }} The song was ranked at number 493 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". NME ranked "Time to Pretend" as the 2nd best song of the 2000s. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 12 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/14 |title=150 best tracks of the past 15 years |website=NME |date=6 October 2011 |accessdate=July 7, 2016}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable"
Chart (2008) !Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart{{cite web \|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue981.pdf \|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20081219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20081220-0000/issue981.pdf \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=2008-12-19 \|title=The ARIA Report: Issue 981 \|publisher=webarchive.nla.gov.au \|date=August 23, 2006 \|accessdate=June 2, 2010}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|62
Canadian Hot 100[https://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-05-03/canadian-hot-100 Billboard Artist Chart History – MGMT (Canada)] \| style="text-align:center;"\|64
Irish Singles Chart{{cite web \| url = http://www.irma.ie/charts_archive/week30_08.asp\| title = Irish Charts Week 30\| accessdate = August 18, 2008}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|33
Japanese Singles Chart{{cite web \|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?keyword=MGMT&x=0&y=0&exposeNavigation=true&applicationName=bbcom&matchType=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&rangePropertyName=FORMATTED_DATE&rangeFilterType=BTWN \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211135453/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?keyword=MGMT&x=0&y=0&exposeNavigation=true&applicationName=bbcom&matchType=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&rangePropertyName=FORMATTED_DATE&rangeFilterType=BTWN \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=December 11, 2008 \|title=Billboard Artist Chart History – MGMT (Japan) \|website=Billboard}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|75
Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web\|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/airplay/19-2008\|title=Schweizer Airplay Charts 19/2008 - hitparade.ch \|publisher=hitparade.ch \|access-date=March 2, 2022}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|89
UK Singles Chart{{cite web \| url = http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php \| title = UK Singles Chart \| work = The Official UK Charts Company \| accessdate = March 12, 2008 \|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011004323/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php \|archivedate = October 11, 2007}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|35
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles{{cite web\|url={{BillboardURLbyName\|artist=mgmt\|chart=Bubbling Under Hot 100}} \|title=Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles \|work=Billboard \|accessdate=November 1, 2008 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621052956/http://www.billboard.com/artist/276872/mgmt/chart?f=344 \|archivedate=June 21, 2015 }} \| style="text-align:center;"\|9
{{singlechart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|23\|artist=MGMT\|accessdate=7 August 2017}}
Billboard European Hot 100 Singles{{cite web \| url = https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?configType=BBCOM_SIMPLEDEFAULT&pubList=Billboard&an=bbcom&action=Submit&kw=&exposeNavigation=true&keyword=mgmt&searchType=ARTICLE_SEARCH&submit.x=34&submit.y=18 \| title = European Hot 100 Singles \| work = Billboard \| accessdate = April 30, 2008 \|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080322043837/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?configType=BBCOM_SIMPLEDEFAULT&pubList=Billboard&an=bbcom&action=Submit&kw=&exposeNavigation=true&keyword=mgmt&searchType=ARTICLE_SEARCH&submit.x=34&submit.y=18 \|archivedate = March 22, 2008}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|99

class="wikitable"

Chart (2008)

!Peak
position

Australian ARIA Singles Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue981.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20081219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20081220-0000/issue981.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-12-19 |title=The ARIA Report: Issue 981 |publisher=webarchive.nla.gov.au |date=August 23, 2006 |accessdate=June 2, 2010}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

| style="text-align:center;"|62

Canadian Hot 100[https://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-05-03/canadian-hot-100 Billboard Artist Chart History – MGMT (Canada)]

| style="text-align:center;"|64

Irish Singles Chart{{cite web | url = http://www.irma.ie/charts_archive/week30_08.asp| title = Irish Charts Week 30| accessdate = August 18, 2008}}

| style="text-align:center;"|33

Japanese Singles Chart{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?keyword=MGMT&x=0&y=0&exposeNavigation=true&applicationName=bbcom&matchType=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&rangePropertyName=FORMATTED_DATE&rangeFilterType=BTWN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211135453/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?keyword=MGMT&x=0&y=0&exposeNavigation=true&applicationName=bbcom&matchType=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&rangePropertyName=FORMATTED_DATE&rangeFilterType=BTWN |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |title=Billboard Artist Chart History – MGMT (Japan) |website=Billboard}}

| style="text-align:center;"|75

Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/airplay/19-2008|title=Schweizer Airplay Charts 19/2008 - hitparade.ch |publisher=hitparade.ch |access-date=March 2, 2022}}

| style="text-align:center;"|89

UK Singles Chart{{cite web | url = http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php | title = UK Singles Chart | work = The Official UK Charts Company | accessdate = March 12, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011004323/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php |archivedate = October 11, 2007}}

| style="text-align:center;"|35

US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=mgmt|chart=Bubbling Under Hot 100}} |title=Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles |work=Billboard |accessdate=November 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621052956/http://www.billboard.com/artist/276872/mgmt/chart?f=344 |archivedate=June 21, 2015 }}

| style="text-align:center;"|9

{{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|23|artist=MGMT|accessdate=7 August 2017}}

Billboard European Hot 100 Singles{{cite web | url = https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?configType=BBCOM_SIMPLEDEFAULT&pubList=Billboard&an=bbcom&action=Submit&kw=&exposeNavigation=true&keyword=mgmt&searchType=ARTICLE_SEARCH&submit.x=34&submit.y=18 | title = European Hot 100 Singles | work = Billboard | accessdate = April 30, 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080322043837/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?configType=BBCOM_SIMPLEDEFAULT&pubList=Billboard&an=bbcom&action=Submit&kw=&exposeNavigation=true&keyword=mgmt&searchType=ARTICLE_SEARCH&submit.x=34&submit.y=18 |archivedate = March 22, 2008}}

| style="text-align:center;"|99

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (2008) !Position
UK Singles Chart{{cite web \|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2008.pdf \|title=Official Singles Chart 2008 \|work=UKChartsPlus.co.uk \|accessdate=July 7, 2016}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| 145
Chart (2009) !Position
UK Singles Chart{{cite web\|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusYE2009.pdf \|title=Charts Plus Year end 2009 \|publisher=Charts Plus \|accessdate=July 19, 2010}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|193

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (2008)

!Position

UK Singles Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2008.pdf |title=Official Singles Chart 2008 |work=UKChartsPlus.co.uk |accessdate=July 7, 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 145

Chart (2009)

!Position

UK Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusYE2009.pdf |title=Charts Plus Year end 2009 |publisher=Charts Plus |accessdate=July 19, 2010}}

| style="text-align:center;"|193

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|relyear=2008|certyear=2017|artist=MGMT|title=Time to Pretend|award=Platinum|access-date=June 18, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|relyear=2008|certyear=2019|id=6716|award=Gold|access-date=June 18, 2021|artist=MGMT|title=Time to Pretend}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=MGMT|title=Time to Pretend|award=Platinum|certyear=2023|relyear=2007|source=radioscope|access-date=December 29, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=MGMT|title=Time to Pretend|award=Gold|certyear=2024|relyear=2007|id=mgmt-time-to-pretend|access-date=January 1, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=MGMT|title=Time to Pretend|award=Platinum|certyear=2022|relyear=2007|id=9247-335-1|access-date=September 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|artist=MGMT|title=Time to Pretend|award=Platinum|number=3|access-date=August 7, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

Television performances

MGMT performed the song "Time to Pretend" on Late Show with David Letterman on January 8, 2008. The song subsequently hit number 19 on the Mediabase U.S. Alternative chart.{{cite web |url=http://w2.mediabase.com/mmrweb/AllAccess/Charts.asp?format=r3MM&showtopn=500&cutoff=1 |work=Mediabase |title=US Alternative Radio Airplay Monitor |accessdate=February 7, 2008}} They later performed the song on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on May 15, 2008. The band returned to Letterman on May 11, 2010.

Covers

Covered by Black Country, New Road in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/black-country-new-road-share-cover-mgmt-time-to-pretend-2874850|title=Black Country, New Road share raw cover of MGMT's 'Time To Pretend'|first=Rhian|last=Daly|date=7 February 2021|accessdate=22 December 2021|work=NME}} It was later included in the band{{'}}s Never Again EP.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/black-country-new-road-releasing-covers-of-abba-adele-and-more-on-vinyl|title=Black Country, New Road releasing covers of ABBA, Adele and more on vinyl|work=The Line of Best Fit|first=Cerys|last=Kenneally|date=16 November 2021|accessdate=22 December 2021}}
Covered by Charlie Hickey in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Kenneally |first=Cerys |date=21 March 2023 |title=Charlie Hickey releases cover of MGMT's "Time to Pretend" |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/charlie-hickey-releases-cover-of-mgmts-time-to-pretend |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=The Line of Best Fit}}{{cite web |title=Charlie Hickey Finds The Emotional Core Of MGMT's 'Time To Pretend' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/charlie-hickey-finds-the-emotional-cover-of-mgmts-time-to-pretend/ |website=www.clashmusic.com|date=21 March 2023 }}

References

External links

{{YouTube|B9dSYgd5Elk|"Time to Pretend" Music video}}

Category:2008 singles

Category:MGMT songs

Category:2007 songs

Category:Songs written by Andrew VanWyngarden

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Songs written by Benjamin Goldwasser

Category:Glam rock songs

Category:Songs about drugs

Category:Satirical songs