| Shooting Star | |
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Released: |
May 12, 2012 |
Shooting Star is a song by American electronica band Owl City from his second extended play Shooting Star. It was released as the lead single from the EP on May 15, 2012. The song has so far peaked at No. 176 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 49 on the Japan Hot 100.
Background[]
Adam Young began to write "Shooting Star" in 2008 with Relient K's Matt Thiessen. The song was planned for inclusion on Owl City'sOcean Eyes album (2009), but it didn't make the cut. As work began on the follow-up album, The Midsummer Station (2012), Young brought a 90-second demo of the "old leftover instrumental idea" to Norwegian record producing and songwriting team Stargate, who helped complete the composition. Young recalled, "All the lyrics were basically written on the spot during those two days... and then I went back home to my own studio in Minnesota to cut the final (version). I think I tweaked some lyrics here and there to make everything feel better, and then the song was finished."[1]
The song was originally intended to be the lead single from The Midsummer Station, but the success of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" led to Owl City's management choosing the duet "Good Time" instead.[2]
Reception[]
"Shooting Star" peaked at No. 36 on the US Christian Songs chart, No. 49 on the Japan Hot 100 chart, and No. 176 on the UK Singles Chart. Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout wrote that the song is "still poppy and very accessible, and Owl City fans will probably feel mostly at home, but it has a bit more of a dance music vibe than the synthpop we're used to."[3] Popcrush's Cristin Maher compared the song's intro, consisting of a "loop of dreamy, high and low digital blips", to that of "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service.[4] Tris McCall of The Star-Ledgercalled the song "the least successful thing" on The Midsummer Station. McCall added that "while Young can discharge a self-affirmatory verse with the conviction of a choirboy, the song does skirt a bit too close to Katy Perry territory for comfort."[5]
Music video[]
On May 14, 2012, Owl City uploaded an official audio stream for "Shooting Star" to his official Youtube channel. The video features some type of fox or dog walking around in a city with orange fur.
Young has posted screen-shots of the upcoming video on his Twitter account for Shooting Star which he has not yet confirmed as to when it will be released. The MTV website includes an interview with Adam about the filming of the video.
Use in media[]
This song is featured in the 2013 3D animated film, Escape from Planet Earth, twice.[6]
It is also featured in the 3rd trailer of Epic.
Track listing[]
Digital Download
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shooting Star" | 4:07 |
Chart Performance[]
| Chart (2012) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] | 176 |
| Japan (Japan Hot 100)[7] | 49 |
| US Christian Songs (Billboard)[9] | 36 |
| Chart (2013) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)[10] | 39 |