Galaxies (song)

Last updated
"Galaxies"
Owl City Galaxies.jpg
Single by Owl City
from the album All Things Bright and Beautiful
ReleasedApril 19, 2011
Recorded2010–2011
Genre
Length4:01
Label Universal Republic
Songwriter(s) Adam Young
Producer(s) Adam Young
Owl City singles chronology
"Alligator Sky"
(2011)		"Galaxies"
(2011)		"Lonely Lullaby"
(2011)
Audio sample

"Galaxies" is a song by American electronica act Owl City, released on April 19, 2011. [4] It is the second single from his third studio album, All Things Bright and Beautiful . The song peaked at number 39 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.

Contents

Background

Adam Young has stated the song is about the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. [5] His idea and portrayal of the song is that "victory can be achieved through Christ and through Him alone," despite the tragedy. [5]

"I wrote the song reflecting what I would be feeling and how I would answer for my life if I entered into eternity in a split second the way the victims did. The song is all about what I would say for myself if, all of a sudden, I was face to face with God and I had to answer for my actions in life." [6]

Prior to the start of "Galaxies", a sample of Ronald Reagan's State of the Union speech was used and is titled "January 28, 1986", the date of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. [6] He recalled hearing the speech and it "rekindled" his appreciation for astronauts and as a result, he wanted to pay his respects to them. [7] The song was leaked onto the internet on April 11, 2011, before it was officially released on April 19. [8] A lyrics video for the song premiered exclusively on Alternative Press on April 20, [9] before it was released via YouTube on July 26, 2011. [10]

Composition

"Galaxies" was written and produced by Adam Young. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, by Alfred Music Publishing, the track runs at 120 BPM and is in the key of C major. [11] Young's range in the song spans from the notes G4 to A5. [11] The song is described as contemporary Christian music, [1] eurodisco [2] and synth-pop. [3] Young was hesitant at first to add his Christian faith to the song, as he felt he had "no business" adding his beliefs into his songs as a "mainstream artist." However, he ended up going through with it, making sure he was "right with God" and that it came off authentically. [1]

Chart performance

On April 19, 2011, "Galaxies" was released as the second single from the album. After release, the song had some airplay, primarily on Christian radio stations. [12] The song peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart. [13]

Charts

Release history

Release history for "Galaxies"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousApril 19, 2011 Universal [4]
United StatesApril 25, 2011 Christian radio [18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Owl City Reveals All Things Bright and Beautiful". CBN.com. Christian Broadcasting Network . Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Glenn Gamboa (June 10, 2011). "Drops: 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'". Newsday . Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Chad Grischow (June 14, 2011). "Owl City: All Things Bright And Beautiful – Music Review at IGN". IGN . Archived from the original on June 20, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Galaxies - Single by Owl City". Apple Music . Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  5. 1 2 Josephine Vivaldo (25 June 2011). "Interview: Owl City's Adam Young and His God-Inspired Music". The Christian Post . Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Kevin Davis. "#225 - "Galaxies" by Owl City". New Release Today. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ Tris McCall (November 11, 2011). "Owl City set to enchant Starland on Sunday". NJ.com . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  8. ↑ Tim Karan (April 11, 2011). "New Owl City song Galaxies surfaces". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on April 16, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Exclusive: Owl City Galaxies lyric video". Alternative Press . April 20, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Owl City - Galaxies [Official Lyric Video]". YouTube . 26 July 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Owl City "Galaxies" Sheet Music". musicnotes.com. Alfred Music Publishing . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Owl City, Galaxies". gannsdeen.com. 25 April 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Owl City – Chart History: Christian Songs". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay: Week of May 4, 2011". Billboard Japan . May 4, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Gaon Chart: 2011-06-01". GAON . Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Cross Rhythms– Year-End 2011". Cross Rhythms . Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Hot Christian CHR Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Christian - Future Releases". All Access Mediabase . Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
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