| "Hot Air Balloon" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Promotional single by Owl City | |
| from the album Ocean Eyes | |
| A-side | "Fireflies" |
| Released | May 5, 2009 |
| Genre | Pop [1] |
| Length | 3:35 |
| Label | Republic |
| Songwriter(s) | Adam Young |
| Producer(s) | Young |
"Hot Air Balloon" is a song by American electronica project Owl City. The song was released digitally on May 5, 2009 as the first promotional single from his second studio album, Ocean Eyes . [2] The song appears as the B-side on the European CD release of his debut single, "Fireflies". [3]
"Hot Air Balloon" was written and produced by Adam Young. [4] The theme of the song is based on abstraction and optimism. Young stated, "Abstraction is something that has always appealed to me... I have an intense dislike for writing about the 'true, hard, reality of life' or being explicitly open and honest about life and love and living. Everyone does that... abstract optimism is an idea that makes the wheels turn in my head. I don't know why. I never planned such a thing." [5] The song is described as pop and features acoustic guitar sounds. [6]
The song premiered on the AOL Spinner Tastemaker website on May 1, 2009. [2] The track was later released as a digital-only promotional single on May 5, 2009. [7] The song later appeared on the deluxe edition of Ocean Eyes . [8] According to Young, the song is a "carefree song about adventure and exploration. Looking down on the world, leaning out and brushing the snow from evergreen branches, wondering where life will take you." [9]
"Hot Air Balloon" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Silence Killer gave a positive review stating, "When trouble is spotted in the distance, he can always ascend above the treetops and spend the afternoon in his hot air balloon. Leave your jacket behind, clouds wouldn't dare come between the sunshine and Owl City." [10] Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout praised the upbeat and poppy nature of the song and Young's "signature dreamy and peppy lyrics." [1]
The song debuted at number one on AOL Music's Top 40 Songs Chart with more than 270,000 streams in the first week and has sold over 12,400 copies. [2] The song reached number 41 on the South Korean GAON Digital Chart. [11]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hot Air Balloon" | 3:35 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fireflies" | 3:48 |
| 2. | "Hot Air Balloon" | 3:35 |
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korea (GAON) (International Chart) [11] | 41 |
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | May 5, 2009 | Digital download | Republic | [7] |
Owl City is an American electronic music project created in 2007 in Owatonna, Minnesota. It is one of several projects by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young, who created the project while experimenting with music in his parents' basement. Owl City developed a following on the social networking site Myspace, like many musicians who achieved success in the late 2000s, before signing with Universal Republic Records, now Republic Records, in 2008.
Ocean Eyes is the second studio album by American electronica project Owl City, released on July 14, 2009, by Universal Republic Records. It features a photograph of the Burj Al Arab as its album artwork. A vinyl edition was released, followed by a deluxe edition available on January 26, 2010. The deluxe edition incorporates four new tracks, including a remix of "Hello Seattle". The album contains guest vocals by Relient K vocalist Matt Thiessen on the songs "Fireflies", "Cave In", "The Bird and the Worm", and "Tidal Wave".
Breanne Elizabeth Dürenberger, known professionally as Breanne Düren, is an American musician best known for her work with electronic music project Owl City and her own solo work.
"Fireflies" is the debut single from American electronica project Owl City's album Ocean Eyes. Frontman Adam Young wrote the track about seeing fireflies in his hometown of Owatonna, Minnesota while he was awake with insomnia. Matt Thiessen produced the song and provided guest vocals. The song is built around a "bleepy" synthline and includes lyrics about insomnia, fireflies and summer.
Of June is the first EP by American electronic music project Owl City. It was uploaded by Adam Young to his Myspace page on August 29, 2007. The EP was released digitally on December 16, 2008.
"Vanilla Twilight" is a song by American electronica act Owl City. The song was released on January 26, 2010 as the second single from his second studio album Ocean Eyes. "Vanilla Twilight" attained chart placement prior to the release date, following the success of Owl City's previous single "Fireflies".
"Hello Seattle" is a song by American electronica project Owl City. The song is the third track from his second studio album Ocean Eyes released via Universal Republic. The song was released as a promotional CD in December 2009 before it was serviced for radio airplay on April 27, 2010. The song peaked at number six on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold in 2014 by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The discography of American electronica project Owl City consists of seven studio albums, eight extended plays, twenty-six singles, and twenty-five music videos. Owl City issued his debut release, the extended play Of June, in September 2007; it peaked at number 15 on the United States Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. His debut studio album Maybe I'm Dreaming followed in December 2008, peaking at number 13 on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Following the success of Of June and Maybe I'm Dreaming, Young signed to Universal Republic Records in late 2008. His second studio album and major-label debut, Ocean Eyes, was released in July 2009. "Fireflies", the album's lead single, became an international success, peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a top ten hit in several other countries. In correlation with the success of "Fireflies", Ocean Eyes peaked at number eight on the US Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). An additional two singles were released from the album: "Vanilla Twilight" and "Umbrella Beach".
An Airplane Carried Me to Bed is the first and only album by Sky Sailing, a project by Adam Young. The album comprises some of his early recordings from before he started Owl City. It was released digitally on July 13, 2010, before it was released physically on July 27, 2010 via Universal Republic.
All Things Bright and Beautiful is the third studio album by the American electronica project Owl City. It was released on June 14, 2011, by Universal Republic Records. Despite receiving mixed critical reviews, it became a commercial success, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard 200.
"Deer in the Headlights" is a song by American electronica project Owl City. The song was released on May 23, 2011 as the first promotional single from his third studio album, All Things Bright and Beautiful. In promotion of the single, a music video was released on June 30, 2011.
Shooting Star is the second extended play by American electronica project Owl City, released on iTunes and other media outlets on May 15, 2012, through Universal Republic. The extended play consists of four new songs that would also be on Young's subsequent album, The Midsummer Station. Mark Hoppus, vocalist for Blink-182 is featured on the song "Dementia".
"Shooting Star" is a song by American electronica project Owl City from his second extended play of the same name. The song premiered exclusively via Billboard on May 10, 2012, before it was released as the lead single from the EP on May 15, 2012. The song peaked at No. 176 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 49 on the Japan Hot 100. It was featured twice in the 2013 animated film Escape from Planet Earth.
Ultraviolet is the fourth extended play by American electronica project Owl City, released digitally on June 27, 2014, through Republic Records. The EP's lead single, "Beautiful Times", which features violinist Lindsey Stirling, was released on April 8, 2014.
Mobile Orchestra is the fifth studio album by American electronica project Owl City, which was released on July 10, 2015. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200. This is the project's last album under Republic Records before releasing subsequent albums independently.
"Angels" is a song by American electronica act Owl City. It was released on September 20, 2011, for Christian radio airplay as the fourth and final single from his third studio album, All Things Bright and Beautiful.
Adam Randal Young is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the founder and sole member of electronica project Owl City. Outside of Owl City, Young has recorded music under different musical projects, most notably Port Blue and Sky Sailing. In addition to these works, Young was part of the electronica band Swimming With Dolphins and post-rock band Windsor Airlift.
"Wolf Bite" is a song by American electronica project Owl City. The song was released on June 18, 2014, as a promotional single from his fourth extended play, Ultraviolet. The song reached number 22 on the Christian Rock Songs chart and number 48 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.
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The Ocean Eyes Tour is the first headlining concert tour by American electronica project Owl City, in support of his second studio album, Ocean Eyes (2009).