Stars in the Sky

Last updated
"Stars in the Sky"
Kid Cudi - Stars in the Sky.jpg
Single by Kid Cudi
ReleasedMarch 25, 2022 (2022-03-25)
Recorded2022
Genre Electropop
Length3:05
Label Republic [1]
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kid Cudi singles chronology
"Want It Bad"
(2022)		"Stars in the Sky"
(2022)		"Talk About Me"
(2022)
Music video
"Stars in the Sky" on YouTube

"Stars in the Sky" is a song by American musician Kid Cudi. It was created for the film Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and was released as a single in both promotion for the film and its soundtrack on March 25, 2022. The song was written by Cudi himself alongside Lil Nas X and producers Splititupbenji, Take a Daytrip, and Dot da Genius. It was released by Republic Records. The accompanying music video released on YouTube garnered more than 42 million views as of December 2024 and also received overall positive reviews.

Contents

Background

"Stars in the Sky" was released at midnight on March 25, 2022; [3] the song was available for pre-save on music streaming services the day prior. [4] Kid Cudi also released a teaser for the song on March 24 as well on his X (formerly Twitter) account. [4] [5] In addition to his announcement for the single, he also stated the intention to do a film screen with some of his followers. [6] The music video was also released on the same day on YouTube, gaining more than 42 million views as of December 2024. [7] [8] The song's lyrics were written and composed by Kid Cudi, Lil Nas X, Dot da Genius, and Take a Daytrip, with the latter two also behind the productions. [2] "Stars in the Sky" was included in the film's soundtrack and plays during both the opening and ending credits of it. [3] [9] [10]

Reception

Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote that the song is a "bleepy, uptempo dance-pop track" while saying that it "definitely sounds like a song from a kids’ movie." Breihan also says: "A pretty weird look for Kid Cudi! But maybe it’ll be a hit! The song’s video plunges Cudi into the Sonic universe." [11] 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". [12] [13] 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. [6] 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." [14] 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. [15] [16] The music video for "Stars in the Sky" received an average rating of 8.1/10 from 11 reviews on IMDb. [17]

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. [3]

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 the Eggmobile, Robotnik's vehicle. He starts the vehicle and starts flying 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 16-bit recreation.

In the final moments of the music video, in the Labyrinth Zone, Cudi discovers Robotnik's true intention to have called him, to help the doctor steal the Master Emerald. The musician teams up with Sonic and Tails to stop Robotnik, who is already in Green Hills, inside a giant robot resembling himself, which is powered by the emerald. 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.

Live performances

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. [18] [19]

Personnel

Derived from Apple Music: [2]

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References

  1. ↑ "Stars in the Sky [From Sonic The Hedgehog 2]". AllMusic . Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Stars In The Sky (From Sonic The Hedgehog 2)". Apple Music . Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Zemler, Emily (March 25, 2022). "Kid Cudi Enters the 'Sonic the Hedgehog' Universe With 'Stars in the Sky'". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Kid Cudi on Twitter: "Stars in the Sky tomorrow. Pre-save and be the first to hear. #SonicMovie2 @sonicmovie https://KidCudi.lnk.to/StarsInTheSky". Twitter. March 23, 2022. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. ↑ Deschamps, Marc (March 23, 2022). "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Movie Theme Song Teaser Dropped by Kid Cudi". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Skinner, Tom (March 25, 2022). "Listen to Kid Cudi's upbeat new song 'Stars In The Sky'". NME . Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  7. ↑ Kid Cudi (March 25, 2022). "Kid Cudi - Stars In The Sky". YouTube . Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  8. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (March 25, 2022). "Kid Cudi Shares Video for New Song "Stars in the Sky"". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  9. ↑ Michèle, Joséphine (April 9, 2022). "Every Song In Sonic The Hedgehog 2". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  10. ↑ Williams, Aaron (March 25, 2022). "Kid Cudi's 'Stars In The Sky' Is On The 'Sonic 2' Soundtrack". Uproxx . Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ Breihan, Tom (March 25, 2022). "Kid Cudi Shares New 'Sonic The Hedgehog 2' Single "Stars In The Sky": Listen". Stereogum. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  12. ↑ Rose, Jordan (March 25, 2022). "Watch Kid Cudi's Video for New 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' Song "Stars in the Sky"". Complex . Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  13. ↑ McKinney, Jessica (March 25, 2022). "Best New Music This Week: NIGO, Latto, Kid Cudi, and More". Complex . Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  14. ↑ Onder, Cade (March 27, 2022). "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Movie Theme Song Released by Kid Cudi". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  15. ↑ Hodge, Christian (March 27, 2022). "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Music Video Features Kid Cudi Fighting Robotnik". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  16. ↑ Kenneally, Cerys (March 25, 2022). "Kid Cudi shares new Sonic the Hedgehog 2 song "Stars In The Sky"". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Kid Cudi: Stars in the Sky". IMDb . Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Grammy Award-Winning Multiplatinum Kid Cudi and Multiple Grammy Award-Nominated Jack Harlow to Perform at "Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2022"" (Press release). Nickelodeon. March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022– via The Futon Critic.
  19. ↑ Paul Grein (March 31, 2022). "Kid Cudi & Jack Harlow to Perform at 2022 Kids' Choice Awards: Exclusive". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
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