To the Sky (Owl City song)

Last updated
"To the Sky"
To the Sky Owl City.jpg
Single by Owl City
from the album Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
ReleasedAugust 31, 2010
Genre Pop [1]
Length3:39
Label
Songwriter(s) Adam Young
Producer(s) Young
Owl City singles chronology
"Umbrella Beach"
(2010)
"To the Sky"
(2010)
"Peppermint Winter"
(2010)
Music video
"To the Sky" on YouTube

"To the Sky" is a song by American electronica project Owl City from the 2010 film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole . It was released as a single on August 31, 2010 via Universal Records and WaterTower Music. [2] "To the Sky" was also featured as a bonus track on the German and Japanese deluxe releases of Owl City's third studio album, All Things Bright and Beautiful . [3]

Contents

Background and composition

On August 24, 2010, it was announced that Young had penned a new song to serve as the theme for the 2010 animated film, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole . [4] "To the Sky" was written and produced by Adam Young. [5] He stated that it was an "incredible honor" working on the song for the film. Young also added, "As a fan of both the children's book series growing up, and Zack Snyder's work as a director, having my music included is pretty surreal. I've been waiting for someone to make a movie like this for some time now. I'm endlessly grateful to be involved." [6] According to Young, the filmmakers wanted something upbeat and optimistic that fit the mood and aesthetic of the film. [7] The track runs at 175 BPM and is in the key of B major. [8]

Music video

The music video for "To the Sky" premiered on September 15, 2010 via VEVO and was directed by Danny Yourd. [9]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."To the Sky"3:39
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."To the Sky"3:42
2."To the Sky" (Music Video)3:49

Charts

Chart performance for "To the Sky"
Chart (2010)Peak
position
CIS (TopHit) [10] 187
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard) [11] 25
US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard) [12] 13

Related Research Articles

Guardians of Ga'Hoole is a fantasy book series written by Kathryn Lasky and published by Scholastic. The series contains a total of 16 books and although originally intended to conclude with the 2008 publication of The War of the Ember, a prequel The Rise of a Legend was published in 2013. Apart from the main series there are a few more books and spin-offs set in the same universe. The first three books of the series were adapted into the animated 3D film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, directed by Zack Snyder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zack Snyder</span> American filmmaker (born 1966)

Zachary Edward Snyder is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He made his feature film debut in 2004 with Dawn of the Dead, a remake of the 1978 horror film of the same name. Since then, he has directed or produced a number of comic book and superhero films, including 300 (2007) and Watchmen (2009), as well as the Superman film that started the DC Extended Universe, Man of Steel (2013), and its follow-ups, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017), as well as the director's cut of Justice League that was later released in 2021. He also directed the computer-animated film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010), the psychological action film Sucker Punch (2011), the zombie heist film Army of the Dead (2021), and the space opera film Rebel Moon (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Sturgess</span> English actor and singer-songwriter

James Anthony Sturgess is an English actor and singer-songwriter. His first major role was as Jude in the musical romance drama film Across the Universe (2007). In 2008, he played the male lead role of Ben Campbell in 21. In 2009, he played Gavin Kossef in the crime drama Crossing Over, appearing with Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, and Ashley Judd. In 2010, Sturgess starred in the film The Way Back, directed by Peter Weir. Sturgess co-starred in the 2012 epic science fiction film Cloud Atlas.

<i>Watchmen</i> (film) 2009 American film by Zack Snyder

Watchmen is a 2009 American superhero film based on the 1986–1987 DC Comics limited series of the same name cocreated and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. Directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay by David Hayter and Alex Tse, the film features Malin Åkerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Patrick Wilson. A dark and dystopian deconstruction of the superhero genre, the film is set in an alternate history in the year 1985 at the height of the Cold War, as a group of mostly retired American superheroes investigate the murder of one of their own before uncovering an elaborate and deadly conspiracy, while their moral limitations are challenged by the complex nature of the circumstances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnie Waldron</span> Musical artist

Winnie Waldron is an American music producer for video games, a producer for radio, a radio script editor / adapter, a manuscript editor and a radio host.

<i>Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of GaHoole</i> 2010 animated film

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is a 2010 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film directed by Zack Snyder. Based on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole book series by Kathryn Lasky, the film was written by John Orloff and Emil Stern and features the voices of Helen Mirren, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony LaPaglia, Miriam Margolyes, Sam Neill, Richard Roxburgh, and David Wenham. An international co-production between the United States and Australia, the film was produced by Village Roadshow Pictures and Animal Logic, following their success with the 2006 film Happy Feet. In the film, Soren (Sturgess), a barn owl, is kidnapped and taken to St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls led by Metal Beak and Nyra (Mirren), where owlets are brainwashed into becoming soldiers. He befriends a fellow owl named Gylfie (Barclay), and they later escape the facility to find the Island of Ga'Hoole with new-found friends and together fight against the evil army.

<i>Watchmen: Music from the Motion Picture</i> 2009 soundtrack album by Various artists

Watchmen: Music from the Motion Picture is the film soundtrack album for the 2009 film Watchmen. The soundtrack features three songs written by Bob Dylan: "Desolation Row", "The Times They Are a-Changin'", and "All Along the Watchtower".

<i>Sucker Punch</i> (2011 film) 2011 film

Sucker Punch is a 2011 American psychological fantasy action film directed by Zack Snyder and co-written by Snyder and Steve Shibuya. It is Snyder's first film based on an original concept. The film stars Emily Browning as "Babydoll", a young woman who is committed to a mental institution. As she collects items she needs to escape, she enters a series of fantasy worlds where she and her fellow inmates are strong, experienced warriors. Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, and Oscar Isaac also star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owl City</span> American electronica musical project

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.

<i>Maybe Im Dreaming</i> 2008 studio album by Owl City

Maybe I'm Dreaming is the debut studio album by American electronica project Owl City, released on March 17, 2008. Despite having been self-released and not recorded by any major producer, it managed to reach the top 20 of the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanilla Twilight</span> 2010 single by Owl City

"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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owl City discography</span> Band discography

The discography of American electronica project Owl City consists of seven studio albums, seven extended plays, twenty-four singles, and twelve 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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stone Quarry</span> American film production company

The Stone Quarry is an American production company established in 2004 by filmmaker Zack Snyder, his wife Deborah Snyder and their producing partner Wesley Coller.

Deborah Snyder is an American producer of feature films and television commercials. She is married to filmmaker Zack Snyder, and has worked as his frequent producing partner on films such as Watchmen and 300. She is the co-founder of the production company The Stone Quarry.

<i>Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of GaHoole</i> (video game) 2010 video game

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is a 2010 video game adapted for PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 as well as Nintendo DS. Developed by Krome Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, released on September 14, 2010. It is based on the film of the same name, and includes some elements from the books. The game takes place during the events of the movie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peppermint Winter</span> 2010 single by Owl City

"Peppermint Winter" is a song by American electronica project Owl City. The song was released on November 22, 2010, as a Christmas single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Can Dance discography</span> Band discography

Dead Can Dance is an ambient, world music band which has released nine studio albums so far, two live albums, four compilation albums, one video album, one extended play and nine singles. The band formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1981 but relocated to London, United Kingdom in 1982 and signed with 4AD Records where they disbanded in 1998.

<i>All Things Bright and Beautiful</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Owl City

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.

"Waving Through a Window" is the second song from Act 1 of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics for the song, which serves as the main protagonist Evan Hansen's "I Want" song. It has since become the signature tune of the character, one of the musical's most famous songs and an anthem for those who have felt depressed and alone and show a desire for connection.

<i>Zack Snyders Justice League</i> (soundtrack) 2021 soundtrack album by Tom Holkenborg

Zack Snyder's Justice League (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the film of the same name, itself a director's cut of the 2017 theatrical film which had its own soundtrack. Tom Holkenborg, also known as Junkie XL, composed the film's score; he had previously worked on a score for the theatrical version of Justice League, before being replaced by Danny Elfman following original director Zack Snyder's departure and Joss Whedon's arrival. Upon Snyder getting the chance to finish and release his version of the film, Holkenberg was brought back and decided to rescore the film from scratch. The album was released via WaterTower Music on March 18, 2021, the same day as the film's release, and was later released as a limited-edition 7-disc vinyl set on April 14. The film's score is notable as the longest in film history at nearly four hours long.

References

  1. Paul Schrodt (September 23, 2010). "Review: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole". Slant Magazine . Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  2. "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists". Apple Music . Archived from the original on September 4, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  3. "All Things Bright and Beautiful - Album by Owl City". Apple Music . Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  4. "Multi-Platinum International Sensation Owl City Pens Theme Song to Zack Snyder's Animation Debut Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole". Jesus Freak Hideout. August 24, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  5. "Owl City Provides Theme Song for Legend of The Guardians Film". Cross Rhythms . Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  6. "Owl City Soars with the 'Owls of Ga'Hoole'". Christianity Today . August 27, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  7. Marshall Heyman (March 21, 2013). "Making the Cartoons Sing". Wall Street Journal . Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  8. "Key and BPM of To the Sky by Owl City". Musicstax.com. September 21, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  9. "Owl City - To The Sky (From The Soundtrack For The Original Motion Picture Legend of the Guardians The Owls of Ga' Hoole". MTV . September 17, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  10. Owl City — To the Sky. TopHit. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  11. "Owl City Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  12. "Owl City Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard . Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.