Alligator Sky

"Alligator Sky" is a song by American electronica project Owl City from his third studio album All Things Bright and Beautiful. It was released as the lead single from the album on March 22, 2011.[2] Four versions of the song were released: The first features Californian rapper Shawn Chrystopher, the second version omits Chrystopher's vocals, a third version featuring Atlanta rapper B.o.B leaked online,[3] and a fourth version featuring vocals by Big Boi of Atlanta hip-hop duo OutKast also leaked online.[4] The song debuted at the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Electronic Track chart.[1]

"Alligator Sky"
Single by Owl City featuring Shawn Chrystopher
from the album All Things Bright and Beautiful
ReleasedMarch 22, 2011
Recorded2010-2011
Genre
Length
  • 3:05 (album version)
  • 3:14 (No Rap edit)
  • 3:11 (version featuring B.o.B)
  • 3:07 (version featuring Big Boi)
LabelUniversal Republic
Songwriter(s)
  • Adam Young
  • Shawn Chrystopher
  • Bobby Ray Simmons Jr.
  • Antwan André Patton
Producer(s)Adam Young
Owl City singles chronology
"Peppermint Winter"
(2010)		 "Alligator Sky"
(2011)		 "Galaxies"
(2011)
Shawn Chrystopher singles chronology
"One of My Homies"
(2010)		 "Alligator Sky"
(2011)		 "Minding My Business"
(2013)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

Background

Adam Young stated in an interview with AOL that he experimented with different sounds on the album All Things Bright and Beautiful and that "Alligator Sky" is where he 'pulled the hip-hop vibe, stating; "... I am a big fan of the way hip-hop music is put together and everything that goes into it—being so beat-heavy and just focusing on the rhythm side of it, sometimes more than melody. But I wanted to marry those two ideas and just focus on the rhythm side of it then have this rapper do verses just as a new look to it."[5]

According to Young, the song was inspired by the 2008 computer-animated science fiction film, WALL-E.[6] Explaining the concept of the title of the song, he stated, "It's about how there are so many weird things coming at you every day. Why not just meet them head on and take charge even though you have no say over what’s going to happen? You and those around you are what matter most."[7]

Critical reception

"Alligator Sky" was met with positive reviews from music critics. Billboard magazine stated, "it's pretty much an exact rewrite of Young's original smash, from the bubbly electronics to the Ben Gibbard-approved melodic choices to the overblown optimism."[8] Robbie Daw of Idolator praised the Long Lost Sun remix version of the song for its, "dreamy keyboard riffs, insistent hand claps and upbeat production" that brings out Owl City's "wall of sound."[9]

Music video

A music video for the first version of the song was released on May 6 and was made by Endeavor Media.[10] Young uploaded 'Behind the Scenes' footage of the video a few days prior to the release on April 22,[11] which explained the concept for the video; saying that it's about two men (Young and Chrystopher) leaving earth, but unlike many videos with a similar theme, they aren't leaving a post-apocalyptic earth, instead, there is a big celebration about leaving a very polluted earth. In the video the earth is shown as a planet that has terrible living conditions. The celebration is because they are leaving earth to find a better planet in outer space. As shown in the music video the duo are taking samples of earth with them to outer space to archive them.[12]

Young's "Alligator Sky" self makes an appearance at the end of the music video for "Deer in the Headlights" where he is nearly run over by himself driving the DeLorean (from Back to the Future) after coming to the year 2015.[13]

Track listing
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Alligator Sky"3:13
Digital download[14]
No.TitleLength
1."Alligator Sky" (featuring Shawn Chrystopher)3:04
2."Alligator Sky" (No Rap Edit)3:14
3."Alligator Sky" (Long Lost Sun Remix)3:11
7" vinyl
No.TitleLength
1."Alligator Sky" (featuring Shawn Chrystopher)3:04
2."Alligator Sky" (Long Lost Sun Remix)3:11

Charts
Chart performance for "Alligator Sky"
Chart (2011) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15] 16
Denmark Airplay (Tracklisten)[16] 10
Germany (Youth Airplay Chart)[17] 17
Germany (Airplay Chart)[17] 68
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[18] 32
South Korea (GAON) (International Chart)[19] 64
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[20] 5

References
  1. Nadine Cheung (March 24, 2011). "Owl City Debuts at No. 1 on iTunes With New Single 'Alligator Sky'". JSYK.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  2. "Alligator Sky - Single by Owl City". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  3. "Owl City Feat. B.o.B. - Alligator Sky (New 2011)!!". YouTube. April 29, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  4. "Big Boi enhances Owl City's new single 'Alligator Sky'". HitFix. May 12, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  5. "Alligator Sky by Owl City Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  6. "Owl City Reveals All Things Bright and Beautiful". CBN.com. Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  7. Doug Van Pelt (May 6, 2011). "Owl City debuts video for Alligator Sky". HM. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  8. "Owl City, Alligator Sky". Billboard. April 22, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  9. Robbie Daw (April 11, 2011). "Hear The Bright And Shiny Long Lost Sun Remix Of Owl City's Alligator Sky". Idolator. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  10. "Owl City - Alligator Sky (clip + making off) | Vidéos". Beehave.fr. May 13, 2011. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  11. Erik Pedersen (April 22, 2011). "Owl City: Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at New Video for "Alligator Sky"". Today. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  12. "Owl City | Alligator Sky". Owlcitymusic.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  13. "Owl City | Official Site". www.owlcitymusic.com. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  14. "Alligator Sky - Single by Owl City". Apple Music. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  15. "Owl City – Alligator Sky" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  16. "Owl City – Alligator Sky" (in Danish). Tracklisten.
  17. German Airplay Chart Archived April 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on June 3, 2011
  18. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 (2011/06/27)". Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  19. "Gaon Digital Chart: 2011-04-02". GAON. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  20. "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
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