Owl City - 'Fireflies'
When choosing a name for your band, it's important to remember a few simple rules. Try and avoid words that people can't say on the radio. Don't make it too long, or too silly, or too hard to pronounce. Don't make it too vague, or too forgettable, or too rooted in the now to still be of use in a year or two. And never, ever, ever name your band after an animal and a place. That's, like, a really big rule, OK?
As I say, it's important to remember these rules. It's not important to FOLLOW them, obviously, otherwise Arctic Monkeys would now be called The Valves and we'd probably have never have heard of Oasis.
(. It's on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sound of 2010 profile page. I know! Swanky!)
So well done Owl City, for getting this far against all the odds. This is clearly a grand song. It's got childlike, dreamy lyrics and pretty little twinkly noises and it creates a little world for your mind to wander in. It's a bit like In The Night Garden for older children, or grown-ups who never grew up. The button in the video that says 'magical' is entirely justified.
By rights this should be a solid four-out-of-five kind of a song. Not perfect, but definitely above average, and instantly memorable. However, I've docked it one star for the following taste-based reasons:
REASON ONE: Adam's voice. For some reason, American synthpoppers - Metro Station, I am looking at you - seem to share one half-choked larynx and one bottle of helium between them. There's clearly a much-loved production technique which involves recording the vocals as quietly and hissily as humanly possible, before adding just a touch of electro-varnish to glue them into place.
Trouble is, it's the sort of technique you would use if you had a singer who couldn't hit a note with a shovel. So it's actually quite hard to tell if singers can really sing or not. And even if they can, it's tempting to demand that they have a good cough, take a deep breath and PROJECT for once.
REASON TWO: Some of those rhymes are less charming Dr Seuss/Lewis Carrol whimsy, and more of a fey, feverish dream in a rhyming dictionary. Little bit clunky, y'see.
REASON THREE: There is no reason three. I only docked it one star, sheesh!
Download: Out now
CD Released: February 22nd (or something)
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 13th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:This song will be in your top ten on sunday . Such is the appeal and popularity gained by those little fire flies , on down loads weeks before physical release . A charming little song .
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Comment number 2.
At 13th Jan 2010, Kat wrote:Oh dear - I guessed that this was coming!
@ Reason One: agreed when it comes to many songs, for this one I happen to think that any 'real' singing would actually make the song far less enjoyable - it's all so silly and fantastical - having 'proper' singing on it would be like having a grown man say 'buhbye dada' instead of a baby.. it is just not quiite as adorably cute..
@ Reason Two: clunky rhymes, sure.. daft as anything lyrics, of course.. I love a song that doesn't take itself too seriously.. or seriously AT ALL :P
@ Reason Three: I cannot believe that you gave that shoddy 'Echo' song more stars than this.. :)
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Comment number 3.
At 13th Jan 2010, flatknees wrote:i love owl city but i think this is one of the lesser songs that adam young wrote.. can't see how its done so well.. his voice i think is dissimilar to metro station as it doesnt sound like he's whining..
try 'vanilla twilight', 'cave in' or 'on the wing' if you're not convinced by this. i would give it 3 stars too.
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Comment number 4.
At 13th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Listened to the songs flatknees suggested and I'm still not impressed by Owl City, the songs are better than Fireflies but all feel a bit too easy listening. There nothing really there to keep my attention through-out (apart from the rubbish lyrics).
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Comment number 5.
At 13th Jan 2010, flatknees wrote:gutted.
thanx for hearing me out though harry.
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Comment number 6.
At 13th Jan 2010, CurtainJerker wrote:I've listened to this once and found it annoying.
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Comment number 7.
At 13th Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:What CurtainJerker said.
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Comment number 8.
At 13th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Well , you won't be able to escape this song , for the next 2 months or so , so it will either grow on you , or you will have to go and live on the moon to escape it .
We will send a shuttle to pick you up , when the coast is clear . ;)
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Comment number 9.
At 13th Jan 2010, if wrote:Reason 3 is the existence of The Postal Service, surely
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Comment number 10.
At 13th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:I'm with Kat on this song .
It's the quirkiness and warmth of Adam's vocals that give it added appeal , and couple this with the playfulness of the lyrics , it's a winning combination , that will capture the hearts of many a listener .
It's already A listed at Radio 1 , 6 weeks before release , and will go top 10 on Sunday , and if my ear for a tune is as good as I know it is , it will go top 3 at it's peak .
Just like in America , thousands of people are gonna absolutely love this song .
With all the snow we have had , the vision of fireflies , will warm many a heart .
A monster hit ! ( IN WAITING )
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Comment number 11.
At 13th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Owl City does rip off The Postal Service
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Comment number 12.
At 13th Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:Well , you won't be able to escape this song , for the next 2 months or so , so it will either grow on you , or you will have to go and live on the moon to escape it .
Sadly true, as this one of those songs that was picked up by mainstream, local radio stations (well in Birmingham at least) at least a month and a half before its release, which means it will be endlessly repeated, Chasing Cars-esque for about 3 months, maybe more. Which is sad cos i dont mind it at the moment, its quite pleasant with daft lyrics but its merry all the same, its listenable. After 3 months of 'its hard to say i'd rather stay awake while i'm asleep' (WHAT???) though, i think i may have to take up spirit's Kind offer of some time on the moon.
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Comment number 13.
At 13th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:I like it. It's good fun, quirky and the vocals are good. Although you are right at the samt time Fraser.
It's a grower and what I've heard from the album sounds good.
And good point on Girls Can't Catch being better than this... it clearly isn't.
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Comment number 14.
At 13th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:We do offer a "shuttle " bus sevice Jonesy !
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Comment number 15.
At 13th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:At 13 ...
Liam , do you and Curtains take it in turns to make the BIG F feel special ?
You two seem to be on a rota to be Smithers to Fraser's C. Montgomery Burns !
You will be having "I love THE BIG F " t- shirts made up next .....
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Comment number 16.
At 13th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:I do love Fraser's reviews and often jump to his defence. I guess Im a fanbaby lol.
Although 4 stars to Girls Can't Catch is a joke.
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Comment number 17.
At 13th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:I also love THE BIG F !!!!
He does a great job.
But offering differing viewpoints is fun too !
And boy , does it generate interest, at times...
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Comment number 18.
At 13th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Maybe Owl City will be a one hit wonder.......
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Comment number 19.
At 13th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Not a chance !
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Comment number 20.
At 13th Jan 2010, flatknees wrote:naa they won't be.. vanilla twilight next i think...
i am a huge fan of ben gibbard and the postal service, so when i first owl city my initial reaction was 'rip off'.. but through listening a lot you find subtle differences.. also the young can't help it if he sounds like gibbard... its his voice
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Comment number 21.
At 14th Jan 2010, Keith Fusco wrote:I heard this for the first time last night while flicking through TV station's and I thought it was a new Postal Service song at first, then I couldn't see Ben singing... Obviously lol.
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Comment number 22.
At 14th Jan 2010, CurtainJerker wrote:Liam, you STAY AWAY from my singles reviewer!
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Comment number 23.
At 14th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:BOYS ! BOYS ! BOYS !
Stop fighting over THE BIG F !
As we all know , there is enough of him to go round.
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Comment number 24.
At 17th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Shotgun.
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Comment number 25.
At 18th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:At 10.
"This song will go top 3 at it's peak "
Wow , straight in at Number 2 , got that one right.
Next week , it will probably be number 1 .
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Comment number 26.
At 18th Jan 2010, Richard Parke wrote:Heres the thing I love owl city, (have for quite a while now) but fireflies is not his best song by a long shot, my personal top four of his songs are vanilla twilight, the saltwater room, fuzzy blue lights, and hello seattle.
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Comment number 27.
At 18th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Cheers Richard ,I will check them out .
Flatknees appears to like Vanilla Twilight too !
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Comment number 28.
At 18th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Spirit, it won't be number one. Either Glee will snowball masively this week (although, this week's ep isn't much loved) or Justin Bieber will be number one. I think it will remain at 2.
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Comment number 29.
At 18th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:So 1. Justin 2. Owls 3. Glee.
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Comment number 30.
At 18th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Are you the same Blogging Liam , that said Vampire Weekend would have the number 1 album ?
*Looks at chart *
Florence is number 1 .
Don't wish to make you "cross" , or put a wooden stake through your heart , but that prediction was a little " batty . "
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Comment number 31.
At 18th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Ye :( I was wrong. Happens to the best of us. I should make all predictions with "probably" before them ;)
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Comment number 32.
At 19th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Oh I forgot about 'Replay'. Scrap my previosu prediction. I'm sure Spirit will quote it to haunt me at some point, but I'm scrapping it. It's too tough to call between those 3 + 'Replay'. I only like 2/4, but the others are popular.
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Comment number 33.
At 19th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Just let me know when you would like me to quote it and haunt you.
I can do requests....
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Comment number 34.
At 19th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Seriously you think Justin Bieber will be number 1 ?
I don't think so , he is not getting enough radio play , and only appeals to too small an audience .
Sunday's number 1 will be either IYAZ , OWL CITY or after another excellent show last night , THE GLEE CAST !
One of those three will do it.
In the album chart , expect a VERY high new entry in the Top Ten for LOST PROPHETS , their advance order sales are extremely good !
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Comment number 35.
At 19th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Hmm Bieber was selling well at the start of the week. It's getting a tonne of radio play, sadly. Perhaps it wont get it and now it's number 9 in the iTunes chart. Releasing his album the same week was an error in terms of single sales.
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Comment number 36.
At 19th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:So are you gonna scrap another prediction and trust me ?
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Comment number 37.
At 19th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Looking at the main download charts around (kind of cheating but who cares) I'm predicting that Iyaz could hold on for another week. It has more wide-spread appeal and, personally, I find it less annoying. Don't really like either though.
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Comment number 38.
At 20th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Changed my mind, Fireflies will be no.1 this week.
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Comment number 39.
At 20th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Yeye I scrap the prediction.
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Comment number 40.
At 24th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:At 25 , I said this will probably be tonight's number 1.
Liam and Harry disagreed with me...
Can someone please tell me who tonight's number 1 is ?
lol
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Comment number 41.
At 24th Jan 2010, CurtainJerker wrote:Dunno. Is it Justin Bieber?
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Comment number 42.
At 24th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Hey, me and Liam both scrapped our predictions on the 20th, that's four days before the chart was annouced, so I think it's safe to say that we're all right. High fives all round!
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Comment number 43.
At 24th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Haha , on the 20th , I remember 2 gorgeous guys jumping on my band wagon !!
Hope u enjoyed the ride.
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Comment number 44.
At 24th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:It was a bumpy one :p.
Can I register how much I absolutely love this song. It's the biggest grower I've heard in a long time. Absolutely fantastuc tune.
Somebody stuck it on in the dying dregs of a house party on Friday and it was amazing.
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