Wikipedia

Vanilla Twilight

"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.[1] "Vanilla Twilight" attained chart placement prior to the release date, following the success of Owl City's previous single "Fireflies".

"Vanilla Twilight"
Single by Owl City
from the album Ocean Eyes
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2010
GenreSynth-pop[citation needed]
Length
  • 3:51 (album version)
  • 4:04 (top 40 edit)
LabelUniversal Republic
SongwriterAdam Young
ProducerAdam Young
Owl City singles chronology
"Fireflies"
(2009)		 "Vanilla Twilight"
(2010)		 "Umbrella Beach"
(2010)
Audio sample
Music video
"Vanilla Twilight" on YouTube

Background

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In an interview with Female First, Adam Young stated that the song is "about a girl."[2] He further explained the song's meaning in an interview with Buzzgrinder: "I met the most charming girl imaginable when I was in high school and most of my 'cozy' songs are about her. She moved away to college for a few years and we kind of lost touch. She and I recently started talking to each other again and life has a way of reshaping sometimes. I'm absolutely crazy about her."[3]

Composition

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Written and produced by Young, the track runs at 84 BPM and is in the key of B major, with a key change to D-flat major in the last chorus.[4] Young's range in the song spans from the notes F#3 to Gb4.[4] The song is one of the oldest tracks from Ocean Eyes as it was written in 2007. When the album needed a ballad, Young tweaked some lyrics and it "fitted perfectly."[5] According to Young via Twitter, he stated, "'Vanilla Twilight' is about telling the person you love the most, 'I wish you were here with me.'"[6]

Music video

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The music video for "Vanilla Twilight" premiered on March 22, 2010. The video uses the album version of the song and features a cameo appearance by Shaquille O'Neal.[7] The video was directed by Steve Hoover and was filmed on location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at the Marblehead Lighthouse in Ohio.[8]

The video shows various people and a dog witness in awe, staring at a swirling mammatus cloud formation associated with a squall line.[8] It has a well-defined vortex which is lit by a veiled sun on an overcast day after a snowfall has blanketed the area, displaying a vanilla twilight. Midway through the video the storm and a lighthouse glimmer with aurora colors.[8] Towards the end of the video O'Neal lifts his arms towards the cloud and mouths "Take me with you."[9]

Chart performance

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On the chart of November 7, 2009, the same week "Fireflies" hit No. 1, "Vanilla Twilight" debuted on No. 95 in the Billboard Hot 100.[10] It has since re-entered and peaked on the Hot 100 at No. 72.[11]

"Vanilla Twilight" first entered the Australian Singles Chart at No. 50 on the week ending January 11, 2010, which happened to coincide with "Fireflies" holding its reign as the No. 1 hit single.[12] The song later peaked at No. 44.[13]

Following the release of Ocean Eyes, "Vanilla Twilight" entered the UK Singles Chart at a current peak of No. 94, making it Owl City's second consecutive single to enter the UK Top 100.[14]

Track listing

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European CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Vanilla Twilight" (radio version)4:04
2."Vanilla Twilight" (extended radio version)4:17
Digital download[15]
No.TitleLength
1."Vanilla Twilight" (radio edit)4:04
7" vinyl
No.TitleLength
1."Fireflies" (UK radio edit)3:14
2."Vanilla Twilight" (US extended radio edit)4:20

Charts

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Certifications

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Certification and sales for "Vanilla Twilight"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[33] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates for "Vanilla Twilight"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States January 26, 2010 Contemporary hit radio Universal Republic [1]
Various Digital download [34]
Australia February 15, 2010 CD single [13]

References

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  1. 1 2 "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Owl City : Ocean Eyes Track by Track". Female First. February 15, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Interview: Owl City". Buzzgrinder. August 20, 2009. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Owl City "Vanilla Twilight" Sheet Music". musicnotes.com. December 7, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Vanilla Twilight by Owl City". Songfacts. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ @owlcity (May 11, 2017). "Vanilla Twilight is about telling the person you love the most, 'I wish you were here with me.'" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ Chris Ryan (March 25, 2010). "WTF: Shaquille O'Neal's Cameo In Owl City's 'Vanilla Twilight' Video". MTV. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Becky Bain (March 24, 2010). "Owl City Wants You To Look Up At The Vanilla Twilight And Do Little Else". Idolator. Retrieved April 20, 2023.[dead link]
  9. ↑ Trey Kerby (March 25, 2010). "Why is Shaquille O'Neal in the new Owl City video?". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of November 7, 2009". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Owl City Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Australian Single Top 50: 17/01/2010". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "Owl City – Vanilla Twilight". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart on 27/2/2010 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  15. ↑ "Vanilla Twilight (Radio Edit) - Single by Owl City". Apple Music. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Owl City – Vanilla Twilight" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  17. ↑ "Owl City – Vanilla Twilight" (in French). Ultratip.
  18. ↑ "Owl City Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  19. ↑ "ČNS IFPI – CZ Radio – Top 100 – 41. týden 2010" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.
  20. ↑ "Owl City – Vanilla Twilight". Tracklisten.
  21. ↑ "Vanilla Twilight - Owl City". EarOne. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  22. ↑ "EHR Top 40". Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 2010" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  24. ↑ "Owl City – Vanilla Twilight". Top 40 Singles.
  25. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 27/2/2010 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  26. ↑ "987 TOP 20 Chart - 19 March 2010". MSN. Mediacorp. March 19, 2010. Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Mediaguide South Africa". Mediaguide. Archived from the original on July 11, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Owl City Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Owl City Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Owl City Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 2010" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Rock Digital Songs Sales – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  33. ↑ "American single certifications – Owl City – Vanilla Twilight". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Vanilla Twilight (Radio Edit) - Single by Owl City". Apple Music. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
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