Maybe I'm Dreaming: Difference between revisions

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| recorded = February 2008

| venue =

| studio = Sky Harbor Studios ([[Owatonna, MN]])

| genre = [[Synth-pop]], [[electronica]]{{hlist|

| [[Synth-pop]]

| [[indietronica]]}}

| length = 48:22

| label = {{hlist|Sky Harbor|[[Universal Republic Records|Universal Republic]]}}

| label = Self-released

| producer = [[Adam Young (American musician)|Adam Young]]

| prev_title = [[Of June]]

| prev_year = 2007

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| border =

| alt =

| caption = iTunesDigital cover

}}

}}

'''''Maybe I'm Dreaming''''' is the debut studio album by American [[electronica]] project [[Owl City]], released on March 17, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://myspace.com/owlcity/music/album/maybe-i-m-dreaming-15383221|title=Maybe I'm Dreaming by Owl City – MySpace page|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220181551/https://myspace.com/owlcity/music/album/maybe-i-m-dreaming-15383221|archivedate=December 20, 2016|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref> Despite having been self-released and not recorded by any major producer, it managed to reach the top 20 of the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Dance/Electronic Albums]] chart.<ref name="Dance Albums"/>

Following the surprise success of Owl City's second studio album, ''[[Ocean Eyes (album)|Ocean Eyes]]'', ''Maybe I'm Dreaming'' was pressed and re-released by [[Universal Republic]] on MarchApril 3021, 20102009.<ref name="Apple Music">{{cite web|url=https:MIDbooklet//music.apple.com/us/album/maybe-im-dreaming/1440768838|title=Maybe I'm Dreaming - Owl City|website=[[Apple Music]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403061432/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/maybe-im-dreaming/id363152446|archivedate=April 3, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref>

==Background and release==

''Maybe I'm Dreaming'' was recorded in February 2008,<ref name="AllMusic"/> in the basement of [[Adam Young (American musician)|Adam Young]]'s childhood home.<ref name="MusicRadar">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/q-a-owl-city-reveals-live-and-studio-setup-i-use-auto-tune-238845|title=Q&A: Owl City reveals live and studio setup: I use Auto-Tune|website=MusicRadar|author=Joe Bosso|date=March 4, 2010|access-date=June 17, 2023}}</ref> Young produced and recorded the album in [[Owatonna, Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/owl-city-fireflies-spotify-billions-club/|title=Owl City's 'Fireflies' Joins Spotify's Billions Club|website=UDiscoverMusic|date=March 24, 2025|author=Sam Armstrong|access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref> Speaking about recording the album himself, he recalled, "it's easy to overthink what you do by allowing yourself to become too emotionally invested in what you're doing."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/owl-city-vancouver-2012-show-at-the-commodore-ballroom|title=Owl City Vancouver 2012 Show at The Commodore Ballroom|website=Daily Hive|access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref> Guest musicians on the album include [[Breanne Düren]] and Austin Tofte.<ref name=MIDbooklet/> Düren is featured on multiple songs on the album, aftermost anotably on the track, "The Saltwater Room". A friend had suggested that she would be perfect to work with Young.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/a14290/breanne-duren-interview/|title=Artist to Know: Breanne Düren|magazine=[[Seventeen (American magazine)|Seventeen]]|date=May 26, 2011|access-date=June 17, 2023}}</ref> Young revealed that he used his uncle's 1969 [[Alvarez Guitars|Alvarez]] guitar on the fourth track, "The Saltwater Room".<ref name="MusicRadar"/> The seventh track, "The Technicolor Phase", is featured on ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'''s compilation album, ''[[Almost Alice]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/archive_almostalicetracklisting/|title=3OH!3, All Time Low, Owl City, more on Alice In Wonderland soundtrack|magazine=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=January 12, 2010|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>

The album was self-released through his record label, Sky Harbor on March 17, 2008.<ref name="MID Release">{{cite web|url=https://myspace.com/owlcity/music/album/maybe-i-m-dreaming-15383221|title=Maybe I'm Dreaming by Owl City – MySpace page|date=March 17, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220181551/https://myspace.com/owlcity/music/album/maybe-i-m-dreaming-15383221|archivedate=December 20, 2016|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref> It was released in the United Kingdom and Europe on December 16, through [[Island Records]].<ref name=UKbooklet/> Physical copies of the album were pressed and re-released by [[Universal Republic]] on April 21, 2009.<ref name=MIDbooklet/> An official music video for the song "Early Birdie" was filmed in March 2008, by Adam Young's childhood friends/bandmates Andy and Anthony Johnson of [[Windsor Airlift]], and then released on January 13, 2011, via [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtVAVLvvXVo |title="'Early Birdie"' Official Music Video |publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=January 13, 2011 |accessdate=March 24, 2014}}</ref>

==Critical reception==

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/maybe-im-dreaming-mw0000805328|title=Maybe I'm Dreaming -Review Owlby CityAnthony Tognazzini|website=[[Allmusic]]|author=Anthony Tognazzini|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}</ref>

| rev2 = Jesus Freak Hideout

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Jesus Freak Hideout">{{cite web|url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/MaybeImDreaming.asp|title=Owl City - Maybe I'm Dreaming|author=Sean Cunningham|date=December 7, 2009|access-date=February 13, 2023}}</ref>

| rev3 = [[Melodic (magazine)|Melodic]]

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Melodic">{{cite web|url=http://melodic.net/album/owl-city-maybe-im-dreaming-02|title=Owl City - Maybe I'm Dreaming|website=[[Melodic (magazine)|Melodic]]|author=Kaj Roth|date=June 5, 2008|access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>

| rev4 = [[Sputnikmusic]]

| rev4Score = 3.5/5<ref name="Sputnikmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/51549/Owl-City-Maybe-Im-Dreaming/|title=Owl City - Maybe I'm Dreaming|author=Will R|website=[[Sputnikmusic]]|date=August 29, 2012|access-date=January 4, 2024}}</ref>

}}

''Maybe I'm Dreaming'' was met with positive reviews from music critics. Anthony Tognazzini of [[AllMusic]] praised the album for its "breezy melodies, personal lyrics, and carefully orchestrated folktronica." He also complimented Young's ability to build on "the skills he was developing on ''[[Of June]]''" and turn it into a "strong effort" on the album.<ref name="AllMusic"/> Kaj Roth of [[Melodic (magazine)|Melodic]] stated, "If you're in the mood for ambient music, then ''Maybe I'm Dreaming'' is surely the right medicine."<ref name="Melodic"/> Will R of [[Sputnikmusic]] stated that the album, "soothes the listener with airy, almost ethereal leads and simple acoustic guitar strums over a relaxing bed of synth pads." He also called "Rainbow Veins" the "standout track on the album," praising the synth lead and rhythmic guitar. He also complimented the songs, "The Technicolor Phase" for its melody, and "West Coast Friendship" for its, "chilled-out synths."<ref name="Sputnikmusic"/>

==Track listing==

{{track list

| headline =

| all_writing = [[Adam Young (American musician)|Adam Young]].<ref name="Apple Music"MIDbooklet/>

| title1 = On the Wing

| length1 = 5:04

Line 82 ⟶ 86:

===Notes===

*"On the Wing" and "The Saltwater Room" were included onas theremastered band'stracks on his second studio album ''Ocean Eyes''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/ocean-eyes/1440782380|title=Ocean Eyes - Album by Owl City|website=[[Apple Music]]|access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref>

==Personnel==

Credits adapted from album's [[liner notes]].<ref name=MIDbooklet/>

'''Owl City'''

* [[Adam Young (American musician)|Adam Young]] – vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, drums, producer, [[Programming (music)|programming]], [[Audio engineer|engineer]], [[Mixing console|audio mixer]]

'''Additional musicians and production'''

* [[Breanne Düren]] – additional vocals (1, 4, 6)

* Austin Tofte -– additional guitars, additional instrumentation, additional vocals (1, 2, 5)

* Ryan Satt – artwork

* Zach Ogoord – artwork

* Paul Lemke – photography

==Charts==

Line 98 ⟶ 107:

! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position

|-

{{album chart|Korea|91|year=2010|date=2010.02.28~2010.03.06|artist=Owl City|album=Maybe I'm Dreaming|access-date=August 6, 2023|rowheader=true}}

! scope="row"| South Korean Albums ([[Gaon Music Chart|Gaon]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2010&targetTime=10&nationGbn=E&year_time=|title=2010년 10주차 Album Chart|website=[[Gaon Music Chart]]|language=ko|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629001018/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2010&targetTime=10&nationGbn=E&year_time=|archivedate=June 29, 2021|accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref>

| 19

|-

{{album chart|UKDigital|60|date=20100117|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2023}}

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{{album chart|UKDance|6|date=20100124|accessdate=August 16, 2014|rowheader=true}}

|-

!scope="row"| US [[Dance/Electronic Albums|Top Dance/Electronic Albums]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="Dance Albums">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/owl-city/chart-history/elp/|title=Owl City Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118004201/https://www.billboard.com/artist/owl-city/chart-history/elp/|archivedate=November 18, 2021|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}</ref>

| 13

|}

==Release history==

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Release history and formats for ''Maybe I'm Dreaming''

|-

!scope="col"| Region

!scope="col"| Date

!scope="col"| Format

!scope="col"| Label

!scope="col"| Ref.

|-

! scope="row"| United States

| March 17, 2008

| [[Music download|Digital download]]

| Sky Harbor

| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="MID Release"/>

|-

! scope="row"| Europe

| December 16, 2008

| {{hlist|[[Compact disc|CD]]|digital download}}

| {{hlist|Sky Harbor|[[Island Records|Island]]}}

| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name=UKbooklet>{{cite AV media notes|title=Maybe I'm Dreaming|others=Owl City|year=2008|type=UK booklet|publisher=Island Records|id=602527341149}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="2"| Various

| April 21, 2009

| 19CD

| rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Sky Harbor|[[Universal Republic Records|Universal Republic]]}}

| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name=MIDbooklet>{{cite AV media notes|title=Maybe I'm Dreaming|others=Owl City|year=2009|type=booklet|publisher=Universal Republic Records|id=B0012858-02}}</ref>

|-

| March 30, 2010

| Digital download

| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/maybe-im-dreaming/1440768838|title=Maybe I'm Dreaming - Owl City|website=[[Apple Music]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403061432/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/maybe-im-dreaming/id363152446|archivedate=April 3, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref>

|}

==Notes and miscellanea==

*On November 24, 2010, Andy Johnson of [[Windsor Airlift]] published his cover of "Sky Diver" on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kSN2sUO3Nw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/1kSN2sUO3Nw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Owl City's "Sky Diver" Cover - Andy Johnson |publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=November 24, 2010 |accessdate=April 17, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==References==

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{{Owl City}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:2008 debut albums]]

[[Category:Owl City albums]]

[[Category:Universal Republic Records albums]]

[[Category:Albums produced by Adam Young]]

{{2000s-electronic-album-stub}}

{{2000s-pop-album-stub}}