Vanilla Twilight

Album: Ocean Eyes (2009)
Charted: 72
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the follow-up single to synthpop act Owl City's chart-topper "Fireflies."
  • This touching ode to love lost is about Adam Young's (a.k.a. Owl City) high school girlfriend who moved away. In an interview with Buzzgrinder on August 20, 2009, Young explained: "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."
  • Young told The Sun February 12, 2010: "That song is probably the oldest on the album. I wrote it when I first started in 2007 and I kept on tweaking it. When I need a ballad for the album, I switched some words around and it fitted perfectly."

Comments: 8

  • Fizzo_24 from Dar Es SalaamOne of the best songs ever!! I love it
  • Ryan from San Jose, Ca@Ariana: This is what I think about the "pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere" line: The first line of this song is "The stars lean down to kiss you / And I lie awake and miss you," so in this song I think he's saying that the stars, sky, atmosphere, etc. provide some kind of closeness and intimacy to the speaker's lost love. In that sense, I believe the speaker, in his longing and loneliness, is wanting that same closeness and intimacy since his love is gone, so he wants someone to "pour me a heavy does of atmosphere." He wants that same comfort since he can't be with her. Maybe since the stars (atmosphere) do it for her, if they do it for him, it may provide some kind of connection to his lost love. He says right after, "'Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly," meaning the comfort from the "atmosphere" will help him to sleep, but of course he'll still "miss your arms around me." I think the line is the speaker's way of trying to find comfort, closeness, and intimacy so he can ease his loneliness and longing for his lost love.
  • Nichelle from Novi, MiI Love Him!
  • Devin from Santa Cruz, CaJohn that made me smile! That's the sweetest thing ever. I wish the best for you guys!
    This song is absolutely amazing. My favorite line is "the silence isn't so bad, til I look at my hands and feel sad cuz the spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly"
  • Ariana from Hooper, Neah! that is really sweet! i wish you guys the best to!
  • Ariana from Hooper, Newhat does "poor me a heavy dose of atmosphere mean?
  • Jessica from Gaithersburg, MdJohn..that is the sweeeeetest thing ever!! wish you and your highschool sweetheart the best!
  • John Slatton from Concord, Nhmy highschool girlfriend wanted to be a police officer,so she went to college, as i was in boot for the marine corps. i wrote her everyday, and she normally would write back... i gaduated boot, and went to visit her at her college in my Marine Dress Blues. Though it was the wrong, college, she graduated. I was deployed, stationed in afghanistan, and when i had got back, she was there with my family, in her police officer uniform. And man, did she look good?!?! She works for NCPD. We live together now, living and enjoying our lives. So, baby, if you read this, I'm in love with you Soooooo much. And I can honestly say... that I missed you in Afghanistan. I dedicate this song to you, hun. This is our wedding song!!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.