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Mr. Blue Sky

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This article is about the ELO song. For the compilation of re-recorded ELO songs, see Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra. For the BBC Radio 4 sitcom, see Mr Blue Sky (sitcom).

"Mr. Blue Sky"
Single artwork
Single by Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Out of the Blue
B-side"One Summer Dream"
Released
  • 20 January 1978 (1978-01-20) (UK)[1]
StudioMusicland, Munich, Germany
Genre
Length
  • 5:06 (album version)
  • 3:44 (7-inch single)
LabelJet
Songwriter(s)Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)Jeff Lynne
Electric Light Orchestra singles chronology
"Turn to Stone"
(1977) 		"Mr. Blue Sky"
(1978) 		"Sweet Talkin' Woman"
(1978)
Music video
"Mr. Blue Sky" on YouTube

"Mr. Blue Sky" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), featured on the band's seventh studio album Out of the Blue (1977). Written and produced by frontman Jeff Lynne, the song forms the fourth and final track of the "Concerto for a Rainy Day" suite on side three of the original double album. "Mr. Blue Sky" was the second single to be taken from Out of the Blue, peaking at number 6 in the UK Singles Chart[4] and number 35 in the US Billboard Charts.[5]

Promotional copies were released on blue vinyl, like the album from which the single was issued. Due to its popularity and frequent use in multiple television shows and movies, it has sometimes been described as the band's signature song.[6]

Inspiration

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In a BBC Radio interview, Lynne talked about writing "Mr. Blue Sky" after locking himself away in a Swiss chalet and attempting to write ELO's follow-up to A New World Record:

It was dark and misty for 2 weeks, and I didn't come up with a thing. Suddenly the sun shone and it was, 'Wow, look at those beautiful Alps.' I wrote Mr. Blue Sky and 13 other songs in the next 2 weeks.[7]

Lynne also said:

I suppose this is my most well-known song. Everybody tells me something different about it. It’s even got crazy appeal to kids since it’s like a nursery rhyme. I remember writing the words down. I was at a chalet in the mountains of Switzerland, and it was all misty and cloudy all the way around. I didn’t see any countryside for the first four days or so, and then everything cleared, and there was this enormous view forever, and the sky was blue.[8]

The song's arrangement has been called "Beatlesque",[9] bearing similarities to Beatles songs "Martha My Dear" and "A Day in the Life"[10] while harmonically it shares its unusual first four chords and harmonic rhythm with "Yesterday".[11] The song's piano and drum intro is borrowed from the Kinks' 1968 song "Do You Remember Walter".[12]

An alternate account of the song's composition was suggested by bassist Kelly Groucutt's 1983 lawsuit against Lynne, in which Groucutt alleged that he had written the song's middle section, but had not been officially credited in this capacity.[13]

Arrangement

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"Mr. Blue Sky" sample
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The arrangement makes prominent use of a cowbell-like sound,[14] which is credited on the album, to percussionist Bev Bevan, as that of a fire extinguisher.[citation needed]

Describing the song for the BBC, Dominic King said:

Lots of Gibb Brothers' vocal inflexions and Beatles' arrangement quotes (Penny Lane bell, Pepper panting, Abbey Road arpeggio guitars). But this fabulous madness creates its own wonder – the bendy guitar solo, funky cello stop-chorus, and the most freakatastic vocoder since Sparky's Magic Piano. Plus, the musical ambush on "way" at 2.51 still thrills. And that's before the Swingle Singers/RKO Tarzan movie/Rachmaninoff symphonic finale gets underway. Kitsch, yet truly exhilarating.[15]

The song features a heavily vocoded voice singing the phrase "Mr. Blue Sky", as well as the phrase "please turn me over" at the end, instructing the listener to flip the LP.[16]

Critical reception

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AllMusic's Donald A. Guarisco considered "Mr. Blue Sky" a "miniature pop symphony" and a "multi-layered pop treat that was a pure Beatles pastiche", saying that "the music divides its time between verses that repeat the same two notes to hypnotic effect a la 'I Am the Walrus' and an effervescent, constantly-ascending chorus". Guarisco also pointed out other references to the Beatles, such as "the staccato bassline [recalling] the chorus of 'Hello Goodbye' and pounding piano lines and panting background vocals [recalling] the midsection of 'A Day in the Life'".[17] Music critic Nick DeRiso identified several references to Beatles' songs, including "Hello, Goodbye", "I Am the Walrus", "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and "A Day in the Life."[18]

Billboard described the beat as "catchy" and said that the song builds from a "thumping intro" to a "harmonic operatic" ending.[19] Cash Box said that the song "features a characteristically full sound and effective use of breaks" and that "fast pace, airy singing and strings provide musical dramatics."[20] Record World said that "this up-tempo tune guarantees Lynne's legend as both writer and producer and shows off ELO's unique sound."[21]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it ELO's best song.[22] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as ELO's 2nd best song, highlighting the "bouncing piano groove at the beginning of the song that is one of the coolest rock and pop licks you have ever heard."[23] Stereogum contributor Ryan Reed also rated it as ELO's 2nd best song, saying that although it was released on the album as part of "Concerto for a Rainy Day", it actually "functions best as a stand-alone art-pop epic, a sort of engorged 'Penny Lane' – built on stomping pianos, manic cowbell...and an octave-spanning choral vocal arrangement."[24]

In 2022 Lynne listed it as one of his nine favorite ELO songs.[25]

[edit]

The song has been used in the films Role Models, The Magic Roundabout (or Doogal in the USA), Wild Mussels, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, The Game Plan, Martian Child, The Invention of Lying, Megamind, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.[26][27]

The song was the popular choice to be the theme song for the NBC television show, The Office. However, it had already been chosen to be the theme for another show on the network, LAX, that premiered the year before in 2004.[28] The song was also used in the British television show Doctor Who. It was also featured during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics, the awards ceremony following the 2011 Football League Cup Final, and the closing ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games from the Gold Coast, in a promotion for the 2022 Games, which was held in Birmingham - with the track used to celebrate ELO originating from the city.[29] The song played as "completely different" characters and props, which included flying bicycles and a giant cannon populated the stage and set the mood for Monty Python's Eric Idle and his musical appearance during the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012.

The song was also featured in Just Dance 2022, albeit covered by The Sunlight Shakers.[30]

On October 23, 2021, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem of the Muppets released their cover for the Dear Earth special by YouTube and Google.[31]

In Chile, the song uses a piano riff along with "Ultranol" by Blur of Chilean alternative rock band Teleradio Donoso song "Eras Mi Persona Favorita" from the album Gran Santiago.[32]

Personnel

[edit]

Additional personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[56] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[57] Gold 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[58] Gold 35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[59] 3× Platinum 90,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[60] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[61] 4× Platinum 2,400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[62] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Jeff Lynne version

[edit]
"Mr. Blue Sky"
Song by Electric Light Orchestra
from the album Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
Released
  • 8 October 2012 (2012-10-08) (UK)
  • 9 October 2012 (US)
Recorded2001–2008
StudioBungalow Palace
Length3:44
LabelFrontiers
Songwriter(s)Jeff Lynne
Producer(s)Jeff Lynne
Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra track listing
12 tracks
  1. "Mr. Blue Sky"
  2. "Evil Woman"
  3. "Strange Magic"
  4. "Don't Bring Me Down"
  5. "Turn to Stone"
  6. "Showdown"
  7. "Telephone Line"
  8. "Livin' Thing"
  9. "Do Ya"
  10. "Can't Get It Out of My Head"
  11. "10538 Overture"
  12. "Point of No Return"
Music video
"Mr. Blue Sky" on YouTube

Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song and other ELO tracks in his home studio in 2012. The resulting album, Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, was released under the ELO name. A difference that this version has is that it doesn't include the ending orchestral piece.[63] An earlier version of the song with different vocal takes was heard on the 2010 film, Megamind, and in American Dad! during the episode Fart-Break Hotel from 2011.

Music video

[edit]

A music video was released in late 2012 via the official ELO website[64] and YouTube,[65] a colourful animation directed by Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger with animation sequences designed and animated by University of Southern California students.[66]

Personnel

[edit]
  • Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano, bass, drums, keyboards, vocoder
  • Rosie Vela - backing vocals
  • Marc Mann - strings
  • Steve Jay - shakers, tambourine

Other recordings

[edit]

Others to record the song include Nerf Herder (1998),[67] The Delgados (2002),[68] Lily Allen (2006),[69] Connie Talbot (2014),[70] and Pomplamoose (2019).[71]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "BPI certifications for ELO". Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. ^ Reed, Ryan (20 November 2019). "A Guide to Progressive rock". Tidal. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  3. ^ Pitchfork Staff (22 August 2016). "The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2022. ...but ELO really committed to the symphonic concept without sacrificing hooks, as proggier bands did.
  4. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. ^ "The Story of... 'Mr. Blue Sky' by Electric Light Orchestra". Smooth. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  7. ^ "BBC - Radio 2 - Sold On Song - TOP 100 - Number 18 - Mr. Blue Sky". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  8. ^ Golsen, Tyler (17 May 2023). "The ELO song Jeff Lynne compared to a "nursery rhyme"". Far Out. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) |". Toponehitwonders.com. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra Songfacts". Songfacts.com. 19 October 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  11. ^ "Mr. Blue Sky harmonic analysis v2" (PDF). 19 June 2011.
  12. ^ Marten, Neville; Hudson, Jeff (2007). The Kinks: A Very English Band. London: Bobcat Books. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-8256-7351-1.
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  14. ^ Bosso, Joe (3 October 2012). "Interview: Jeff Lynne talks recording standards and rerecording classic ELO songs". MusicRadar. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  15. ^ BBC. "BBC - Radio 2 - Sold On Song - TOP 100 - Number 18 - Mr Blue Sky". BBC. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  16. ^ Osborne, Richard (2016). Vinyl: A History of the Analogue Record. Routledge. p. 152. ISBN 9781317001812.
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  27. ^ Shepard, Jack (19 April 2017). "Tracklist for Guardians of the Galaxy's Awesome Mixtape Vol. 2 revealed". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  28. ^ November 11, Will Robinson Updated; EST, 2015 at 12:00 PM. "Rainn Wilson says 'The Office' theme song was almost 'Mr. Blue Sky' or 'Float On'". EW.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ "Go the Distance #Brum". YouTube. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Get fit, have fun and show off your moves with 'Just Dance 2022'". dukechronicle.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  31. ^ "The Muppets Sing Mr. Blue Sky | Dear Earth". YouTube. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  32. ^ "E.l.o. – Mr Blue Sky / Blur – Ultranol / Teleradio Donoso – Eras Mi Persona Favorita". 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  33. ^ "London says goodbye with musical extravaganza". Reuters. 13 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  34. ^ "Hooked on Classics 3 by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Louis Clark". www.amazon.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
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  37. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6970a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  38. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mr Blue Sky". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
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  44. ^ Hawtin, Steve. "Song artist 171 - Electric Light Orchestra". Tsort.info. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
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  46. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography {{{artist}}}". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  47. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 18 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  48. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  49. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  50. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra Chart History (Rock Streaming Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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  53. ^ Scaping, Peter, ed. (1979). "Top 200 Singles in 1978". BPI Year Book 1979 (4th ed.). London, England: The British Phonographic Industry Ltd. pp. 186–89. ISBN 978-0-906154-02-1.
  54. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-142-0.
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  56. ^ "Danish single certifications – ELO – Mr Blue Sky". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  57. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Electric Light Orchestra; 'Mr. Blue Sky')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  58. ^ "Italian single certifications – ELO – Mr Blue Sky" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 December 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Mr Blue Sky" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  59. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – ELO – Mr Blue Sky". Radioscope. Retrieved 17 December 2024. Type Mr Blue Sky in the "Search:" field.
  60. ^ "Spanish single certifications – ELO – Mr. Blue Sky". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
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  62. ^ "American single certifications – Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
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  64. ^ "Official Music Videos : ELO". Elo.biz. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  65. ^ "Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 24 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  66. ^ "School of Cinematic Arts News - USC School of Cinematic Arts". cinema.usc.edu. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  67. ^ "Nerf Herder - Mr. Blue Sky". 2 August 2009 – via YouTube.
  68. ^ "Delgados Mr Blue Sky (Audio Only)". 19 July 2010 – via YouTube.
  69. ^ "Lily Allen - Mr Blue Sky (With Lyrics)". 19 January 2009 – via YouTube.
  70. ^ "Connie Talbot - Mr. Blue Sky". 17 November 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  71. ^ "Pomplamoose - Mr. Blue Sky". 25 October 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
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