Hello Seattle

Album: Ocean Eyes (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This ode to the Emerald City was originally included on One-man emo electro act Owl City's first release, Of June, which he uploaded onto MySpace. Young grew up in Minnesota, and when he wrote the song, he had never been to Seattle. The song finds him imagining what it would be like there.

    In 2012, after Young had a chance to visit Seattle, we asked him if it lived up to expectations. His reply: "It really wasn't anything like the place in my head, it was just different. It totally wasn't better or worse, it was just way different. The gum wall and the coffee were just a bonus."
  • Young said to The Star Tribune: "Having never really traveled, the unknown was a pretty big inspiration to me."
  • This was one of the first songs that Young ever wrote. He recalled to The Sunday Times February 14, 2010: "I tried to join bands at school, but we never got on. Then I discovered how much more I could do on my own with a computer. One night, when I couldn't sleep, an idea for an electronic track came to me. That was 'Hello Seattle', which is on the album and is still most representative of the type of music I want to make. It's innocent, accessible pop, but with a melancholy feel and abstract lyrics."

Comments: 4

  • Richard From Sw Cali from Sw CaliSeattle is one of my adopted cities to visit often... Hello Seattle is one of our anthems.
  • Star from North Carolinai personally love this song, ive never been to seattle so i dont know if its correct or anything.....but i think its a nice song.
  • Doug from Puget SoundBy the lyrics it's incredibly obvious he had never been to Seattle or anywhere in the Puget Sound.
  • Alyssa from Anytown, Ilwhy is this song so weird????? why would a person fall asleep in a hospital parking lot????? it is so so weird!!!!! i am so so so confused
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

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.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.