Time to Pretend

Background

The track was originally recorded for the Time to Pretend EP (2005). It was re-recorded for the Oracular Spectacular album.

From a quote from live at Abbey Road:

Music video

The music video for the song contains references to Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1973 film The Holy Mountain and the 1954 novel Lord of the Flies. The video was directed by Ray Tintori, and features a cameo appearance by American recording artist Caroline Polachek.

Tiscali Music gave the video a rating of 10 out of 10. A 3D version of the video with minor changes to the original was also produced.

Track listing

Personnel

Personnel taken from the Song Exploder podcast.

MGMT

• Andrew VanWyngarden – vocals, synthesizers, drums
• Ben Goldwasser – vocals, synthesizers, piano, sampling

Additional performer

• Dave Fridmann – Thingamagoop

Reception

Kevin O'Donnell wrote in Rolling Stone that "Time to Pretend is a space-rock gem that mocks the clichéd coke-and-hookers rock-star lifestyle, over big synth whooshes."

The song hit #38 on the Mediabase Alternative chart. Time critic Josh Tyrangiel named Time to Pretend the #8 song of 2008. The song was #3 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008, #4 on NME's Best Singles of 2008, The song was ranked at number 493 on Rolling Stones list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". NME ranked "Time to Pretend" as the 2nd best song of the 2000s. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 12 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Television performances

MGMT performed the song "Time to Pretend" on Late Show with David Letterman on January 8, 2008. The song subsequently hit number 19 on the Mediabase U.S. Alternative chart. They later performed the song on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on May 15, 2008. The band returned to Letterman on May 11, 2010.

Covers

• Covered by Black Country, New Road in 2021. It was later included in the bands Never Again EP.
• Covered by Paolo Nutini
• Covered by Charlie Hickey in 2023.

References

References

1. Harvey, Eric. (22 October 2007). "MGMT: Oracular Spectacular Album Review".
2. Keaveny, Shaun. "Record of the Week". [[BBC Radio]].
3. "MGMT Time To Pretend UK 7" RECORD (428836)". eil.com.
4. "MGMT Ready UK Debut Single Time To Pretend". Angry Ape.
5. (May 28, 2010). "'Rolling Stone' Updates '500 Greatest Songs' List". CBS 2 Chicago.
6. (May 31, 2012). "My Favorite Things, Part II".
7. Morrison, Kyle. (May 14, 2008). "MGMT". Brash Publisher Network.
8. "Time to Pretend: video review". Tiscali Music.
9. "Time To Pretend video". [[Vevo]].
10. (2016). "Episode 62: MGMT".
11. O'Donnell, Kevin. "Artist to Watch: MGMT".
12. "US Alternative Radio Airplay Monitor".
13. ''Time'', December 22, 2008, pp. 47–8.
14. (December 25, 2008). "The 100 Best Songs of 2007".
15. (6 October 2011). "150 best tracks of the past 15 years".
16. (August 23, 2006). "The ARIA Report: Issue 981". webarchive.nla.gov.au.
17. [https://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-05-03/canadian-hot-100 Billboard Artist Chart History – MGMT (Canada)]
18. "Irish Charts Week 30".
19. "Billboard Artist Chart History – MGMT (Japan)".
20. "Schweizer Airplay Charts 19/2008 - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch.
21. "UK Singles Chart". The Official UK Charts Company.
22. "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles". [[Billboard charts.
23. "European Hot 100 Singles". [[Billboard charts.
24. "Official Singles Chart 2008". UKChartsPlus.co.uk.
25. "Charts Plus Year end 2009". Charts Plus.
26. "US Alternative Radio Airplay Monitor". Mediabase.
27. Daly, Rhian. (7 February 2021). "Black Country, New Road share raw cover of MGMT's 'Time To Pretend'". [[NME]].
28. Kenneally, Cerys. (16 November 2021). "Black Country, New Road releasing covers of ABBA, Adele and more on vinyl". [[The Line of Best Fit]].
29. Kenneally, Cerys. (21 March 2023). "Charlie Hickey releases cover of MGMT's "Time to Pretend"".
30. (21 March 2023). "Charlie Hickey Finds The Emotional Core Of MGMT's 'Time To Pretend'".