Time to Pretend

For the EP, see Time to Pretend (EP).

"Time to Pretend" is a song by the American indie band MGMT, released as the lead single from their debut studio album Oracular Spectacular (2007) on March 3, 2008. An earlier version had been released on their Time to Pretend EP. The single was released as a 7" and CD single featuring the B-sides "Weekend Wars" (BBC Radio 1 Session)^[3] and "Metanoia", respectively.^[4] In early 2009, the song was re-released in the UK. The song was ranked at number 493 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time",^[5] and its parent album, Oracular Spectacular, was ranked at number 494 on the publication's additional list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".^[6] The song was also ranked at number 90 on NME's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"Time to Pretend"
Single by MGMT
from the album Oracular Spectacular
B-side	"Metanoia"
Released	March 3, 2008
Genre	Electronic rock[1] glam rock[1]
Length	4:19
Label	Columbia[2]
Songwriter(s)	Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser
Producer(s)	Dave Fridmann
MGMT singles chronology
"Weekend Wars" (2007) "Time to Pretend" (2008) "Electric Feel" (2008)
Music video
"Time to Pretend" on YouTube

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:

We wrote "Time to Pretend" our senior year of college, and the music was inspired by a praying mantis we had in our house. She laid eggs and it died, and we laid the egg case on this kinda model pirate ship on the mantle piece, and the eggs hatched and all these baby praying mantises were climbing up the rigging of the ship, and it was pretty crazy...uhm so the music was inspired by our praying mantis that liked to dance to The Clash {laugh} and the lyrics are just about us imagining being rock stars ... and yeah, fantasy rock star life.

Music video

The music video for the song contains references to Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1973 film The Holy Mountain^[7] 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.^[8][9] A 3D version of the video with minor changes to the original was also produced.

Track listing

7" Single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Time to Pretend"	4:19
2.	"Weekend Wars" (BBC Radio 1 session)	4:34

2 Track Promo

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Time to Pretend"	4:19
2.	"Time to Pretend" (Clean)	4:20

Radio Edit Promo

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Time to Pretend" (Radio edit)	4:11

2009 Digital Download

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Time to Pretend"	4:21
2.	"Future Reflections" (Triple J live recording)	4:10

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."^[10]

The song hit #38 on the Mediabase Alternative chart.^[11] Time critic Josh Tyrangiel named Time to Pretend the #8 song of 2008.^[12] The song was #3 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008,^[13] #4 on NME's Best Singles of 2008,^[14] The song was ranked at number 493 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".^[5] 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".^[15]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[16]	62
Canadian Hot 100[17]	64
Irish Singles Chart[18]	33
Japanese Singles Chart[19]	75
Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade)[20]	89
UK Singles Chart[21]	35
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles[22]	9
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[23]	23
Billboard European Hot 100 Singles[24]	99

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)	Position
UK Singles Chart[25]	145
Chart (2009)	Position
UK Singles Chart[26]	193

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[27]	Platinum	80,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[28]	Gold	25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29]	Platinum	30,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[30]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[31]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[32]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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.^[33] 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.^[34] It was later included in the band's Never Again EP.^[35]
• Covered by Charlie Hickey in 2023.^[36][37]