Kerli Wiki
Explore
Main Page
All Pages
Community
Interactive Maps
Recent Blog Posts
Kerli
Discography
Videography
Gigography
Songs
Links
Trivia
Charts
Eras
Love Is Dead
Love Is Dead
Walking on Air
The Creationist
Tea Party
Creepshow
Utopia
Army of Love
Zero Gravity
The Lucky Ones
Love Me or Leave Me
Deepest Roots
Feral Hearts
Blossom
Diamond Hard
Spirit Animal
Shadow Works
Savages
Better
Legends
JOY
21st Century Kids
Other
Fashion
Interviews
Photoshoots
Magazines
Places
BubbleGoth Shop
People
Singers
Songwriters
Producers
Photographers
Music video directors
Designers
FANDOM
Fan Central
BETA
Games
Anime
Movies
TV
Video
Wikis
Explore Wikis
Community Central
Start a Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Sign In
Sign In
Register
The Kerli Encyclopedia
293
pages
Explore
Main Page
All Pages
Community
Interactive Maps
Recent Blog Posts
Kerli
Discography
Videography
Gigography
Songs
Links
Trivia
Charts
Eras
Love Is Dead
Love Is Dead
Walking on Air
The Creationist
Tea Party
Creepshow
Utopia
Army of Love
Zero Gravity
The Lucky Ones
Love Me or Leave Me
Deepest Roots
Feral Hearts
Blossom
Diamond Hard
Spirit Animal
Shadow Works
Savages
Better
Legends
JOY
21st Century Kids
Other
Fashion
Interviews
Photoshoots
Magazines
Places
BubbleGoth Shop
People
Singers
Songwriters
Producers
Photographers
Music video directors
Designers
Editing
Walking on Air (song)
Back to page
Edit
Edit source
View history
Talk (0)
Edit Page
Walking on Air (song)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit appears to have already been undone.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Walking on Air}} {{Infobox song |title=Walking on Air |image1= <tabber>Standard=[[File:COVER - Walking on Air.jpg]] |-|Remixes=[[File:COVER - Walking On Air (Remixes).jpg]] </tabber> |caption= |artist=[[Kerli]] |album=[[Love Is Dead (album)|Love Is Dead]] |released=July 8, 2008 |leaked= |genre=Synthpop<br>Alternative dance |length=4:27 <small>album version)</small><br>3:47 <small>(radio edit)</small><br>4:38 <small>(demo)</small> |label=[[Island Records]] |writer=[[Kerli Kõiv]]<br>[[Lester Mendez]] |producer=[[Lester Mendez]] |previous single=Unknown.png |previous single link=Beautiful Inside (song) |previous single name=Beautiful Inside |current single=COVER - Walking on Air.jpg |current single name=Walking on Air |next single=COVER - The Creationist.jpg |next single link=The Creationist (song) |next single name=The Creationist |previous link=Love Is Dead (song) |previous name=Love Is Dead |current name=Walking on Air |next link=The Creationist (song) |next name=The Creationist |image2= |image3= }} {{Wikipedia|Walking on Air (Kerli song)}} '''Walking on Air''' is a song performed by [[Kerli]]. It is the first official single from her debut album, ''[[Love Is Dead (album)|Love Is Dead]]'' (2008)<ref>{{cite web|title=Walking On Air: WORLD PREMIERE!|url=http://www.kerlimusic.com/news.aspx?nid=837|date=May 20, 2008|publisher=Kerli [Official Site]|accessdate=October 10, 2010}}</ref> and the second track on the album. It was originally featured on her now out of print [[Kerli (EP)|self-titled EP]] (2007).<ref>{{cite web|title=Kerli - Kerli (CD)|url=http://www.discogs.com/Kerli-Kerli/release/1350459|publisher=[[Discogs]]|accessdate=October 10, 2010}}</ref> Kerli wrote the song with [[Lester Mendez]], who also produced it. It's about "following your dreams and just going with the flow."<ref name="PopCultureMadness">{{cite web|title=Kerli Interview |url=http://www.popculturemadness.com/interview/Kerli.html |date=November 15, 2007 |publisher=''Pop Culture Madness'' |accessdate=October 3, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402110439/http://www.popculturemadness.com/interview/Kerli.html |archivedate=April 2, 2011 |df= }}</ref> "Walking on Air" was featured twice on the United States dance competition ''So You Think You Can Dance'' (season 5 and season 6). The song was also featured on a season 16 episode of the U.S. dance competition series ''Dancing with the Stars'' on May 7, 2013. The song and parts of the music video were featured in a promo for the television series ''Fringe''. It was also iTunes' "Free Single of the Week" for the week of July 21, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kerli|title=Kerli's WALKING ON AIR is iTunes Free Single of the Week!!|url=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=26876087852|date=July 22, 2008|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=October 3, 2010}}</ref> It was downloaded more than 550,000 times during its promotion week, and is the largest "Free Single of the Week" download total in iTunes history.<ref>http://lineup.lollapalooza.com/band/kerli</ref> The song had received mixed to positive reviews from music critics who praised the storyline of the song. The music video, directed by Alex Topaller and Dan Shapiro (the team known as "Aggressive"), debuted on May 19, 2008.<ref name="VideoPremiere">{{cite web|last=Anitai|first=Tamar|title=New Video: Kerli, 'Walking on Air'|url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2008/05/20/new-video-kerli-walking-on-air/|publisher=MTV.com|accessdate=October 3, 2010}}</ref> As of March 29, 2012, it has remained in the iTunes Top 200 Alternative Music Video charts since its release.<ref>https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/walking-on-air/id281297380</ref> The video features an inverted house theme where everything is opposite of what it is supposed to normally be.<ref name="BTSvideo">{{cite web|people=Alex Topaller, Dan Shapiro|title=Behind the Scenes of "Walking on Air"|url=http://www.whatisaggressive.com/movies/makingof/makingof_kerli.mov|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref> An EP containing five remixes of "Walking on Air" was released on October 14, 2008.<ref name="Walking On Air Remixes - EP">{{cite web|title=Walking On Air (Remixes) - EP|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/walking-on-air-remixes-ep/id292822585|publisher=iTunes|accessdate=October 3, 2010}}</ref> It contains remixes by Ralphi Rosario, Armin van Buuren and Josh Harris. ==Background and meaning== Kerli claims when she was younger, her mother would tell her a story: "In the black, black world there was a black, black town and in the black, black town there was a black, black house and in the black, black house there was a black, black cupboard and in the black, black cupboard there was a white box." This is the inspiration for the verse in the song.<ref name="Kyte147195"/> The song, in general, is about "following your dreams and just going with the flow" and a "little creepy girl that comes from a little creepy place and she has her big dream and she loves music, but nobody believes in her."<ref>{{cite web|last=Lo|first=Sandy|title=Kerli|url=http://www.starshinemag.com/articles/kerli.html|date=July 5, 2008|publisher=StarShine Magazine|accessdate=October 3, 2010}}</ref> The specific details in the song, such as "cats and hats and rocking chairs" are based on Kerli childhood when she would frequently wear older hats.<ref name="PopCultureMadness"/> ==Music video== {{Infobox music video |video=Walking on Air |premiere=May 19, 2008 |release= |length= |company= |writer=Alex Topaller |director=[[Aggressive|Alex Topaller]]<br>[[Aggressive|Dan Shapiro]] |photography=Damián Acevedo |creative= |producer=Alex Topaller<br>Jp Fox |choreographer= |editor=Jason Yantz |colorist= |sfx= |vfx=Alex Topaller<br>Nathan Evens<br>Nathan Evens |filmed= |location= }} ===Production=== Kerli had created "Book of Kerli": a book of pictures that she had collected over the years of how she wanted the video and herself in the video to appear.<ref>http://www.kerlimusic.com/news.aspx?nid=917</ref> The music video is directed by Alex Topaller and Dan Shapiro (the team known as [[Aggressive]]). It premiered on May 19, 2008 on MTV's website.<ref>http://www.kerlimusic.com/news.aspx?nid=837</ref> ===Synopsis=== The video beings with a man dropping off a gift box on a doorstep. After he leaves, Kerli opens the box and finds a ball-jointed doll (painted by artist Lisa Jameson aka Pepstar). After re-entering the house, Kerli turns on the TV which shows a close-up image of an eye staring around the room. She then lights a match and throws it in the fireplace when it then begins to grow lotuses. Next, she activates the ceiling fan which precedes to spin the room around as she begins to dance. In the next scene, Kerli is in a kitchen where the walls are an open wintry forest and Kerli appears in a more sexualized black outfit. The windows are brick walls and snow is spewing out of an umbrella. She opens the oven which is an extremely cold freezer where a chicken is "roasting". She then takes the chicken and places it in the fridge which is full of flames. Next, Kerli is now in her bedroom lying on a bed of stones when she starts to cry (although the tears come from the Moonstones under her eyes) and her tears float up and transform into butterflies. Another scene is shown where Kerli is with a bird in a cage and the bird is sitting upside down on a perch. Returning to the bedroom scene, the man has returned and appears to be on the opposite side of her mirror as he pounds on it and instructs her to join him. Next, the ball-jointed doll from before is now a full-sized woman and is controlling the strings of Kerli who is now a marionette. After the Kerli marionette sings the bridge, she is placed in a box where the puppeteer ball-jointed doll cuts the strings and the bricks in the windows are briefly shown collapsing. In the final scene, Kerli wakes up to discover a cut string attached to her arm. She proceeds to stare at the camera which pans out to reveal Kerli is now in the gift box from before and the full-sized, ball-jointed doll is holding it rocking on a rocking chair. ===Concept and creation=== Kerli describes the video as being a "dark" ''Alice in Wonderland''. The eye in the TV represents the all-seeing eye" of God. It is also part of the "inverted house" theme, where the TV is watching her rather than her watching the TV. The lotus is the only flower that is able to grow in the mud and "the thicker the mud, the more beautiful the flower is going to be". The lotuses symbolize overcoming obstacles as do the act of Kerli's tears floating off and transforming into butterflies. The wallpaper is an Estonian forest. Kerli used this because her last name, "Kõiv" means "birch" in Estonian <ref>http://www.kyte.tv/ch/68716/147195</ref><ref>http://www.kyte.tv/ch/68716/153063</ref> and because it also represents oppression<ref>http://www.kyte.tv/ch/68716/159896</ref>. Kerli based her "clock dress" on an image she saw on the internet and represents her love for numbers and their messy layout "pisses on the concept of time". Kerli describes her shoes as "fetish shoes". Directors and creator of the video Alex Topaller said in an interview him and Dan Shapiro were playing around with an idea of "an inverted house, where everything is functionally and, at times, visually the polar opposite of what its expected to be". Kerli's singing face was put on the doll with CGI. The video took 3 weeks to complete<ref>http://www.whatisaggressive.com/images/press/stash50_big.jpg</ref>. ===Inversion=== The video features things that are the opposite of what they are expected or seem to be. *The window is bricked in *The wall is open and leads to a forest *The scenery spins around rather than the ceiling fan *The freezer is an extreme oven and the oven is an extreme freezer *The TV is watching Kerli *Her tears are in bubble form and floating *There are stones in place of a mattress *The umbrella snows instead of protection from snow *The bird is upside down ===Reception=== The video became the number one music video on AOL for the weeks of July 16, 2008 and July 23<ref>http://www.kerlimusic.com/news.aspx?nid=866</ref><ref>http://www.kerlimusic.com/news.aspx?nid=887</ref>. As of March, 2013, the video has over 11,000,000 views on Vevo's YouTube channel<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXMeZwO2qZ0</ref>. ===Main outfits=== <tabber> White Outfit= <gallery captionalign="left"> Kerli dresses.JPG|White outfit Kerli Walking on Air behind the scenes.png </gallery> |-|Black Outfit= <gallery captionalign="left"> Kerli dresses Black.JPG|Black outfit Kerli dresses Black 2.JPG Kerli dresses Black 3.JPG </gallery> |-|Headpieces and neckpieces= <gallery> Kerle headpiece.JPG|Black Beaded hat Kerli neckpieces.JPG|Beaded Dog Collar </gallery> </tabber> ==Live performances== Among other performances, in 2008 Kerli performed "Walking on Air" at the Greek Theatre on October 22 at the Scream Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=30 Seconds of Kerli|url=http://www.spike.com/video/30-seconds-of-kerli/3051246|date=October 22, 2008|publisher=Spike|accessdate=October 5, 2010}}</ref> and in 2009 at The Dome in Munich, Germany on May 22<ref>{{cite web|title="The Dome": Die große Musikparty in der Münchner Olympiahalle|url=http://www.abendzeitung.de/kultur/pop/102701|date=April 28, 2009|publisher=Abendzeitung|accessdate=October 5, 2010}}}</ref> and at the Estonian festival Õllesummer on July 19 in Tallinn. ==Popular culture== ''Walking on Air'' was featured twice on the Fox dance competition ''So You Think You Can Dance''. The first was during the 5th Season in a solo danced by 4th place finisher, contemporary dancer, Kayla Radomski. The second was during Vegas Week during the 6th Season when the dancers were taught a contemporary dance routine by Emmy-winning choreographer Mia Michaels. The song was also featured on a season 16 episode of the U.S. dance competition series ''Dancing with the Stars'' on May 7, 2013. The song and parts of the music video were featured in a promo for the television series ''Fringe''. It was also iTunes' "Free Single of the Week" for the week of July 21, 2008<ref>http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=26876087852</ref>. It was downloaded more than 550,000 times during its promotion week and is the largest "Free Single of the Week" download total in iTunes history<ref>http://lineup.lollapalooza.com/band/kerli</ref>. The song had received mixed to positive reviews from music critics who praised the storyline of the song. ==Lyrics== {{Scroll Box |content=<poem> La la la la la la la La la la la la la la There's a little creepy house In a little creepy place A little creepy town In a little creepy world A little creepy girl With her little creepy face Saying funny things that you have never heard Do you know what it's all about? Are you brave enough to figure out? Know that you could set your world on fire If you are strong enough to leave your doubts Feel it, breath it, believe it And you'll be walking on air Go try, go fly, so high And you'll be walking on air Feel this, unless you kill this Go on and you're forgiven I knew that, I could feel that I feel like I am walking on air She has a little creepy cat And a little creepy bat Little rocking chair And an old blue hat That little creepy girl Oh, she loves to sing She has a little gift An amazing thing With her little funny eyes of hazel With her little funny old blue hat She will go and set the world on fire No one ever thought she could do that Feel it, breath it, believe it And you'll be walking on air Go try, go fly, so high And you'll be walking on air Feel this, unless you kill this Go on and you're forgiven I knew that, I could feel that I feel like I am walking on air Flitter up and hover down Be all around, be all around You know that I love you Go on... Feel it, breath it, believe it And you'll be walking on air Go try, go fly, so high And you'll be walking on air Feel this, unless you kill this Go on and you're forgiven I knew that, I could feel that I feel like I am walking on air I am walking on air </poem>}} ==Track listings and formats== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} '''CD promo'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Kerli - Walking On Air (CD)|url=http://www.discogs.com/Kerli-Walking-On-Air/release/1673614|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=October 10, 2010}}</ref> #Walking on Air (Radio Edit) – 3:47 #Walking on Air (LP Version) – 4:26 '''Digital download''' #Walking on Air (Radio Edit) – 3:47 '''12" vinyl promo'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Kerli - Walking On Air (Vinyl)|url=http://www.discogs.com/Kerli-Walking-On-Air/release/1789558|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=October 10, 2010}}</ref> # Walking on Air (Radio Edit) – 3:47 # Walking on Air (Armin van Buuren Club Mix) – 7:43 # Walking on Air (Lindbergh Palace Full Mix) – 6:23 # Walking on Air (Ralphi Rosario and Craig J Club Mix) – 9:46 # Walking on Air (Josh Harris Club Mix) – 8:06 {{Col-2}} '''CD single / digital download single'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Kerli - Walking On Air (CD)|url=http://www.discogs.com/Kerli-Walking-On-Air/release/1758080|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=October 10, 2010}}</ref> #Walking on Air (Radio Edit) – 3:49 #Walking on Air (Armin van Buuren Radio Edit) – 3:23 '''Remix EP'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Walking On Air <nowiki>[</nowiki>Remixes<nowiki>]</nowiki> by Kerli|url=http://music.napster.com/album/12962036|publisher=Napster|accessdate=October 3, 2010}}</ref> # Walking on Air (Ralphi Rosario and Craig J Club Mix) – 9:46 # Walking on Air (Josh Harris Club Mix) – 8:06 # Walking on Air (Lindbergh Palace Full Mix) – 6:23 # Walking on Air (Armin van Buuren Club Mix) – 7:43 # Walking on Air (Ralphi Rosario Big Dub) – 9:32 {{Col-end}} ==Credits== ===Song=== *Writing: Kerli Kõiv and Lester Mendez *Mixing: Neal Pogue *Engineering John Ewing and Joe Wohlmuth *Strings: Sonus Quartet *Arrangement: Lester Mendez *Vocals: Kerli ===Music video=== *Direction: Dan Shapiro and Alex Topaller (duo known as "Aggressive") *Direction of photography, gaffer, assistant: Damián Acevedo *Writing: Alex Topaller *Production: Alex Topaller and Jp Fox *Executive production: Dan Shapiro and Cathy Pellow *Production design and set decoration: Darcy C. Scanlin *Production assistants: Parker Seaman and Benny Townsend *Art department: Lisa Jameson <small>(painting)</small>, Rolo Ledesma <small>(storyboard)</small> and Fernando Valdes <small>(on set dresser)</small> *Sound mixing: Josh Harris, Ralphi Rosario, Armin van Buuren *VFX art: Alex Topaller and Nathan Evens and Joe Gunn *VFX composition: Dan Shapiro and Alex Topaller *Editing: Jason Yantz *Commissioning: Mildred Delamota == Gallery == <gallery spacing="small" position="center" hideaddbutton="true" widths="222" bordersize="none"> Kerli - Walking on Air (Live at The Dome) Kerli - Walking on Air (Live at Vabaduse Laul 2011) Kerli - Walking on Air (Live in Spokane) Walking on Air (Live at Grand Metrópole 2013) Kerli - Walking on Air (Live in Italy) Kerli - Walking on Air (Live at Motor City Pride) Kerli - Walking on Air (Live at Yahoo's Who's Next) Vespertine - Walking on Air (Kerli cover) </gallery> ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Singles]] [[Category:Songs written by Kerli]] [[Category:Songs written by Lester Mendez]] [[Category:Songs]] [[Category:Music]] [[Category:"Love Is Dead" songs]] [[Category:Songs that have been performed live]]
Summary:
Please note that all contributions to the Kerli Wiki are considered to be released under the CC-BY-SA
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Templates used on this page:
Template:Cite web
(
view source
)
Template:Col-2
(
view source
)
Template:Col-begin
(
view source
)
Template:Col-end
(
view source
)
Template:Infobox music video
(
view source
)
Template:Infobox song
(
view source
) (protected)
Template:Reflist
(
view source
)
Template:Scroll Box
(
view source
)
Template:Scrollbox
(
view source
)
Template:Wikipedia
(
view source
)
Follow on IG
TikTok
Join Fan Lab