"Cigarette Daydreams" is a song by American alternative rock band Cage the Elephant. Produced by Jay Joyce, it was released as the third single from the band's third studio album Melophobia on August 26, 2014. It topped the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in the United States, becoming the second number-one single from Melophobia, following the album's single "Come a Little Closer", and the band's fifth overall chart-topper. An instrumental version is featured in the videogame Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
Writing
Singer Matt Shultz has stated that the song is inspired by a "personal experience" and that the words came to him naturally. After he began writing, Shultz phoned the album's producer who stated "Matt, finish the song right now! Just do it." Shultz also noted that the song came from a desire to "be transparent and speak from naked honesty"
Music video
The official music video for "Cigarette Daydreams" was directed by Mark Pellington and released on September 5, 2014. The video stars actress Juliette Buchs – who later became the wife of Cage the Elephant frontman Matthew Shultz – as a woman struggling to find peace in her life, interspersed with various scenes of her running away from an unknown entity.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history