5 Years Time

Chart performance

"5 Years Time" did not chart upon its first release in 2007. After poor initial sales, the group chose to re-release the single, and the record made it onto the charts in a number of countries. In the UK, it debuted at number 24, and went on to become Noah and the Whale's first top-ten single, peaking at number 7. In Ireland, "5 Years Time" debuted at number 47 and peaked at number 10. It is the band's highest-charting song in both countries.

Music video

The music video was directed by James Copeman. It features the band performing in a pub and dancing/playing in the park. During the video, Laura Marling, who provides backing vocals for the group, is seen playing a tin whistle and also giving the camera the two-fingers. The style of the video resembles a Wes Anderson film, using the same font the director uses in his films/music videos. Noah and the Whale are known to be fans of Anderson's work, and they named their band after the film The Squid and the Whale (2005), on which Anderson was a producer, as well as its director Noah Baumbach, a long term collaborator of Anderson's.

The music video was uploaded to YouTube on 13 June 2008, and it has been viewed over 13 million times.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

In popular culture

The song was used in a 2008 SunChips commercial, in a 2008 Saturn commercial and also featured in a Volkswagen Golf commercial in 2015. It was featured in an episode of the BBC One school drama series Waterloo Road in 2009, as well as an episode in series 3 of that same broadcaster's popular show Gavin & Stacey.

"5 Years Time" is featured in the 2025 DC Universe film Superman; it is played during an action sequence in which Mister Terrific (portrayed by Edi Gathegi) battles Lex Luthor's mercenaries while infiltrating their base to rescue Superman. The song's streaming numbers saw a 1,000% increase following its inclusion in the film, going from 7,300 streams to 85,400 streams by July 12, the day after Superman released.

References

References

1. Nicholls, Owen. (16 February 2010). "10 Bands You May Not Have Known Were Named After Movies". NME.
2. (13 June 2008). "Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time - Official".
3. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2008". [[Official Charts Company]].
4. (21 July 2008). "New SunChips Ad".
5. "5 Years Time by Noah and the Whale | Tunefind".
6. Abramovitch, Seth. (July 15, 2025). "Iggy Pop on Closing Out 'Superman' Soundtrack: Hero is "the Best Friend You Could Have"".