{{Short description|2007 single by Noah and the Whale}} {{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox song | name = 5 Years Time | cover = Noah-whale-five-years-time-1-.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Noah and the Whale | album = Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down | released = * 22 October 2007 * 4 August 2008 (re-release) | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * Anti-folk * indie pop | length = 4:02 (video edit) | label = Mercury | writer = Charlie Fink | producer = * Eliot James * Noah and the Whale | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = 2 Bodies 1 Heart | next_year = 2008 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = | type = single | prev_title = Shape of My Heart | prev_year = 2008 | title = 5 Years Time | year = 2008 | next_title = Shape of My Heart | next_year = 2008 }} }}

"'''5 Years Time'''", also known as "'''5 Years Time (Sun Sun Sun)'''", is the debut single by English folk rock band Noah and the Whale. Originally released on 22 October 2007 as the lead single from their debut album ''Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down'', it became the band's first top 40 hit upon re-release on 4 August 2008.

==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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/10-bands-you-may-not-have-known-were-named-after-movies-42204|title=10 Bands You May Not Have Known Were Named After Movies|last=Nicholls|first=Owen|date=16 February 2010|work=NME|access-date=7 September 2025}}</ref>

The music video was uploaded to YouTube on 13 June 2008, and {{As of|2025|July|lc=y}} it has been viewed over 13 million times.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080811024808/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4 |archive-date=2008-08-11 |url-status=dead|title=Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time - Official |via=YouTube |date=13 June 2008 |access-date=6 September 2011}}</ref>

==Charts== ===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2008) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Austria|59|artist=Noah and the Whale|song=5 Years Time|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|72|artist=Noah and the Whale|song=5 Years Time|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Ireland3|10|artist=Noah and the Whale|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|3|artist=Noah and the Whale|song=5 Years Time|date=20080816|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|UK|7|artist=Noah and the Whale|song=5 Years Time|date=20080816|rowheader=true}} |}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2008) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20080106/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2008|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref> | 78 |}

==Personnel == '''Noah and the Whale'''

* Charlie Fink - Vocals, guitar * Laura Marling - Vocals, Ukulele, Flute * Tom Hobden – violin, Keyboard * Matt Owens – Bass guitar * John Hamson – drums, percussion

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Noah & the Whale|title=5 Years Time|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|certyear=2021|id=10362-778-1|access-date=29 January 2021}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==In popular culture== The song was used in a 2008 SunChips commercial,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmRkbY5d-z8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/RmRkbY5d-z8 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=New SunChips Ad |via=YouTube |date=21 July 2008 |access-date=6 September 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/song/noah-and-the-whale/5-years-time|title=5 Years Time by Noah and the Whale &#124; Tunefind|website=www.tunefind.com}}</ref>

"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.<ref>{{cite web |last= Abramovitch |first= Seth |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/iggy-pop-superman-soundtrack-punkrocker-james-gunn-1236315320/ |title= Iggy Pop on Closing Out 'Superman' Soundtrack: Hero is "the Best Friend You Could Have" |website= The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 15, 2025 |access-date= July 16, 2025}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Noah and the Whale}} {{Authority control}}

Category:2007 songs Category:2007 debut singles Category:2008 singles Category:Mercury Records singles Category:Noah and the Whale songs