Delirium is the third studio album by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding,released on 6 November 2015 by Polydor Records. Music critics were generally impressed by the overall production of the record,although they were ambivalent in regards to its originality. It debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200,earning Goulding her highest-charting record in the latter country and her highest first-week sales figures in both territories. The album spawned three singles:"On My Mind","Army" and "Something in the Way You Move".
Goulding has stated that the sound of the album is more pop-oriented than her previous releases. Speaking in an interview,she said:"A part of me views this album as an experiment,to make a big pop album;I made a conscious decision that I wanted it to be on another level". [7]
"On My Mind" was released as the album's lead single on 17 September 2015. The song received positive reviews and performed well commercially,reaching the top 10 in Australia,Canada,New Zealand and the United Kingdom,and number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Army" was sent to Italian radio on 15 January 2016 as the album's second single. [8] The song was released to contemporary hit radio in the United States on 19 April 2016. [9]
The third and final single from the album,"Something in the Way You Move",impacted contemporary hit radio in the United States on 19 January 2016. [10]
"Lost and Found" was released on 23 October 2015 as a promotional single from Delirium. [11] During the week before the album's release,several radio stations premiered different tracks from the album. "Don't Panic" premiered on Graham Norton's BBC Radio 2 show on 31 October 2015, [12] while "Keep On Dancin'" debuted on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on 2 November 2015. [13]
The album includes Goulding's song "Love Me like You Do",which was originally released as a single from the soundtrack to the 2015 film Fifty Shades of Grey and became a commercial success worldwide. The deluxe edition also includes Goulding's collaboration with Scottish DJ Calvin Harris,"Outside",released as a single from his 2014 album Motion . The North American deluxe edition contains Goulding's collaboration with American electronic music trio Major Lazer (also featuring American-Jamaican singer Tarrus Riley), Powerful ,released as a single from their 2015 album Peace is the Mission .
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 70/100 [14] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [15] |
Clash | 2/10 [16] |
Entertainment Weekly | B− [17] |
NME | 3/5 [18] |
The Observer | [19] |
Pitchfork | 7.2/10 [6] |
PopMatters | [5] |
Q | [20] |
Rolling Stone | [21] |
Spin | 7/10 [22] |
Delirium received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic,which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications,the album received an average score of 70,based on 15 reviews,which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [14] Peter Robinson of Q remarked that the album "seems to enjoy pushing pop's boundaries,and six years into her career feels like Goulding's first true superstar moment",while noting that her "nuanced lyrics steer Delirium away from homogeneity". [20] Michael Cragg of The Observer wrote that the album "goes straight for the pop jugular,unleashing a relentless barrage of bangers that almost always hit the spot." [19] Matt Collar of AllMusic opined that "it's the unexpectedly appealing combination of Goulding's distinctive voice and the melismatic R&B bent of the songs on Delirium that makes for such an ecstatic listen." [15] Eve Barlow of Spin commented,"Finally,[Goulding is] embracing the responsibility to provide stone-cold tunes without pretense",adding,"Perhaps she's finally come to terms with playing in the major leagues because she's sussed out the sweet spot between pop homogeneity and experimentation." [22] Despite criticising Goulding for copying pop trends and stating the "darker,deeper tones" may have been "a better fit for Meghan Trainor than Goulding", Pitchfork 's Hazel Cills commended the singer for her "evocative storytelling and ability to craft great dance music". [6]
Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone compared Goulding's change in musical direction to "the country-to-pop transformation her pal Taylor Swift pulled off with 1989 ",stating that "[t]he songwriting on Delirium doesn't always feel worthy of her ambitions,but Goulding is technically peerless and versatile,maintaining her power and flare throughout and crushing every glassy jam she's put in front of." [21] Similarly,Mark Allister of PopMatters pointed out the album's "rather limited scope of lyric subjects" and concluded,"Goulding's sound has gained an even greater sheen and expectations have grown,and we'll see,in the coming months,whether Delirium is the big album that Goulding is aiming for." [5] Entertainment Weekly 's Kyle Anderson viewed Delirium as "too well-constructed and honestly ambitious,and the tracks that land in Goulding's comfort zone [...] rank among her best work. But the album also fails to elevate Goulding to her desired plateau,ultimately making it a narrow and sometimes frustrating miss." [17] Matthew Horton of NME felt that "[t]here's something disappointing about [the album],however undeniable the quality of material." [18] In a negative review for Clash ,Joe Rivers expressed that Goulding's voice is "too wispy to hold its own versus the maximalist rave-pop of the day. Throughout Delirium,her vocals are often double-tracked in an attempt to circumvent this,but it largely fails,and the singing is forever fighting for attention amid a swamp of crashing beats and over-zealous synths." [16]
Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Digital Spy | The 25 Best Albums of 2015 | 7 | |
Popjustice | The Top 33 Albums of 2015 | 4 | |
Rolling Stone | 20 Best Pop Albums of 2015 | 12 | |
Delirium debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the UK Album Downloads Chart,with 38,429 copies sold in its first week,marking the biggest first-week sales of Goulding's career so far. [26] In Australia,Delirium charted at number three,becoming her second album to land within the top 10 and her highest-charting album in the country. [27]
In the United States,the album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with 61,000 album-equivalent units (42,000 in pure album sales),earning Goulding her highest-charting album yet. [28] As of February 2016,the album had sold 117,000 copies in the US. [29]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro (Delirium)" |
|
| 1:54 |
2. | "Aftertaste" |
| Kurstin | 3:46 |
3. | "Something in the Way You Move" |
| Kurstin | 3:47 |
4. | "Keep On Dancin'" |
| 3:46 | |
5. | "On My Mind" |
|
| 3:33 |
6. | "Around U" |
| 3:17 | |
7. | "Codes" |
| Ilya | 3:16 |
8. | "Holding On for Life" |
| Kurstin | 4:15 |
9. | "Love Me Like You Do" |
|
| 4:12 |
10. | "Don't Need Nobody" |
|
| 3:33 |
11. | "Don't Panic" |
| Kurstin | 3:16 |
12. | "We Can't Move to This" |
| 3:28 | |
13. | "Army" |
|
| 3:57 |
14. | "Lost and Found" |
|
| 3:36 |
15. | "Devotion" |
|
| 3:46 |
16. | "Scream It Out" |
| 3:09 | |
Total length: | 56:31 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
17. | "The Greatest" |
| Little | 3:31 |
18. | "I Do What I Love" |
| Pourkarim | 2:51 |
19. | "Paradise" |
|
| 3:44 |
20. | "Winner" |
|
| 3:20 |
21. | "Heal" |
|
| 4:52 |
22. | "Outside" (Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding) |
| Harris | 3:47 |
Total length: | 78:36 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
23. | "Powerful" (Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley) |
|
| 3:25 |
Total length: | 82:01 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
24. | "Let It Die" | Goulding | Kearns | 3:31 |
25. | "Two Years Ago" |
| Eliot | 5:01 |
Total length: | 34:03 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the deluxe edition of Delirium. [33]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria) [65] | Platinum | 15,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [66] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [67] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [68] | Platinum+Gold | 90,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [69] | 2× Platinum | 40,000* |
Poland (ZPAV) [70] | 2× Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Singapore (RIAS) [71] | Platinum | 10,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI) [72] | Platinum | 389,000 [73] |
United States (RIAA) [74] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Ladyhawke is the debut studio album by New Zealand singer and songwriter Ladyhawke. It was released on 19 September 2008 by Modular Recordings. Featuring production by Pascal Gabriel, Greg Kurstin, Kid Gloves, Kish Mauve's Jim Eliot, Paul Harris and Van She's Michael Di Francesco, the album incorporates 1980s-influenced new wave and synth-pop, as well as indie rock. It was promoted by five singles: "Back of the Van", "Paris Is Burning", "Dusk Till Dawn", "My Delirium" and "Magic".
Halcyon is the second studio album by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 5 October 2012 by Polydor Records. The album was recorded between 2011 and 2012, during promotion for her debut album, Lights (2010). Goulding worked with several producers on the album, including Jim Eliot, Starsmith, Billboard, Justin Parker, Monsta, Madeon and Mike Spencer, in addition to collaborating with artists such as Tinie Tempah and Calvin Harris.
18 Months is the third studio album by Scottish DJ and musician Calvin Harris. It was released on 26 October 2012 by Deconstruction, Fly Eye and Columbia Records. It marked Harris's first album where he does not regularly provide vocals on each song, instead producing the music and having guest singers sing for him, as Harris stated in late 2010 he did not intend to sing on his songs anymore. The album also shows a shift from Harris' usual nu disco-style songs, focusing more on an electro house style.
Clarity is the debut studio album by Russian-German electronic music producer Zedd, released on 12 October 2012 by Interscope Records. A deluxe edition of the album was released on 24 September 2013, preceded by the release of the single "Stay the Night", which features Hayley Williams of Paramore, on 23 September 2013. Upon its release, the album garnered mixed reviews from critics.
Mosquito is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released on April 12, 2013, by Interscope Records. The lead single "Sacrilege" was released on February 26, 2013. "Despair" was released as the second single on July 19, 2013.
Halcyon Days is the reissue of English singer Ellie Goulding's second studio album, Halcyon (2012). It was released on 23 August 2013 by Polydor Records. Following the release of Halcyon, Goulding announced that she had plans to repackage the original album, with new songs that focused on electronic music. For the reissue, Goulding recorded 10 new songs and worked with a variety of producers, including Ryan Tedder, Calvin Harris and Greg Kurstin, to create her desired sound.
Motion is the fourth studio album by Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris, released on 31 October 2014 by Fly Eye and Columbia Records. The album includes collaborations with Ellie Goulding, Gwen Stefani, John Newman, Tinashe, Big Sean, Alesso, R3hab, Ummet Ozcan, Firebeatz, Hurts, Haim and All About She.
The Original High is the third studio album by American singer Adam Lambert, released on June 12, 2015, by Warner Records. Its executive producers are Max Martin and Shellback, the duo responsible for co-writing and producing Lambert's early-career hits "Whataya Want from Me" and "If I Had You". The album marks Lambert's first release since leaving previous record label, RCA Records. The record's style has been described as EDM, pop-house, synth-pop, and electropop.
Paper Gods is the fourteenth studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 11 September 2015 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was produced by Mr Hudson and Joshua Blair, who had worked with the band on All You Need Is Now (2010) and A Diamond in the Mind: Live 2011 (2012); Nile Rodgers, who had previously first worked on the band's "The Reflex", his remixed version reaching number one, "The Wild Boys" single and Notorious album; and Mark Ronson, who produced All You Need Is Now. The first single, "Pressure Off", features vocals from American singer Janelle Monáe. The album was supported by the Paper Gods on Tour.
"On My Mind" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from her third studio album, Delirium (2015). It was released as the lead single from Delirium on 17 September 2015 by Polydor Records. Written by Goulding, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha and Ilya Salmanzadeh, "On My Mind" is an electropop and R&B song whose instrumentation consists of scratchy guitars, trap drums, slapped beats and sharp, syncopated electronica. Lyrically, "On My Mind" talks about a one-night stand with someone the protagonist should not be with, prompting a dichotomy between heart and head. Though firmly denied by Goulding, many critics considered it an answer song to Ed Sheeran's "Don't".
"Something in the Way You Move" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from her third studio album, Delirium (2015). The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States on 19 January 2016 as the album's second single in North America, and third overall. It reached number 51 on the UK Singles Chart and number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Army" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from her third studio album, Delirium (2015). The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States on 19 April 2016 as the album's third single in North America, and second overall on 15 January 2016.
"Lost and Found" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from her third studio album, Delirium (2015). It was released as a promotional single on 23 October 2015.
Wallflower is the twelfth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, released on February 3, 2015, by Verve Records. The album was produced by David Foster. The album's supporting tour, Wallflower World Tour, began in Boston on February 25, 2015.
Wake Up is the second studio album by British pop band the Vamps. It was released on 27 November 2015. It debuted and peaked at number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Gold.
A Pentatonix Christmas is the fifth studio album by American a cappella group Pentatonix. It is also their second full-length holiday album since That's Christmas to Me in 2014. Featuring two new original songs, "Good to Be Bad" and "The Christmas Sing-Along", A Pentatonix Christmas debuted on the Billboard 200 at number three with 52,000 albums sold in its first week, and later peaked at number one, selling 206,000 units in its best week. A Pentatonix Christmas marks as their second number one album on the Billboard 200 after Pentatonix. The album also debuted atop the Billboard Holiday Albums chart, their second number one on that chart after That's Christmas to Me. The deluxe edition of the album dropped from number 6 to 200 on the Billboard 200 in 2018, the greatest drop for an album that still remained on the chart, in Billboard history. The album also, with a guest appearance by The Manhattan Transfer, marked the first recording by the fourth iteration of the group, as this was Trist Curless' first participation with the group in a recording since the death of Tim Hauser, whom Curless officially replaced in 2014.
Wonderland is the eighth studio album by English band Take That. It was released on 24 March 2017 through Polydor Records.
What Is Love? is the second studio album by British electronic music group Clean Bandit. It was released on 30 November 2018 by Atlantic Records. It includes the singles "Tears", "Rockabye", "Symphony", "I Miss You", "Solo", "Baby" and "Mama". In addition, the album also features collaborations with Rita Ora, Charli XCX, Bhad Bhabie and Tove Styrke. It is the band's first album as a trio, following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Neil Amin-Smith in 2016.
Brightest Blue is the fourth studio album by English singer Ellie Goulding, released on 17 July 2020 by Polydor Records. Originally scheduled for 5 June 2020, the album's release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The album was preceded by three singles: "Worry About Me", "Power" and "Slow Grenade", and features guest vocals from Blackbear, Diplo, Juice Wrld, Lauv, serpentwithfeet and Swae Lee. It is Goulding's first album since Delirium (2015). Brightest Blue received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album was also a commercial success. It became Goulding's third album to peak at number one on the UK Albums Chart and fourth album to debut inside the top three on the chart. The album also peaked inside the top ten in several other countries. To promote the album, Goulding was set to embark on the Brightest Blue Tour on 28 April 2021, but it was pushed back to 5 October 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom.
Higher Than Heaven is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 7 April 2023 by Polydor Records. It is her first album in three years, since Brightest Blue (2020).
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)