Halcyon | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 5 October 2012 | |||
Recorded | 2011–2012 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Electropop [1] | |||
Length | 46:54 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Producer |
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Ellie Goulding chronology | ||||
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Singles from Halcyon | ||||
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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.
Halcyon received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Goulding's more aggressive showcase of her voice and the album's bold production. The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, selling 33,425 copies in its first week. In January 2014, it topped the UK Albums Chart and gave Goulding her second number-one album. Halcyon also debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 in the United States, while reaching number one in Ireland, the top five in New Zealand, and the top 10 in Canada, Germany and Switzerland.
"Anything Could Happen" was released as the lead single from Halcyon on 17 August 2012, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. "Figure 8" was released as the album's second single, peaking at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart and number seven on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The album's third single, "Explosions", peaked at number 13 on the UK chart. To further promote the album, Goulding embarked on a nine-day promotional tour across the United Kingdom. The Halcyon Days Tour was unveiled along with North American dates, beginning in Miami Beach, Florida. The album was reissued twice: Halcyon Days was released on 23 August 2013, and Halcyon Nights was released on 12 October 2022, in honor of Halcyon's tenth anniversary.
After signing a recording deal with Polydor Records in July 2009, [2] Goulding's debut studio album, Lights , was released in February 2010 to generally positive reviews from music critics. [3] The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, and has since sold 807,000 copies in the United Kingdom and 1.6 million copies worldwide. [4] [5] In April 2012, Goulding stated that she hoped the album would be released in October 2012. [6]
The majority of the tracks on Halcyon were recorded with producer Jim Eliot of Kish Mauve in a converted barn near Lyonshall, Herefordshire, the village where Goulding grew up. [7] [8] [9] Recording sessions for the album also took place in Wales, London, Montreal and Brighton. [10] In an interview with Carson Daly on his 97.1 AMP Radio show on 6 August 2012, Goulding explained the inspiration behind the album's title, saying, "[ Halcyon is] like a bird that basically during the winter, it would lay its eggs by the sea and bring calm to the stormy waters and a lot of my songs on this record are about the ocean and water." [11] She also unveiled two songs from the album—"Only You" and the title track "Halcyon". [11]
In retrospect, Goulding described the album in 2015 as "very self-indulgent. It was all me, every single lyric on the album." [12]
In March 2011, when asked about the album's musical direction in an interview with gossip website Dean Piper's World, Goulding stated, "It's started to sound very dark and very weird. This album is going to be even more emotional [...] I wanted to make it so there is hope. I want to make an effect whether it's happy or sad." [13] Goulding added, "This album for me is a journey from dark into light from confusion to understanding [...] I didn't set out to write a break-up record but I think it became one." [7] In an interview with MTV News on 29 August 2012, Goulding elaborated on the sound of the album, saying, "I've moved on quite a bit since the first album, because I've discovered so much; I've learned a lot more and I've grown up a lot more. I've gained more influences and different influences and people have influenced it; I suppose just circumstances. It's a bit more tribal and anthemic; a bit more piano and vocal than anything. The last album was very electronic, but it was tied in with my voice; this one, to me, is way more of a pop record." [14]
The album's opening track, "Don't Say a Word", was described as "gorgeously electronic" while "morphing through synthscapes". [15] "My Blood" was written and produced by Goulding and Eliot and was described as echoing the vocals of Adele. [16] "Anything Could Happen" is an electro ballad written and produced by Goulding and Eliot, containing "spurting synths and a sky-kissing chorus". [17] The fourth track "Only You" was referred to as "somewhere in between, thunderous and electrifying but bereft of the kind of earworms that would make it compulsively replayable". [18] The title track "Halcyon" was co-written and co-produced by Goulding and is an electronic song. [15] The seventh track "Joy" was co-written by Goulding and was described as a "string-laden affair that showcases her helium-powered pipes". [17] The next song is a "disco-goth" rendition of American artist Active Child's 2011 song "Hanging On". [19] "Explosions" starts with a choir and ambient drums; after the chorus, the piano drops and the production surges to a roar. [20] The 10th song on the album, "I Know You Care", was co-written by Goulding and Justin Parker. Lyrically the song speaks of "her trying to convince someone—us, her lover, herself—that they have something worth salvaging". [17] "Atlantis" is lyrically "a quintessential break-up song, balancing moving on, with the helplessness of love and love lost". "Dead in the Water" is the final song on the album, [16] besides the bonus track "I Need Your Love", a collaboration with Scottish musician Calvin Harris. [15]
Goulding previewed the album with the release of a cover version of the Active Child song "Hanging On", which features Tinie Tempah, as a free download on her SoundCloud page on 10 July 2012. [21] [22] On 3 August 2012, Goulding released a trailer on YouTube containing snippets of tracks from the album, including "Anything Could Happen". [23] Goulding appeared on Fearne Cotton's BBC Radio 1 show on 9 August for the premiere of "Anything Could Happen". [24] A video for the song "I Know You Care" was released online on 24 September 2012, containing footage from the 2012 romantic drama film Now Is Good , which features the song. [25] The song was released digitally on 20 September 2013 in support of Save the Children's #song4syria campaign, [26] serving as the soundtrack to a film dedicated to the children of Syria by director Beeban Kidron. [27] A 90-second music video for "Only You" was exclusively filmed for online fashion retailer ASOS as part of their #BestNightEver holiday campaign, and was officially released on 5 November 2012. [28] [29]
In conjunction with British music retailer HMV, fans had the chance to vote for Goulding to perform live and sign copies of Halcyon at their local store on the day of the album's UK release on 8 October 2012; it was announced on 20 September that the event would take place at Manchester's Market Street store. [30] Goulding played two London shows prior to the release of Halcyon—the first on 26 September as part of the iTunes Festival at the Roundhouse, which was streamed live via an iTunes application, [31] and the second on 5 October as part of the Q Awards 2012 gigs series at Camden Town's Jazz Café. [32] Goulding also played three intimate shows in North America during the release week of Halcyon—at New York City's Santos Party House on 11 October 2012, at Toronto's Sound Academy on 14 October and at Los Angeles' The Troubadour on 16 October. [33]
Goulding performed "Anything Could Happen" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on 10 October 2012, [34] on Today on 11 October, [35] on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Conan on 17 October, [36] on Top of the Pops on 31 December, [37] on Good Morning America on 22 January 2013, [38] and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 12 February. [39] She performed "My Blood" on Later... with Jools Holland on 16 November 2012. [40] On 30 December, Goulding appeared on the British chat show Sunday Brunch to perform "Figure 8". [37] [41] She performed "Explosions" on the British television programme This Morning on 22 February 2013. [42] On 14 December 2013, Goulding performed "Anything Could Happen" on The X Factor UK final with finalist Luke Friend.
"Hanging On" was used in the CW shows Gossip Girl and Nikita [43] [44] in addition to the film Divergent and soundtrack to The Host . The song's Living Phantoms remix was featured in a trailer for the 2013 PlayStation 3 video game God of War: Ascension . [45] "Dead in the Water" was featured on the 15th episode of the ninth season of the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy on 14 February 2013. [46] The track "Stay Awake", produced by French producer Madeon, was released exclusively on Beatport on 24 March 2013. [47] On 15 April 2013, an exclusive album containing remixes of tracks from Halcyon was released by Nike for free streaming and download to coincide with the Nike Women Half Marathon that Goulding would be partaking in, which took place in Washington, D.C., on 28 April 2013. [48] "My Blood" was included in the deluxe edition of the Divergent soundtrack in addition to appearing in the trailer for Disney's live-action version of Cinderella . [49]
In late July 2012, Goulding announced on Facebook that the album's lead single would be "Anything Could Happen", asking fans to contribute to a lyric video for the single by submitting photos related to the song's lyrics via Instagram. [50] [51] The lyric video premiered on YouTube on 9 August 2012, [52] and was followed by the release of the single via all digital retailers on 17 August. [53] "Anything Could Happen" reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Goulding's third top-five entry in the UK. [54] The single charted moderately worldwide, reaching the top 20 in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, and the top 40 in Belgium and Canada. [55] [56] [57]
"Figure 8" was released as the album's second single on 13 December 2012, [58] peaking at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. [54] The song was more commercially successful in New Zealand and Finland, where it reached numbers seven and eight, respectively. [59]
"Explosions" was released on iTunes in Ireland on 3 August 2012 and in the UK on 1 October 2012, but was removed shortly thereafter on both occasions. [60] [61] In late January 2013, it was announced that the song would be released as the album's third single. [62] "Explosions" reached number 13 on the UK chart and number 100 on the US Billboard Hot 100. [54]
On 7 December 2012, Goulding embarked on a nine-date promotional tour across the United Kingdom, which kicked off in Bristol and ended in Southampton on 18 December. [63] The tour's official name, The Halcyon Days Tour, was unveiled on 22 October 2012 along with North American dates, beginning in Miami Beach, Florida, on 16 January 2013. [64] Additional European dates followed on 15 November 2012. [65] Opening acts include Yasmin and Sons & Lovers for the UK, [66] St. Lucia for North America, [67] and Charli XCX for Europe. [68] On 20 February 2013, Goulding was announced as the support act on select North American dates of Bruno Mars's The Moonshine Jungle Tour from July to August 2013. [69]
An additional 10 UK dates were announced in June 2013, starting at O2 Academy Sheffield on 3 October 2013 and ending at O2 Apollo Manchester on 18 October. [70] Following Goulding's sold-out October tour, it was announced on 27 August 2013 that she would headline her first UK arena tour in early March 2014, with shows at Capital FM Arena Nottingham, Echo Arena Liverpool and London's O2 Arena. [71] [72] She also toured Europe in promotion of Halcyon Days in January and February 2014, visiting countries such as Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Poland, France and the Netherlands. [73] On 18 November 2013, a North American tour was announced for spring, which kicked off at Madison Square Garden in New York City on 12 March 2014 and ended at the Kool Haus in Toronto on 9 May. [74] [75] The Oceanian leg of the tour ran from 28 May to 11 June 2014, visiting five cities in Australia and three in New Zealand. [76] [77]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 69/100 [78] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Daily Telegraph | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ [81] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 5/10 [84] |
PopMatters | 7/10 [85] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
USA Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Halcyon 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 69, based on 17 reviews. [78] The Daily Telegraph 's Neil McComick wrote that Goulding's voice is "really something special", concluding, "[A]s luxuriously epic as Enya yet with the kind of dynamism of Florence + the Machine, Goulding's poetically opaque lyrics gain real dramatic weight. On a big, bold album, Goulding gives the expression 'singing like a bird' a whole new dimension." [80] Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly commented that the album has "harp solos, digitally tweaked cyborg harmonies, and at least one tribute to bodily fluids ('My Blood'). But they're anchored by giant, disco-ball hooks and the type of dance beats you might find on a NOW That's What I Call Music! comp." [81] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times remarked that on Halcyon, Goulding "marries thoughtful ruminations on young love to whooshing synth riffs and hard-edged machine beats; the album claims electronic dance music as the natural province of sensitive singer-songwriters." [19] Michael Cragg of The Fly referred to the album as "a bold and confident step forward". [87]
AllMusic editor Matt Collar stated that Goulding "dresses up her powerful lark of a voice with a delicately laced veil of digital effects." He continued, "An ambitious work by an artist intent on developing her total sound, Halcyon finds Goulding poised at the edge of artistic and career possibilities." [79] In a review for Rolling Stone , Will Hermes expressed, "If the songwriting doesn't quite measure up to U.K. art-pop divas like Kate Bush, the hooks always go to town, and her voice—Dolly Parton-dazzling in the upper register—mates gorgeously with electronics". [15] Geoff Nelson of PopMatters concluded, "On Halcyon Goulding amplifies her music genealogy, both who she is and who she's been, in what is an often successful attempt to transition to iconic stardom [...] The outcome is a bit flawed and a very loud version of her biggest and smallest self." [85] USA Today 's Jerry Shriver viewed that on Halcyon, Goulding "presents an edgier, more aggressive showcase for her swooping, stratosphere-piercing vibrato", while noting that "[h]er tone, balanced between girlish and womanly, is appealing, as is her clear intent to be an Artist. One wishes, however, she'd frolic in the heather now and then for contrast." [86] Despite calling the album a "well-crafted, stylish piece of work", Andy Gill of The Independent felt that "it's hard to love songs that try to hide." [83] The Guardian 's Rebecca Nicholson opined that the album "isn't nearly as wet as its predecessor", but added that "the main flaw of Halcyon is that it occasionally feels a bit too much—and that's something Goulding, perennially painted as the timid type, may not be so sad about." [82] Hayley Avron of NME critiqued, "Mainly, Halcyon sees Goulding's quirky-as-usual vocals lazily spliced into factory-standard chart dance. On 'Joy' and 'I Know You Care' her artistry is briefly allowed to breathe, away from the desperate bombast of the suffocating backing tracks." [84]
Halcyon debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the UK Album Downloads Chart, [88] selling 33,425 copies in its first week–10.3% less than the opening figure for Lights. [89] The following week, it fell to number seven on sales of 11,082 copies. [90] Following the Halcyon Days re-release in August 2013, the album jumped from number 26 to number three on sales of 15,883 units, achieving its then-highest chart placing since its debut. [91] On 5 January 2014, in its 65th week on the chart, Halcyon climbed from number six to number one on the UK Albums Chart with 37,507 copies sold, becoming Goulding's second number-one album in the UK. [92] [93] It spent a second consecutive week at number one, selling 26,456 copies. [94] The following week, the album sold 24,831 copies and fell to number two, [95] before returning to the top spot for a third non-consecutive with sales of 20,928 copies. [96] By July 2017, the album had sold 1.18 million copies in the UK. [5]
The album debuted at number eight on the Irish Albums Chart. [97] The Halcyon Days reissue propelled the album to number seven on the Irish chart for the week ending 29 August 2013, [98] before rising yet again to number four on 19 December. [99] The album eventually topped the Irish Albums Chart for the week ending 2 January 2014, more than a year after its original release and over four months after the re-release. [100] The album debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 in the United States, with 34,000 copies sold in its opening week. [101] As of September 2015, the album had sold 522,000 copies in the United States. [102] In Oceania, it debuted and peaked at number 16 in Australia and at number three in New Zealand. [103] [104] Elsewhere, Halcyon reached the top 10 in Canada, Germany, Greece and Switzerland, and the top 15 in Belgium and Norway. [105] [106] [107]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Don't Say a Word" |
| 4:07 | |
2. | "My Blood" |
|
| 3:54 |
3. | "Anything Could Happen" |
|
| 4:47 |
4. | "Only You" |
|
| 3:51 |
5. | "Halcyon" |
|
| 3:25 |
6. | "Figure 8" |
|
| 4:08 |
7. | "Joy" |
|
| 3:14 |
8. | "Hanging On" | Billboard | 3:22 | |
9. | "Explosions" |
| Fortis | 4:03 |
10. | "I Know You Care" |
| Parker | 3:26 |
11. | "Atlantis" |
|
| 3:53 |
12. | "Dead in the Water" |
| Starsmith | 4:44 |
13. | "I Need Your Love" (Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding) (bonus track) |
| Harris | 3:58 |
Total length: | 50:52 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Paper Planes and Playground Games" (short film; via digital insert) | 9:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Lights" (single version) |
|
| 3:30 |
Total length: | 54:22 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Your Song" | Ben Lovett | 3:09 | |
Total length: | 57:31 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Hanging On" (Ahadadream Remix) |
|
| 4:35 |
Total length: | 51:29 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "The Ending" |
| Billboard | 4:41 |
15. | "High for This" | Xaphoon Jones | 4:19 | |
Total length: | 59:52 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Stay Awake" |
| Madeon | 3:28 |
15. | "Hanging On" (featuring Tinie Tempah) |
| Billboard | 4:15 |
16. | "Anything Could Happen" (White Sea Remix) |
|
| 5:05 |
17. | "Hanging On" (Draper Remix) |
|
| 5:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Burn" |
| 3:51 | |
14. | "Goodness Gracious" |
| 3:46 | |
15. | "I Need Your Love" (Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding) |
| Harris | 3:58 |
16. | "Lights" (single version) |
|
| 3:30 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Ritual" |
| 3:50 | |
15. | "In My City" |
| Billboard | 3:20 |
16. | "Without Your Love" |
| Starsmith | 4:19 |
17. | "Hanging On" (featuring Tinie Tempah) |
| Billboard | 4:15 |
18. | "Lights" (Pnau Remix) |
|
| 4:05 |
19. | "Paper Planes and Playground Games" (short film; via digital insert) | 9:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
18. | "Lights" (single version) |
|
| 3:30 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
19. | "Your Song" |
| Lovett | 3:09 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
19. | "Hanging On" (Draper Remix) |
|
| 5:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
19. | "Lights" (Fernando Garibay Remix) |
|
| 4:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Hanging On" (featuring Tinie Tempah) |
| Billboard | 4:13 |
15. | "Ritual" |
| 3:50 | |
16. | "In My City" |
| Billboard | 3:19 |
17. | "Without Your Love" |
| Starsmith | 4:19 |
18. | "Anything Could Happen" (Blood Diamonds Remix) |
|
| 4:58 |
19. | "Hanging On" (video) | 4:15 | ||
20. | "Anything Could Happen" (video) | 4:17 | ||
21. | "Paper Planes and Playground Games" (short film) | 9:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Hanging On" (featuring Tinie Tempah) |
| Billboard | 4:13 |
15. | "Lights" (single version) |
|
| 3:30 |
16. | "Ritual" |
| 3:50 | |
17. | "In My City" |
| Billboard | 3:19 |
18. | "Without Your Love" |
| Starsmith | 4:19 |
19. | "Anything Could Happen" (Blood Diamonds Remix) |
|
| 4:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Burn" |
|
| 3:51 |
14. | "Goodness Gracious" |
| 3:46 | |
15. | "I Need Your Love" (Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding) |
| Harris | 3:58 |
16. | "Ritual" |
| 3:50 | |
17. | "In My City" |
| Billboard | 3:20 |
18. | "Without Your Love" |
| Starsmith | 4:19 |
19. | "Hanging On" (featuring Tinie Tempah) |
| Billboard | 4:15 |
20. | "Lights" (single version) |
|
| 3:30 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
21. | "Anything Could Happen" (Blood Diamonds Remix) |
|
| 4:58 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the UK deluxe edition of Halcyon. [10]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [162] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [163] | Platinum | 20,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [164] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [165] | Gold | 100,000^ |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [166] | Platinum | 60,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [167] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Romania (UFPR) [168] | 3× Platinum | |
Singapore (RIAS) [169] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Sweden (GLF) [170] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [171] | Gold | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [172] | 4× Platinum | 1,340,000 [173] |
United States (RIAA) [174] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Edition | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Germany | 5 October 2012 |
| Universal | [111] [124] |
Ireland | Polydor | [175] [176] | ||
Netherlands | Universal | [112] [125] | ||
Sweden | Standard | [177] | ||
France | 8 October 2012 | [110] | ||
Russia | [178] | |||
United Kingdom |
| Polydor | [108] [117] | |
Canada | 9 October 2012 |
| Universal | [179] |
Italy | [180] [181] | |||
United States |
| [114] [126] | ||
Australia | 12 October 2012 |
| Universal | [109] [123] |
Poland | 16 October 2012 | Standard | [113] | |
Mexico | 6 November 2012 | Deluxe | [182] | |
Japan | 6 March 2013 | [129] | ||
United Kingdom | 15 June 2015 | LP | Polydor | [183] |
Elena Jane Goulding is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Hereford and raised in Lyonshall, Goulding began writing songs at the age of 15. She released her debut single "Under the Sheets" through Neon Gold Records in 2009, and signed with Polydor Records that same year, releasing her debut extended play (EP) An Introduction to Ellie Goulding. Her debut studio album, Lights (2010), debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, and was reissued as Bright Lights, spawning three successful singles: a cover of Elton John's "Your Song", "Starry Eyed" and "Lights". Her second studio album Halcyon (2012) was preceded by its lead single "Anything Could Happen", and a repackaged edition titled Halcyon Days (2013) produced the single "Burn", which became her first No. 1 single in the UK. She then collaborated with DJ Calvin Harris on two singles: "I Need Your Love" and "Outside".
Finlay Dow-Smith, known professionally as Starsmith, is a British songwriter, record producer and DJ.
"Starry Eyed" is a song by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, released as the second single from her debut studio album, Lights (2010). It was written by Goulding and Jonny Lattimer, and produced by Starsmith. Goulding made her debut US television performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 7 April 2011 performing "Starry Eyed".
Lights is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 26 February 2010 by Polydor Records. Goulding collaborated with several producers on the album, including Starsmith, Fraser T. Smith, Frankmusik, Richard "Biff" Stannard, Ash Howes, Liam Howe, Fred Falke and Mumford & Sons' Ben Lovett.
English singer Ellie Goulding has released five studio albums, two remix albums, eight extended plays, 47 singles, 13 promotional singles and 49 music videos. As of February 2023, Goulding had sold 27 million albums and 216 million singles, and amassed 43 billion streams worldwide. Additionally, she had sold over 1.5 million albums and over 4.3 million singles in the United Kingdom alone as of February 2014.
"Lights" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from Bright Lights (2010), the reissue of her debut studio album, Lights (2010). Written by Goulding, Richard Stannard and Ash Howes, the song was inspired by Goulding's childhood fear of the dark. It was released on 13 March 2011 as the album's sixth single overall, and second from Bright Lights. Originally a bonus track on the UK and German iTunes edition of Lights, the song was re-edited for inclusion on Bright Lights in late 2010, serving as the single version.
"Anything Could Happen" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from her second studio album, Halcyon (2012). It was released on 17 August 2012 as the album's lead single. Written and produced by Goulding and Jim Eliot of English electropop duo Kish Mauve, the song received positive reviews from music critics. "Anything Could Happen" peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart. Outside the United Kingdom, "Anything Could Happen" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Poland, the top 20 of the charts in Australia, the Czech Republic Ireland and New Zealand and the top 50 of the charts in the United States.
"Hanging On" is a song by American singer and songwriter Active Child from his debut studio album, You Are All I See (2011). It was written by Active Child and Ariel Rechtshaid, and produced by Rechtshaid. The song's music video, directed by T.S. Pfeffer and Robert McHugh, debuted on January 19, 2012. English singer Ellie Goulding covered "Hanging On" in 2012, while Australian alternative rock band Something for Kate included an acoustic cover of the song as a bonus track on the two-disc special edition of their 2012 album Leave Your Soul to Science.
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.
"Explosions" is a song by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding from her second studio album, Halcyon (2012). Written by Goulding and John Fortis, it was released as a promotional single on iTunes Ireland on 3 August 2012 and on iTunes UK on 1 October 2012, but was removed shortly thereafter on both occasions. In late January 2013, it was announced that the track would be released as the official third single from the album. The official music video premiered on 30 January 2013 and consists of exclusive live footage of Goulding from The Halcyon Days Tour.
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 10 September 2013. Upon its release, the album garnered mixed reviews from critics.
"Figure 8" is a song by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding from her second studio album, Halcyon (2012). It was released on 14 December 2012 as the album's second single. The song was written by Goulding and Jonny Lattimer and produced by Monsta, with additional production by Mike Spencer. The accompanying music video was directed by W.I.Z. and released on 19 November 2012.
"I Need Your Love" is a song by Scottish producer and DJ Calvin Harris from his third studio album, 18 Months (2012). The song features vocals from English singer Ellie Goulding and was released on 2 April 2013 as the album's seventh single. "I Need Your Love" is also included as a bonus track on Goulding's second studio album, Halcyon (2012). The accompanying music video, directed by Emil Nava, depicts Harris and Goulding as a romantic couple on a trip to Miami.
"Burn" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from Halcyon Days (2013), the reissue of her second studio album, Halcyon (2012). The song was written by Ryan Tedder, Goulding, Greg Kurstin, Noel Zancanella and Brent Kutzle, while production was handled by Kurstin and vocal production was done by Tedder. It was released on 5 July 2013 as the lead single from the reissue. The song was originally recorded by British singer Leona Lewis for her third studio album, Glassheart (2012), but it was ultimately scrapped.
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.
"How Long Will I Love You?" is a song by folk rock band the Waterboys from their fifth studio album, Room to Roam (1990). Written by Mike Scott, it was released as the album's lead single. The song was subsequently covered by English singer Ellie Goulding and released as the second single from her album Halcyon Days (2013). Goulding's version is included on the soundtrack to the 2013 film About Time, which also features a different cover by Jon Boden, Sam Sweeney and Ben Coleman.
"Goodness Gracious" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from Halcyon Days (2013), the reissue of her second studio album, Halcyon (2012). The song was written by Greg Kurstin, Goulding and Nate Ruess. It was released on 21 February 2014 as the third and final single from the reissue.
Divergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 2014 film Divergent, based on the book series of the same name. The soundtrack for the film was chosen by music supervisor Randall Poster. The Divergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album released on March 11, 2014, while the Original Score of the film released on March 18, 2014, by Interscope Records. The soundtrack album sold 10,000 copies in its first week of release.
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".
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).
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