Lights (Ellie Goulding song)
"Lights" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Ellie Goulding | ||||
from the album Bright Lights | ||||
B-side | "Only Girl in the World" | |||
Released | 13 March 2011 | |||
Format | Digital download | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:05 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Writer(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Ellie Goulding singles chronology | ||||
|
"Lights" is a song by English singer and songwriter 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.
"Lights" received positive reviews from most music critics, who praised the song's production and Goulding's "ethereal" vocals. The song was also a commercial success, reaching the top 20 in several countries. In the United States, "Lights" was a sleeper hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 after 33 weeks on the chart, and becoming one of the few songs to have spent more than a year on the Hot 100. The song has been certified five-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Background and release
"Lights" was originally announced as a single on 8 September 2010 on Goulding's official Twitter page, with a release date scheduled for 1 November 2010.[1] It was to be released as the lead single from the album's repackaging as Bright Lights.[2] However, this plan was scrapped in favour of releasing "Your Song" in order to capitalise on the John Lewis Christmas advert that it was featured in.[3] This was followed by the reissue of the album Lights as Bright Lights.
It was once again announced in January 2011 that the single version of "Lights" would be released.[4] A digital EP was released in the UK on 13 March 2011, containing Goulding's acoustic cover version of Rihanna's "Only Girl (in the World)" as performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 10 December 2010.[5][6]
American rapper Lupe Fiasco sampled the Bassnectar remix of "Lights" for his song "Lightwork", from his 2011 mixtape Friend of the People: I Fight Evil.[7] The single version of "Lights" also appears as a bonus track on the international edition of Goulding's second album, Halcyon.[8][9] The song is included on the soundtrack to the 2012 film Spring Breakers and is played during the ending credits.[10] American new wave band Blondie performed the song as an intro to "Atomic" in 2012 and 2013 while on tour.[11]
Composition
According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, "Lights" is written in the key of G-sharp minor with a moderate pop tempo of 120 beats per minute. Goulding's vocals span from F♯3 to D♯5 while the song follows a chord progression of G♯m−F♯−E−C♯m7.[12] Lyrically, the song discusses the fear of the dark that Goulding had as a child, and how she could only sleep with the lights on. In an interview with 97.1 AMP Radio in late July 2012, Goulding stated, "Sometimes if I've had a couple of drinks and I come back and just like lie on my bed and fall asleep I wake up and realize that there isn't a light on and I have to turn a light on."[13] She also explained, "It can be seen as something like a lighthouse that kind of always guides you home. I've always felt comfort sleeping with the light on, and I've always felt comfort being with my siblings."[14]
Critical reception
"Lights" received mostly positive reviews from critics. Horatia Harrod of The Daily Telegraph commented that the song is "threaded with dark thoughts, but set to an airy pop production bordering on polite. Her voice is the real star. She has the magical ability, not unlike her heroine, Björk, to sing with a sort of controlled tremulousness: her voice aches with vulnerability but never breaks."[15] The Guardian reviewer Johnny Dee described the song as "a welcome return to her patented folky-pop-with-some-tasteful-drum-and-bass-wobble sound".[16]
Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club was also positive of the song, giving it an A− and praising the song's "organic-sounding" production and Goulding's "ethereal, restrained" vocals, while Steven Hyden of The A.V. Club gave it a C, claiming that Goulding sounds too "restrained" and "aloof to the point of emotional constipation".[17] About.com's Bill Lamb rated the song three-and-a-half out of five stars, calling it "a pleasing, catchy slice of electro-pop" and noting that "Goulding's voice has an edge of sadness and vulnerability that sets the song apart from standard dance pop", but concluded, "In a pop music world dominated by distinctive vocalists, it is too easy for a song like 'Lights' to feel polite and get lost in the shuffle."[18]
On 8 October 2014, "Lights" was honoured as Song of the Year at American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' (ASCAP) 34th annual awards in London.[19]
Commercial performance
"Lights" debuted at number 111 on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 18 December 2010, based on digital sales from Bright Lights.[20] Three months later, during the week ending 12 March 2011, the single entered the top 100 for the first time at number 91.[21] The following week, it rose to number 64, eventually peaking at number 49 in its sixth week on the chart.[22]
On the issue dated 20 August 2011, "Lights" debuted at number 85 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 89 on the Canadian Hot 100, becoming Goulding's first single to chart in North America.[23][24] The song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 99 for the week of 14 January 2012.[25] When "Lights" reached number 40 in its 19th week, on the issue dated 12 May, the song attained the third slowest climb to the top 40 by a female artist, after Norah Jones's "Don't Know Why" and KT Tunstall's "Suddenly I See".[26] In its 29th week, the song made Hot 100 history by achieving the longest climb to the chart's top five not aided by country-to-pop crossover success or multiple releases.[27] The single reached number two in its 33rd chart week, on the issue dated 18 August 2012, and held that position for two weeks, behind "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen and "Whistle" by Flo Rida, respectively, making it Goulding's highest-peaking single on the chart.[28][29][30]
"Lights" ascended to number one on the Radio Songs chart on the issue dated 25 August 2012, making Goulding the first female solo artist to send a debut Radio Songs entry to number one since Adele led the list in 2011 and 2012 with her singles "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain".[29] The song also topped the Mainstream Top 40 during the same week, matching Pink's "U + Ur Hand" (23 weeks, 2006–07) for the longest climb to number one by a woman in the chart's almost-20-year history.[31] The single also made a re-entry on the Canadian Hot 100 on 28 April 2012, reaching a peak position of number seven on 22 September.[32] In late December 2012, "Lights" spent its 52nd week on the Hot 100 at number 43, becoming the 30th in the chart's history to spend a year on the tally.[33] In June 2013, it became the fifth best-selling digital song by a British female solo artist in the US.[34] "Lights" was certified five-times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 13 July 2015.[35]
"Lights" saw moderate success in mainland Europe, charting at number one in Poland, number eight in Austria, number 10 in Belgium and Slovakia, number 11 in Germany, number 14 in Switzerland, number 22 in the Czech Republic and number 29 in France.[36][37][38][39] In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 25 on the RIANZ Singles Chart on 25 June 2012, reaching number 16 in its fifth and ninth weeks on the chart.[40]
Music video
The music video for "Lights" was filmed by Sophie Muller in late September 2010 before the lead single from the Bright Lights re-release was changed to "Your Song".[41] It was officially released on Goulding's YouTube channel on 20 January 2011.[42] The video shows Goulding dancing, playing the drums and the tambourine whilst different lighting effects including lasers surround her as she sings. It also shows her in numerous scenes swinging different hand-held lights and torches around giving the impression of a light painting, whilst the camera produces a bullet time effect like those used in The Matrix. The lighting rig in the video was created by a small group of students from Middlesex University.[43]
Live performances
Goulding performed the song live on Alan Carr: Chatty Man on 21 February 2011.[44] She performed a Saturday Session on Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 afternoon show on 26 February 2011, where she sang "Lights".[45] She also performed "Lights" on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 12 March 2011, along with a cover of José González's version of The Knife's "Heartbeats".[46]
As part of promotion in the United States, Goulding performed the song on Saturday Night Live on 7 May 2011, along with "Your Song".[47] She also performed both "Lights" and "Your Song" on The Early Show on 30 July 2011.[48][49] On 18 January 2012, she performed the single on Late Show with David Letterman.[50] On 11 April 2012, she performed it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[51]
Track listings
|
|
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Bright Lights.[56]
- Ellie Goulding – vocals, guitar, songwriting
- Ash Howes – drums, keyboards, mixing, production, songwriting
- Steven Malcolmson – programming
- Richard "Biff" Stannard – bass, keyboards, mixing, production, songwriting
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
---|---|---|
Belgium (BEA)[82] | Gold | 15,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[83] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[84] | Gold | 7,500* |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[85] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[86] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[35] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 13 March 2011 | Digital EP | Polydor | [5] |
Canada | 23 May 2011 | Digital EP – The Remixes Pt. 1 | [53] | |
United States | [52] | |||
Canada | 19 July 2011 | Digital EP – The Remixes Pt. 2 | [55] | |
United States | [54] | |||
24 January 2012 | Contemporary hit radio | [87] |
See also
- List of Hot 100 Airplay number-one singles of the 2010s
- List of Mainstream Top 40 number-one hits of 2012 (U.S.)
- List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2012 (U.S.)
- List of number-one singles of 2012 (Poland)
References
- ↑ Goulding, Ellie (8 September 2010). "Excited to announce that m ...". Twitter. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ↑ Goulding, Ellie (8 September 2010). "Another big announcement- ...". Twitter. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ↑ Goulding, Ellie (1 November 2010). "Morning all, sorry about t ...". Twitter. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ↑ Goulding, Ellie (12 January 2011). "First Cherrytree blog!". Cherrytree Records. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Lights – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Archived from the original on 25 March 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ↑ "Live Lounge – Ellie Goulding". BBC Radio 1. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ Bain, Becky (20 October 2011). "Lupe Fiasco Samples Ellie Goulding's "Lights" For Mixtape Track "Lightwork"". Idolator. SpinMedia. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding | Halcyon" (in German). Universal Music Germany. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding Store – Halcyon". Getmusic. Universal Music Australia. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ↑ "Spring Breakers [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ↑ "Lights by Blondie Concert Statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Lights Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- ↑ Smith, Courtney E. (25 July 2012). "Ellie Goulding Confirms "Lights" Is About Her Fear Of The Dark". 97.1 AMP Radio. CBS Radio. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ↑ Hetzler, Heather (23 August 2011). "Ellie Goulding". Brite Revolution. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ↑ Harrod, Horatia (21 February 2011). "'He was Obsessed with Murder': Ellie Goulding interview". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
- ↑ Dee, Johnny (12 March 2011). "This week's new singles". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ↑ Hyden, Steven; Koski, Genevieve (3 March 2012). "This Was Pop: March 3, 2012". The A.V. Club. Onion. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ Lamb, Bill. "Ellie Goulding – "Lights"". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ↑ Christman, Ed (9 October 2014). "ASCAP Honors Ellie Goulding, UMPG at 34th Annual Awards". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ↑ Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update 18.12.2010 (wk49)". Zobbel. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 6–12 March 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- 1 2 "Archive Chart: 2011-03-20" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "The Hot 100: The Week of August 20, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100 – Week of August 20, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ↑ "The Hot 100: The Week of January 14, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (4 May 2012). "Weekly Chart Notes: Kimbra, One Direction, Rascal Flatts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (11 July 2012). "Carly Rae Jepsen Still No. 1, Nicki Minaj Makes History On Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (8 August 2012). "Carly Rae Jepsen Claims Longest Hot 100 No. 1 Run of 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- 1 2 Trust, Gary (15 August 2012). "Flo Rida's 'Whistle' Works Way to Top of Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Ellie Goulding – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Ellie Goulding. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (13 August 2012). "Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry Scale Airplay Chart Summits". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: The Week of September 22, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (19 December 2012). "Bruno Mars Has Top Hot 100 Spot 'Locked' Up Again". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (5 June 2013). "Week Ending June 2, 2013. Songs: Robin Thicke & Mom". Chart Watch. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- 1 2 "American single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Lights". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 August 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Ellie Goulding – Lights" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- 1 2 "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201237 into search. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- 1 2 "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- 1 2 "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201241 into search. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- 1 2 "Charts.org.nz – Ellie Goulding – Lights". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ↑ Goulding, Ellie (21 September 2010). "Shooting video for lights ...". Twitter. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Lights". YouTube. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ↑ Millarini, Lucrezia (11 February 2011). "Ellie Goulding". London Tonight. itv.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ↑ "Alan Carr: Chatty Man – Episode Guide". Channel 4. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ↑ "Saturday Sessions". The Dermot O'Leary Show. London. 26 February 2011. BBC. BBC Radio 2.
- ↑ "Live Lounge – Ellie Goulding". BBC Radio 1. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding, Michael Bolton Impress on 'SNL'". Spin. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Royal favorite Ellie Goulding fancies a "Second Cup"". CBS News. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "TUNE IN: Ellie Performs This Saturday July 30 on the CBS Early Show". Cherrytree Records. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ Daw, Robbie (19 January 2012). "Ellie Goulding Drums Up A 'Late Show' Performance Of "Lights"". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding Performs 'Lights'". Warner Bros. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- 1 2 "Lights (The Remixes), Pt. 1 – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- 1 2 "Lights (The Remixes), Pt. 1 – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (CA). Apple. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- 1 2 "Lights (The Remixes), Pt. 2 – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- 1 2 "Lights (The Remixes), Pt. 2 – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (CA). Apple. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ↑ Bright Lights (CD liner notes). Ellie Goulding. Polydor Records. 2010. 2758676.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Ellie Goulding – Lights" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ellie Goulding – Lights" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Ellie Goulding – Lights" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Lights" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Ellie Goulding. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 49, 2012" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ellie Goulding – Lights" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Ellie Goulding – Lights". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Ellie Goulding. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Ellie Goulding. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Ellie Goulding. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Ellie Goulding. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Ellie Goulding. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Ellie Goulding – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Ellie Goulding. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2012 – Singles" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ↑ "Canadian Hot 100: Year End 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Jaargang 49, 2012" (in Dutch). Top 40. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ↑ "Hot 100 Songs: Year End 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Adult Pop Songs: 2012 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ↑ "Pop Songs: Year End 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2013" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2013 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 2023" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2013". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2013". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ellie Goulding; 'Lights')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Lights". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Lights" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Ellie Goulding; 'Lights')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.