Starry Eyed (Ellie Goulding song)

"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".[2]

"Starry Eyed"
Single by Ellie Goulding
from the album Lights
B-side"Fighter Plane"
Released21 February 2010 (2010-02-21)
Recorded2009
Genre
Length2:57
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
  • Ellie Goulding
  • Jonny Lattimer
Producer(s)Starsmith
Ellie Goulding singles chronology
"Under the Sheets"
(2009)		 "Starry Eyed"
(2010)		 "Guns and Horses"
(2010)

Background

When asked what "Starry Eyed" was about, Goulding told Digital Spy:

It's about letting go. As opposed to all the sad and depressing things I write about, I decided to write something about the joining together of people in some kind of euphoric state—be it at a festival, at a show or in a club. I wanted a song that would reach out to people of every background and every enjoyment, whether you enjoy a natural high, taking drugs, drinking or whatever. Because I'm essentially a pop artist I wanted to write a song that everyone can relate to.[3]

"Starry Eyed" was featured in the 2010 superhero film Kick-Ass and on its soundtrack.[4] The song was used in the MTV teen drama series Teen Wolf and Awkward,[5][6] as well as during a segment of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November 2011.[7]

Critical reception

Nick Levine wrote for Digital Spy that the song "manages to be folky, poppy and dancey all at the same time, twinkly but not twee, and otherworldly without losing its universal appeal."[8] NME critic Mark Beaumont cited "Starry Eyed" as one of the album's "spangliest tracks" along with "Under the Sheets", commenting that it "finds Ellie love-struck and breathless [...] to disco diva beats and looped soul wails, sounding like an angelic Cheryl Cole."[9]

Commercial performance

"Starry Eyed" debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart, selling 49,118 copies in its first week.[10] The song spent two additional weeks at number four, selling 45,579 copies in its second week and 39,942 copies in its third week.[11][12] "Starry Eyed" was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 17 March 2017.[13]

Music videos

The music video, directed by Ross Cooper and Bugsy Riverbank Steel of OneInThree, was filmed at Finsbury Town Hall in London and released on 20 January 2010.[14][15] It sees Goulding in various costumes and settings of the venue as well as two acrobatic backup dancers dressed in fringe leotards. The video uses a visual styling effect used generally in sporting analysis called StroMotion which created the unique look of Goulding and the dancer's echoes, reverses and reverberations as they dance to the song.

A second music video, directed by Dugan O'Neal, was filmed at Painshill Park in Surrey, England, and released on 28 July 2011 for the US market.[16] It features Goulding stargazing in the countryside with her on-screen boyfriend, with special effects used to make stars appear to whirl around her.[17] Goulding is also seen in a Cystal Grotto wearing a silver dress, sporting blue eye contacts, and dancing around while lip-syncing. Towards the end of the video, Goulding and her boyfriend go to a tree where he places her hand on a tree in front of them, making geometric lines appear on the tree. When she looks back for her boyfriend, he turns around in a hood, and is hollow but filled with the night sky that zooms into, and show Goulding in a peach-yellow dress singing the last part of the song. The American version of the video also features product placement for Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and Mini Cooper, which can both be seen being used by Goulding within the first 26 seconds of the video.[18]

Cover versions

English band You Me at Six covered the song on the Live Lounge segment of BBC Radio 1's The Jo Whiley Show on 18 May 2010.[19] Their version reached number 104 on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 18 September 2010.[20]

American singer Bridgit Mendler recorded an acoustic version of the song for her video series titled The Hurricane Sessions, with the music video released on YouTube on 8 May 2013.[21] Sam Lansky of Idolator commented that Mendler's "husky voice works nicely with the song, especially toward the end, as it gets a little more emotive."[22] The Huffington Post opined that her cover "show[s] off" her vocal range and added, "By slowing it down, Bridgit's version of the song sounds more intimate and relaxing, making it the perfect song for a 'rainy day' soundtrack."[21] "Starry Eyed" was included on the set list of Mendler's Summer Tour in 2013.[23] She also performed the song on the breakfast show The Strawberry Alarm Clock on the Dublin-based radio station FM104 on 30 October 2013.[24]

Track listings

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Lights.[31]

  • Ellie Goulding – songwriting, vocals
  • Seye Adelekan – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Alan Clarke – photography
  • Jonny Lattimer – songwriting
  • Naweed – mastering
  • Starsmith – bass, drum programming, keyboards, production
  • Mark 'Spike' Stent – mixing

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Norway (IFPI Norway)[46] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[47] Gold 500,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United Kingdom 21 February 2010 Digital download Polydor [26]
22 February 2010
[25]
Germany 23 April 2010 Digital download Universal [29]
7 May 2010 CD single [28]
United States 15 February 2011 Digital download – The Remixes
[30]

References
  1. Bartleet, Larry (17 September 2015). "Ellie Goulding – Her 10 Best Songs So Far". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  2. O'Donnell, Kevin (8 April 2011). "Brit Pop Upstart Ellie Goulding Delivers on 'Kimmel'". Spin. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  3. Levine, Nick (30 December 2009). "Ones To Watch: Ellie Goulding". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. "Kick-Ass – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  5. "Teen Wolf Episode 3 Music". MTV Soundtrack. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  6. "Music from the Season Finale Episode of Awkward". MTV Soundtrack. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  7. Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. 29 November 2011. CBS.
  8. Levine, Nick (20 January 2010). "Ellie Goulding: Here's what the fuss is about". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  9. Beaumont, Mark (28 February 2010). "Album review: Ellie Goulding – 'Lights' (Polydor)". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  10. "Derulo and GaGa take chart honours". Music Week. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  11. "Tinie Tempah and Ellie Goulding debut atop the charts". Music Week. 8 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  12. "Boyzone and Tinie Tempah top charts". Music Week. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  13. "British single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed". British Phonographic Industry. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Starry Eyed in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  14. Knight, David (27 January 2010). "Ellie Goulding's Starry Eyed by OneInThree". Promo News. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  15. "Watch The 'Starry Eyed' Video". EllieGoulding.com. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  16. Knight, David (3 August 2011). "Ellie Goulding 'Starry Eyed (US Version)' by Dugan O'Neal". Promo News. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  17. "Ellie Goulding debuts US version of 'Starry Eyed' video". Digital Spy. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  18. Erik (12 August 2011). "Americanization of music videos: Ellie Goulding's Starry Eyes". Brands & Films. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  19. "Live Lounge – You Had Me at Six". BBC Radio 1. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  20. "CHART: CLUK Update 18.09.2010 (wk36)". The Zobbel Website. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  21. "Bridgit Mendler Covers Ellie Goulding's 'Starry Eyed' (VIDEO)". HuffPost. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  22. Lansky, Sam (9 May 2013). "Bridgit Mendler Performs Ellie Goulding's "Starry Eyed" For 'Hurricane Sessions': Watch". Idolator. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  23. Rubin, Julia Lynn (23 August 2013). "Bridgit Mendler Second Album and Summer Tour 2013: 'I'm Not Miley Cyrus, I'm My Own Person' (PHOTOS/AUDIO)". Headlines & Global News. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  24. "BRIDGIT MENDLER | Starry Eyed | LIVE in FM104". FM104. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  25. "Ellie Goulding CD Starry Eyed". Universal Music UK. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  26. "Starry Eyed – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (GB). Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  27. "Starry Eyed" (UK limited edition 10" single liner notes). Ellie Goulding. Polydor Records. 2010. 2732867.CS1 maint: others (link)
  28. "Ellie Goulding | Starry Eyed" (in German). Universal Music Germany. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  29. "Starry Eyed – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (DE). Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  30. "Starry Eyed (Remixes) – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  31. Lights (CD liner notes). Ellie Goulding. Polydor Records. 2010. 2732799.CS1 maint: others (link)
  32. "ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 10th May 2010" (PDF). ARIA Charts (1054): 17. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  33. "ARIA Hitseekers – Week Commencing 10th May 2010" (PDF). ARIA Charts (1054): 21. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  34. "Austriancharts.at – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  35. "Ultratop.be – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  36. "Hitlisten.NU – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  37. "European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 8th March 2010" (PDF). Billboard. 8 March 2010. p. 26. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  38. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  39. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Starry Eyed". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  40. "Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  41. "Charts.nz – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  42. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  43. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201016 into search. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  44. "Ellie Goulding: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  45. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  46. "Norwegian single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  47. "American single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed". Recording Industry Association of America. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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