Easy Lover (Ellie Goulding song) explained
"Easy Lover" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding featuring American rapper Big Sean, released on 15 July 2022 through Polydor Records as the lead single from her fifth studio album Higher Than Heaven.[2] [3] It was written by Goulding, Sean, Greg Kurstin and Julia Michaels, and produced by Kurstin.
Background
In January 2022, Goulding hinted at releasing new music in an Instagram post and expressed concerns about having to manage her mental wellbeing. In July 2022, Goulding sent an email to her fans "that the song was a long time coming and that it had had many lives".[4] In an interview with Billboard, she detailed the process behind working with Kurstin and Michaels for the song, saying: "I think one of us was dealing with a known f–kboy at the time, but we ended up with a song about going back to the same person who’s hurt you and you think you can change them. We always say we can change someone, and we can’t".[5]
Regarding the collaboration process with Big Sean on the record, she added: "We’ve stayed in touch for years because he sampled me a couple of times, I always feel like there’s something pretty special in someone who appreciates me that early on as an artist, so I’ve stayed in touch with everyone from that era, in particular him because I think’s he’s consistently been a brilliant artist. At some point we were going to do a collab, and it just happened to be this song".
A solo version of the song was later released on 26 August 2022.
Music video
The music video, directed by Sophia Ray, was shot in a school in Bulgaria. Goulding plays several characters, including a teacher and an androgynous rocker, to take on an otherworldly creature. Sean makes an appearance in a scene as Goulding plays a teacher who is taking class photos.[6]
In an interview with Rolling Stone UK, Goulding stated: "I was really nervous that the video would just end up being a representation of the song. But I wanted it to be something else. I wanted it to be a bit trippy, like we’re living in some kind of parallel universe, or we’re all in some kind of simulation, like a video game".[7] She added that she wanted to allude to characters that might return later in the campaign.
Reception
"Easy Lover" has received generally positive reviews from critics. Alex Gonzalez from Uproxx praised Sean's verse, describing it as "clever wordplay",[8] and Mike DeWald from RIFF Magazine enthused about an "anthemic feeling" in the song.[9]
Track listing
Digital download / streaming
- "Easy Lover" (featuring Big Sean) – 3:35
Digital download / streaming – Four Tet Remix[10]
- "Easy Lover" (Four Tet Remix) – 4:11
Digital download / streaming – Solo Version[11]
- "Easy Lover" (Solo Version) – 3:25
Digital download / streaming – Jax Jones Remix[12]
- "Easy Lover" (Jax Jones Remix) – 2:00
Digital download / streaming – The Remixes[13]
- "Easy Lover" (featuring Big Sean; Navos Remix) – 2:44
- "Easy Lover" (Russ Chimes Remix) – 3:35
- "Easy Lover" (featuring Big Sean; Colbath Remix) – 3:35
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]
- Ellie Goulding – lead vocals, songwriter, composer, lyricist
- Big Sean – lead vocals, songwriter, composer, lyricist
- Greg Kurstin – producer, songwriter, composer, lyricist, bass, drums, electric guitar, keyboards, percussion, synthesizer
- Julia Michaels – composer, songwriter, lyricist
- Bryce Bordone – assistant mixing engineer
- Joe Kearns – vocal engineer
- Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
- Tom Kahre – engineer
- Matt Tuggle – engineer
- Alex Pasco – engineer
- Julian Burg – engineer
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
Charts
Release history
Notes and References
- Web site: Yeung. Neil Z.. Higher Than Heaven - Ellie Goulding Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic. 13 January 2024. 7 April 2023. 7 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230407205234/https://www.allmusic.com/album/higher-than-heaven-deluxe-edition--mw0003840448?1680900585512. live.
- Web site: Kenneally. Carys. Ellie Goulding announces new Big Sean collaboration "Easy Lover". The Line of Best Fit. 4 July 2022. 7 July 2022. 4 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220704154020/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/ellie-goulding-announces-new-big-sean-collaboration-easy-lover. live.
- Web site: Peacock . Tim . 2022-10-19 . Ellie Goulding Announces New Album, 'Higher Than Heaven'; Shares 'Let It Die' . 2022-10-19 . uDiscover Music.
- Web site: Shillcock. Francesca. Ellie Goulding makes major announcement about new music. Hello!. 5 July 2022. 21 July 2022. 17 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220717012811/https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20220705144603/daily-lowdown-ellie-goulding-announces-release-date-new-music/. live.
- Bowenbank . Starr . 2022-10-20 . Ellie Goulding Talks Collaborating With Big Sean & Upcoming Album 'Higher Than Heaven': Watch . 2023-02-17 . Billboard . en-US.
- Web site: Diep. Eric. Big Sean Appears in the Video for Ellie Goulding's New Song "Easy Lover". Complex. 17 July 2022. 19 July 2022. 19 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220719193527/https://www.complex.com/music/ellie-goulding-new-video-easy-lover-feat-big-sean. live.
- Hollie. Geraghty. Ellie Goulding talks new single 'Easy Lover' and the sound of her next album. Rolling Stone UK. 15 July 2022. 19 July 2022. 19 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220719193519/https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/news/ellie-goulding-easy-lover-new-single-interview-20277/. live.
- Web site: 2022-07-15 . Ellie Goulding And Big Sean Drop 'Easy Lover,' A New Collab . 2023-02-17 . UPROXX . en-US.
- Web site: 2023-01-30 . ALBUM REVIEW: Ellie Goulding hits the dance floor on 'Higher Than Heaven' . 2023-02-17 . RIFF Magazine . en-US.
- Web site: Easy Lover (Four Tet Remix) – Single by Ellie Goulding . . 12 October 2022 . 19 August 2022 . 12 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012045744/https://music.apple.com/au/album/easy-lover-four-tet-remix-single/1638805931 . live .
- Web site: Easy Lover – Single by Ellie Goulding . . 12 October 2022 . 26 August 2022 . 12 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012045748/https://music.apple.com/au/album/easy-lover-single/1640102480 . live .
- Web site: Easy Lover (Jax Jones Remix) – Single by Ellie Goulding & Jax Jones . . 12 October 2022 . 2 September 2022 . 12 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012045745/https://music.apple.com/au/album/easy-lover-jax-jones-remix-single/1641115642 . live .
- Web site: Easy Lover (The Remixes) – Single by Ellie Goulding . . 12 October 2022 . 23 September 2022 . 12 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012045746/https://music.apple.com/au/album/easy-lover-the-remixes-single/1645083138 . live .
- Web site: Credits / Easy Lover / Ellie Goulding . . 20 July 2022 . 15 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220715052651/https://listen.tidal.com/album/237645878/credits . live .
- Web site: HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1051 – Issue Date: October 31st 2022. 3 December 2022. 31 October 2022. en. Hrvatska Radiotelevizija. 4 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221104114823/https://api.hrt.hr/media/25/06/arc-100-2022-10-31-20221101205233.pdf. live.
- Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 3, 2022. Billboard Japan. ja. 3 August 2022. 3 August 2022. 3 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220803051820/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2022&month=08&day=08. live.
- Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 25 July 2022. 23 July 2022. 15 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220715220254/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5363. live.
- Web site: De Top 40 Lijst Voor 1 – 8 Dec 2022. The Top 40 List For 1 – Dec 8, 2022. Nationale Top 40 Suriname. 1 December 2022. July 5, 2023.