Born in Hereford, England, she later moved to the country's east coast to study drama at the University of Kent. Goulding had developed a love for folk music as a teenager, and her time at university also exposed her to electronica. After two years, she took a break from her studies and moved to West London, where she pursued a career as an alternative singer/songwriter and befriended producers like Starsmith and Frankmusik, who gave her songs an electro-pop twist. In 2009, Goulding began building an audience via the Internet, where early tracks like "Starry Eyed" and a cover of Sam Sparro's "Black & Gold" were posted on tastemaking MP3 blogs such as Discodust. Goulding soon graduated from the blogosphere to print media, gaining praise from mainstream publications like The Guardian and fielding offers from record labels. She ultimately signed a major-label deal with Polydor Records and began making preparations to release her debut album. In the meantime, she penned songs for Diana Vickers, Gabriella Climi, and others.
During the final weeks of 2009, Goulding topped the BBC's Sound of 2010, a poll conducted by British music critics and industry insiders to identify new talent. Building on that momentum, she released Lights -- a sparkling debut album that splashed Goulding's vocal flutter across a landscape of acoustic and synthesized instruments -- in March 2010. Lights topped the U.K. charts during its first week and spun off "Starry Eyed" as a Top Five single (it also charted well in Ireland and New Zealand). Later that year, the album was re-released as Bright Lights, featuring seven new recordings (including a cover of Elton John's "Your Song," which peaked at number two).
In 2012, Goulding returned with her sophomore album, Halcyon, which showcased an even more sonically adventurous, electro-pop-infused sound. In 2013, a deluxe reissue featuring ten extra songs was released; entitled Halcyon Days, it acted as a supplement to the original release. Two of its new songs, "Burn" and "How Long Will I Love You," were among her biggest hits. The following year, she was featured on Calvin Harris' Top Ten U.K. hit "Outside," participated in Band Aid 30's update of "Do They Know It's Christmas?," and entered the U.K. Top Ten once more with "Beating Heart," a song released on the soundtrack for Divergent. Another soundtrack single, "Love Me Like You Do," added to the success of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2015.
That same year, Goulding released her third studio album, Delirium, which featured collaborations with Max Martin, Greg Kurstin, and others. The pop-leaning Delirium included the single "On My Mind" and peaked at number three on the U.S. and U.K. charts. Goulding returned in 2017 on "First Time," a collaboration with electronic producer Kygo.
In 2018, Goulding joined Tap Management after almost a decade with First Access Management.[107] She appeared on a collaboration with Sean Paul on his Mad Love the Prequel EP titled "Bad Love", released on 29 June 2018.[108]
Goulding collaborated with Diplo and Swae Lee on the single "Close to Me", which was released on 24 October 2018.[109] On 1 January 2019, The Guardian reported that she has been working on her fourth album, set to release in the same year.[110] On 1 March, she released the next single "Flux".[111] She said regarding the album, "It's very much written by me".[112]
On 12 April 2019, Goulding released the single "Sixteen".[113] Goulding said of the single, "...That age was such a pivotal year for me in many ways and this song is so close to my heart. It takes me back to the reckless days of being a teenager and I hope it reminds us all about the innocence of youth."[114]
Goulding released "Hate Me" with American rapper Juice Wrld on 26 June 2019.[115][116] It was premiered by Zane Lowe as his 'World Record' on Beats 1.[117] In July, Goulding stated that her next material to be released would be the songs "Woman I Am" and "Start".[118] In November, she released her rendition of Joni Mitchell's Christmas song "River", which topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming her third UK number one single and the last UK number one song of the 2010s.[119]
On 13 March 2020, Goulding released the new single "Worry About Me" which was created in-collaboration with Blackbear.[120] In a radio interview with Heart the same month, she revealed that the album "kind of comes in two parts", adding that "the first side is something written entirely by me which was fun and I wrote most of it in New York when I was living there a few years back. I play the guitar and I play the bass and piano and then I'm singing a lot of vocals. It's very classically influenced because I love classical music. There's a lot going on, it's a big soundscape and one big film. The second half is my kind of alter ego songs."[121] On 21 May she released single "Power" and on 30 June single "Slow Grenade" with Lauv.
Goulding released her fourth studio album, Brightest Blue, on 17 July 2020. Originally scheduled for 5 June 2020, the album's release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The album debuted at the top of the UK Album Chart, becoming Goulding's third album to do so,[122] as well as at No. 2 in Scotland.[123] It reached the top 10 in Ireland[124] as well as the top 40 in over ten countries including Australia, Germany and the United States.
Goulding announced on an Instagram Q&A that she would be releasing new music which was not part of the Brightest Blue era at the end of January 2021.[125] On 21 January, she released a collaboration with electronic duo Silk City, titled "New Love".[126] On 30 September, Goulding performed "Anything Could Happen" as part of the opening ceremony for Expo 2020, held in Dubai.[127]
On 19 June 2022, Goulding performed at Rock in Rio in Lisbon, Portugal. After the concert, she announced that she would be releasing new music in July. The following day, she blacked out all her social media profiles.[128] Back in July 2021, during an interview with Joe Wicks, she described the forthcoming album as "a dance record. It's electronic pop, a dance thing from outer space".[129] On 4 July 2022, she announced the release of "Easy Lover" featuring Big Sean, which was released on 15 July.[130] The single did not enter the UK Singles Top 100, but peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart Top 100.[131] It was followed by "All by Myself", a collaboration between Goulding and producers Alok and Sigala, on 7 October.[132] Goulding released the single "Let It Die" along with its video on 19 October and announced the same day that her fifth studio album Higher Than Heaven would be released on 3 February 2023.[133][134]
On 22 March 2023, Goulding released the single "By The End Of The Night".[135][136]
Mirrors
Ellie Goulding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I look in the mirror
I can't get over you
Is this our world?
Is it someone else?
Is it someone else?
And I try to see myself
My head full of terror
From the games I played so well
I try to see clearer
I try to forget the fires I started
I try to be nearer
To where you are, to where you are
Are we star crossed lovers?
Did I really want you gone?
If I'm really a winner
Where do these demons come from?
I was the girl who was on fire
I was the girl who was on fire
Only a bird could get much higher (I look in the mirror)
'Cause I was the girl who was on fire
I look in the mirror
And I try to understand
And piece it together
Wash the blood from both my hands
I can't see the ending
There are people who know my every secret
I'm tired of pretending
You're in my heart, in my heart
Are we star crossed lovers?
Did I really want you gone?
If I'm really a winner
Where do these demons come from?
I was the girl who was on fire
I was the girl who was on fire
Only a bird could get much higher
'Cause I was the girl who was on fire
Ellie Goulding's song "Mirrors" is a haunting exploration of personal reflection and identity. The lyrics suggest a deep sense of introspection, as the singer looks at herself in the mirror and questions the reality of the world around her. The repeated refrain of "Is this our world?" emphasizes a sense of confusion and uncertainty, as if the singer is struggling to come to terms with her place in the world and the events that have shaped her.
At the same time, the lyrics suggest a deep sense of regret and longing, as the singer reflects on past relationships and wonders what might have been different. Lines like "Are we star crossed lovers? / Did I really want you gone?" suggest a sense of lost love and missed opportunities. And yet, even as the singer grapples with these difficult emotions, there is a sense of resilience and determination that shines through in the repeated reference to being "the girl who was on fire."
Overall, "Mirrors" is a complex and nuanced exploration of identity, memory, and regret. The haunting melody and Ellie Goulding's emotive vocals combine to create a powerful and deeply affecting song that resonates with listeners long after it has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this our world?
Questioning the reality of the world
I look in the mirror
Examining oneself
I can't get over you
Unable to forget a past love
Is it someone else?
Doubting the authenticity of something
And I try to see myself
Attempting to understand one's own identity
Wherever look terror
Fear being present no matter where she looks
From the games I played so well
Regretting past actions that led to current consequences
I try to see clearer
Striving for clarity in life
I try to forget the thoughts I started
Trying to erase negative thoughts
I try to be nearer
Attempting to get closer to something or someone
To where you are
Wanting to locate a lost love
Are we star crossed lovers?
Hoping for a love that was not meant to be
Did I really want you gone?
Questioning a past decision
If I'm really a winner
Despite success, still experiencing internal struggles
Where do these demons come from?
Pondering the source of internal turmoil
I was the girl who was on fire
Recalling a time of passion and success
Only a bird could get much higher
Feeling invincible and unstoppable
(I look in the mirror)
Continuing to examine oneself
And I try to understand
Striving for comprehension in life
And piece it together
Trying to make sense of life's events
Watch the blood from both my hands
Confronting the consequences of one's actions
I can't see the ending
Feeling uncertain about the future
There are people who know my every secret
Feeling exposed and vulnerable
I'm tired of pretending
Exhausted from putting on a facade
You read my heart
Feeling understood by someone
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Elena Jane Goulding, Mathieu Jomphe-Lepine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mel
Her voice is so cute.. she sounds like cotton candy, glitter and a bit of vanilla <3
Catthelion is a Trap
Her hair reminds me of cotton candy because it looks soft
Aipipiw
Mega Minx that is a LOT of vanilla and an icing sugar
Mel
Joe Majesty Yes, icing! That's much more like her voice.
Mirror
+Mega Minx perfect adjectives!
shakyrah dev
The adjectives were 👍👍👍👍
Jonathan Rieck
I truly loved this. Her voice is very soft, and sometimes she gets very blended in with the backup singers, but her vocal style provides such a different vibe to this song. It made me really like it.
Dr. Pennington
At the end her voice was melding perfectly with the backup singers, so beautiful and so easy to listen to
Chlo
Her live lounges are the best. She always picks songs you wouldn't usually associate with her and she pulls it off every time. Phenomenal
Haidar Ali
the way she blend her vocal into the song is really...really excellent