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]
Slow Grenade
Ellie Goulding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Least I got the best seat
'Cause we put on one hell of a show
Waiting, I just keep on waiting
For the final curtain
'Cause I just can't let go of your love
Ooh
Can't beat the taste of the tears that I'll cry, ooh
Slow grenade is blowing up my mistakes
So why don't I, why don't I stop it?
Still got time for me to stop it
It's like a part of me must want it
That's why I'm not running from it
Can't escape this blowing up
In my face so why can't I
Why can't I stop it?
Still got time for me to stop it
It's like a part of me must love it
That's why I'm not running from it
Crazy, late nights in the city
Drink until you hate me
Then say that I should just let you go
But hold on, why do we still hold on?
Think that we should move on
But we're too scared of being alone
Ooh
You say name like you know my dark side, ooh
Can't beat the taste of the tears that I'll cry, ooh
Slow grenade is blowing up my mistakes
So why don't I, why don't I stop it?
Still got time for me to stop it
It's like a part of me must want it
That's why I'm not running from it
Can't escape this blowing up
In my face so why can't I
Why can't I stop it?
Still got time for me to stop it
It's like a part of me must love it
That's why I'm not running from it
(Ah-ooh, ah-ooh)
Why can't I stop it?
Still got time for me to stop it
It's like a part of me must love it
That's why I'm not running from it
Help me, my God, this got messy
Least I got the best seat
'Cause we put on one hell of a show, whoa, yeah
Oh, slow grenade is blowing up my mistakes
So why don't I, why don't I stop it?
Still got time for me to stop it
It's like a part of me must want it
That's why I'm not running from it
Can't escape this blowing up
In my face, so why can't I
Why can't I stop it?
Still got time for me to stop it
It's like a part of me must love it
That's why I'm not running from it
(Ah-ooh, ah-ooh) Oh
Why can't I stop it?
Still got time for me to stop it
It's like a part of me must love it
That's why I'm not running from it
The song "Slow Grenade" by Ellie Goulding and Lauv is about the struggle of trying to let go of a toxic relationship. The lyrics highlight the painful experiences that come with being in a difficult situation, and the ongoing struggle to give up something that you know is not good for you. The chorus talks about a "slow grenade" that is blowing up the singer's mistakes, representing how the unhealthy relationship is causing them harm. Despite this, they find themselves unable to walk away from the love they have for their partner, even though they know it is not healthy for them.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is torn between the fear of being alone and the fear of continuing to be in a toxic relationship. They refer to the late nights spent drinking, tearing up, and constantly waiting for the final curtain to fall, signifying the end of the suffering. However, they can't seem to escape the love they have for their partner, and this is represented by the metaphor of the "slow grenade." The song ends on a somewhat hopeful note, suggesting that the singer still has time to stop the self-destructive cycle and learn to love themselves enough to walk away from the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Help me, my God, this got messy
The situation has become complicated and I ask for divine intervention
Least I got the best seat
I may not be in control, but at least I can observe everything that's happening
'Cause we put on one hell of a show
Our relationship may be tumultuous, but it's certainly not boring
Waiting, I just keep on waiting
I'm waiting for something to happen or for a resolution to come
For the final curtain
I'm waiting for our relationship to come to a definitive end
'Cause I just can't let go of your love
Even though our relationship may be toxic, I still can't let go of my feelings for you
You say name like you know my dark side, ooh
You speak my name as if you know the parts of me that I try to keep hidden
Can't beat the taste of the tears that I'll cry, ooh
I know I'll end up getting hurt, but I keep coming back for more
Slow grenade is blowing up my mistakes
Our relationship is like a slow-burning explosive, causing me to re-live my past mistakes
So why don't I, why don't I stop it?
I know I should put an end to this toxic dynamic, but I can't seem to take the necessary steps
Still got time for me to stop it
There's still time for me to make a change and turn things around
It's like a part of me must want it
Despite the negative aspects of our relationship, there's a part of me that's drawn to it
That's why I'm not running from it
I'm not trying to escape this situation because I'm still holding on to hope
Can't escape this blowing up in my face so why can't I
The issues in our relationship keep resurfacing and causing me pain, yet I can't seem to break free
Crazy, late nights in the city
We engage in reckless behavior when we're together
Drink until you hate me
We consume alcohol to numb our emotions and temporarily forget our problems
Then say that I should just let you go
The morning after, we regret our actions and realize that we should let each other go
But hold on, why do we still hold on?
Despite our regrets, we can't seem to let go of each other
Think that we should move on
We know deep down that we should move on from this relationship
But we're too scared of being alone
We continue to hold on to each other because we fear being alone
(Ah-ooh, ah-ooh)
Vocalization
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ari Leff, Brett Leland McLaughlin, Ellie Goulding, Joseph Bryn Kearns, Oscar Michael Gorres
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LuigiGrosu
The chorus of this song is literally all i needed this year to feel better. It cleared my skin permanently.
@camren5h808
Luigi Grosu for real though
@floruishing9166
Crying
@Kidfromthesky13
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
@r.e.mbeauty
the pre-chorus is also so good
@tribesail1336
😂 😂 😂
@oussamachetat1278
i really don't understand why people do not like this MASTERPIECE.
@3alamasmaeliltab598
Are you serious??
@yanaira86
Because they what the same comercial shit. They don’t know art standards.
@marcusgeier5001
Because both individual artists have much better songs