Lights is the debut album of English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. It was released in March 2010 in the United Kingdom and was finally released in the States just last year. If you’ve heard that the album is called Bright Lights, it’s because the original debut album was re-released under that name in November 2010, including six additional songs. The American release includes three of those additional six.
I’m not typically a big fan of electropop music. Fast beats, synthetic sounds and auto-tuned voices just don’t get me going. It’s hard for me to be impressed by an artist when I know the voice coming through the speakers isn’t the same one coming from the artist. For some inexplicable reason, however, I like Lights. Is it because, unlike many other English singers, Goulding is able to retain her accent while she sings? (Why is it that a “British” accent is so fascinating to me?) Or is it the fact that she shows true musicianship, playing guitar and piano (and percussion in her live performances) in addition to her vocals? I’m really not sure.
The first time I listened to “Starry Eyed,” I didn’t see the appeal, but I listened to it again anyway. And again. And again. Apparently the appeal was there, I just didn’t know why. “Lights” got me in the same say. I was less likely to hit repeat on slower songs, such as “The Writer.” Last but not least, I have to mention the inclusion of Goulding’s cover of Elton John’s “Your Song.” This cover was oddly featured as the lead single for the album’s re-release and is Goulding’s most popular single to-date. I’ve heard many covers of “Your Song” and this one was not among my favorites. Then again, she was asked to (and did) perform the cover at Will and Kate’s Royal Wedding for their first dance, so I must be missing something.
Those waiting for Goulding’s next album need only wait a few more months. Goulding stated earlier this year that she has hopes to release an album in October. We can expect some very dark and weird sounds from this new album, according to several recent interviews with Goulding. She hopes that it will be emotionally moving, whether sad or happy. While I would normally consider such motives to be a solid foundation for an album, I’m not sure how well those ideas will play out in the ears of her electropop fan base.
Interesting fact (well, to me, at least): Ellie Goulding is a runner, typically punching in six miles per day. You might catch her running around with a select number of fans as she tours Europe and the U.S.!
