Song review: ‘Figure-8’ by Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding is the newest UK popstar to watch out for. Well, on our side of the globe, anyway. No longer are Adele and Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine the only available choices for mainstream female singers from the UK to choose from. The music of Ellie Goulding is certainly a welcome addition.

At first I was surprised to see that Ellie Goulding’s second studio release titled “Halycon” was even available here in our music store outlets. As I was going through the available cd’s and the newest releases, I thought: “Hey, here is one hidden gem among the usual kinds of cd’s from the artists that we all know too well.” I wasted no time in purchasing the album and I started listening to it as soon as I got home. I now understood all the hype about her and I wish I had purchased this album sooner.

If this will be the first time that you will listen to her songs and purchase her latest album, ‘Halycon’ might just challenge you with its different approach and the diversity of the album’s tone. However, you may even be dissapointed that she isn’t going to sound like Adele. It is because Ellie Goulding isn’t a clone of Adele or anyone else, for that matter. While her name may be relatively new to us, it is noteworthy to mention that she was already active in the music scene in the UK around the same time that Adele was starting to make a name for herself.

In ‘Halycon’, Ellie Goulding has a number of tracks which have very strong electronic influences, and since she was the ex-gf of Skrillex who is the leading figure and representative of a new rising sub-genre called dub-step, these influences clearly showed up in her single titled: “Figure-8”. The said song is upbeat and intense. Why? Because the combination of well crafted lyrics and the sentimental mood were all heightened with the dub-step beat. The pace of the song quickens and the message behind it is easily received by the listener.

The song is personal in nature and Ellie Goulding gives reference to her past relationship with Skrillex, alluding to where it may have gone wrong and what could have caused the acrimonious split between them. The song doesn’t get so moody and depressing that you would hope the song would end sooner. As the listener, your attention is kept attuned to its lyrics and especially when you watch the music video which is at par with the song’s emotive theme. The visual imagery of Ellie Goulding draped in red, throwing dishes in slow motion and laying in bed holding a piece of clothing all play up in the imagination of the viewer. These scenes get the viewers to understand better what she is trying to say.

The music video of “Figure-8” is artsy and really captures a challenging period for Ellie Goulding–that is, the aftermath of her breakup with Skrillex. So, instead of her moping about it, just like a true artist, what does she do? She lets her feelings known throughher song ‘Figure-8’ and this latest single from Ellie Goulding might just reach the top of the charts! That is how impressive it is.

Thumbs up!