Easy Lover (Ellie Goulding song)

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"Easy Lover"
A woman in pink and black hair posing behind a translucent plastic sheet.
Single by Ellie Goulding featuring Big Sean
from the album Higher Than Heaven
Written2016–2022
Released15 July 2022 (2022-07-15)
Recorded2022
GenreR&B[1]
Length3:35
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Greg Kurstin
Ellie Goulding singles chronology
"New Love"
(2021) 		"Easy Lover"
(2022) 		"All by Myself"
(2022)
Big Sean singles chronology
"Hate Our Love"
(2022) 		"Easy Lover"
(2022)
Music video
"Easy Lover" on YouTube

"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[edit]

In January 2022, Goulding hinted at releasing new music in an Instagram post and expressed concerns about having to manage her mental wellbeing.[4] 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".[5] 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".[6]

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".[6]

A solo version of the song was later released on 26 August 2022.[7]

Music video[edit]

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.[8]

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".[4] She added that she wanted to allude to characters that might return later in the campaign.

Reception[edit]

"Easy Lover" has received generally positive reviews from critics. Alex Gonzalez from Uproxx praised Sean's verse, describing it as "clever wordplay",[9] and Mike DeWald from RIFF Magazine enthused about an "anthemic feeling" in the song.[10]

Track listing[edit]

Digital download / streaming

  1. "Easy Lover" (featuring Big Sean) – 3:35

Digital download / streaming – Four Tet Remix[11]

  1. "Easy Lover" (Four Tet Remix) – 4:11

Digital download / streaming – Solo Version[7]

  1. "Easy Lover" (Solo Version) – 3:25

Digital download / streaming – Jax Jones Remix[12]

  1. "Easy Lover" (Jax Jones Remix) – 2:00

Digital download / streaming – The Remixes[13]

  1. "Easy Lover" (featuring Big Sean; Navos Remix) – 2:44
  2. "Easy Lover" (Russ Chimes Remix) – 3:35
  3. "Easy Lover" (featuring Big Sean; Colbath Remix) – 3:35

Credits and personnel[edit]

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[edit]

Chart performance for "Easy Lover"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[15] 40
Croatia (HRT)[16] 26
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[17] 23
Finland Airplay (Radiosoittolista)[18] 11
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[19] 20
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[20] 27
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[21] 88
Suriname (Nationale Top 40)[22] 26
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[23] 51
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[24] 31
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[25] 21
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 29

Release history[edit]

Release history and formats for "Easy Lover"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 15 July 2022
Original Polydor
19 August 2022 Four Tet Remix [11]
26 August 2022 Solo Version [7]
2 September 2022 Jax Jones Remix [12]
23 September 2022 The Remixes [13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. (7 April 2023). "Higher Than Heaven - Ellie Goulding | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  2. ^ Kenneally, Carys (4 July 2022). "Ellie Goulding announces new Big Sean collaboration "Easy Lover"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  3. ^ Peacock, Tim (2022-10-19). "Ellie Goulding Announces New Album, 'Higher Than Heaven'; Shares 'Let It Die'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  4. ^ a b Hollie, Geraghty (15 July 2022). "Ellie Goulding talks new single 'Easy Lover' and the sound of her next album". Rolling Stone UK. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  5. ^ Shillcock, Francesca (5 July 2022). "Ellie Goulding makes major announcement about new music". Hello!. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  6. ^ a b Bowenbank, Starr (2022-10-20). "Ellie Goulding Talks Collaborating With Big Sean & Upcoming Album 'Higher Than Heaven': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  7. ^ a b c "Easy Lover – Single by Ellie Goulding". Apple Music. 26 August 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  8. ^ Diep, Eric (17 July 2022). "Big Sean Appears in the Video for Ellie Goulding's New Song "Easy Lover"". Complex. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Ellie Goulding And Big Sean Drop 'Easy Lover,' A New Collab". UPROXX. 2022-07-15. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  10. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Ellie Goulding hits the dance floor on 'Higher Than Heaven'". RIFF Magazine. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  11. ^ a b "Easy Lover (Four Tet Remix) – Single by Ellie Goulding". Apple Music. 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Easy Lover (Jax Jones Remix) – Single by Ellie Goulding & Jax Jones". Apple Music. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Easy Lover (The Remixes) – Single by Ellie Goulding". Apple Music. 23 September 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Credits / Easy Lover / Ellie Goulding". Tidal. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  16. ^ "HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1051 – Issue Date: October 31st 2022" (PDF). Hrvatska Radiotelevizija. 31 October 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  17. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202242 into search. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Ellie Goulding feat. Big Sean: Easy Lover" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  19. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 3, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 3 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  20. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202238 into search. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  22. ^ "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. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  23. ^ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2022-07-29." TopHit. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
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