BRIGHTEST BLUE
THE FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM - 2020
THE BLUE EVOLUTION
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Released in 2020 after a five-year break between albums, Brightest Blue marked a deeply personal chapter in Ellie Goulding's career. Divided into two distinct sides, the album balances the vulnerability and self-reflection of Brightest Blue with the confident pop collaborations of EG.0. Exploring love, womanhood, identity and personal growth, the record combines intimate songwriting with beautifully powerful vocals while revealing two contrasting sides of Ellie's artistry.
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Released: 2020
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Genres: Pop, Synth-pop, Alternative Pop and Electropop
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Key Singles: Flux, Love I'm Given and Power
THE TRACKLIST
SIDE A - BRIGHTEST BLUE
1. Start - Feat. Serpentwithfeet
2. Power
3. How Deep Is Too Deep
4. Cyan
5. Love I'm Given
6. New Heights
7. Ode To Myself
8. Woman
9. Tides
10. Wine Drunk
11. Bleach
12. Flux
13. Brightest Blue
EG.0
SIDE B - THE ALTER EGO
ABOUT EG.0
EG.0, a play on Ellie's initials and the idea of an 'alter ego', forms the more confident and pop-focused side of the album. Departing from the vulnerability of Brightest Blue, it brings together high-energy pop collaborations with artists including Juice WRLD, Diplo, blackbear and Lauv. The contrasting second side reveals a more playful and fearless part of Ellie's musical identity.
EG.0 TRACKLIST
SIDE B - THE ALTER EGO
1. Overture
2. Worry About Me - Feat. Blackbear
3. Slow Grenade - Feat. Lauv
4. Close To Me - With Diplo Feat. Swae Lee
5. Hate Me - With Juice WRLD
6. Sixteen
BRIGHTEST BLUE SINGLES AND MUSIC VIDEOS
POWER
Power was the first single released for the 'A' side of the Brightest Blue album. Released in May 2020, Power explores attraction, image and the imbalance within a superficial relationship. Its confident lyrics, loud electronic production and powerful message introduced the polished pop sound while retaining the honesty and vulnerability of Ellie's songwriting.
LOVE I'M GIVEN
Released in August 2020, Love I'm Given was issued as a single from the album's A-side and explores self-acceptance, forgiveness and learning to embrace the love offered by others. Its emotional lyrics and soaring chorus make it one of the standout tracks on the album.
FLUX
Released in March 2019 and later included on Brightest Blue, Flux is an intimate piano ballad about reflecting on a past love and imagining what might have been. Its stripped-back production places Ellie's vulnerable vocals at the forefront. Regarded by Fans as a favourite, it's undoubtedly one of Ellie's most personal, heartfelt and moving songs to date.
EG.0 SINGLES AND MUSIC VIDEOS
WORRY ABOUT ME - FEAT. BLACKBEAR
Worry About Me was released in March 2020 as the first official single from Brightest Blue and appears on the EG.0 side of the album. The track joins Ellie's distinctive pop sound with Blackbear's R&B and hip-hop influence to make a punchy and confident pop track.
SLOW GRENADE - FEAT. LAUV
Released in June 2020, Slow Grenade is a collaboration between Ellie and Lauv from the EG.0 side of Brightest Blue. The song explores a destructive relationship that both people struggle to leave, likening its gradual collapse to a grenade. The blend of Ellie and Lauv's voices capture the conflict between holding on and letting go.
CLOSE TO ME - WITH DIPLO AND SWAE LEE
Released in October 2018, Close To Me is a collaboration between Ellie, Diplo and Swae Lee. It was included on the EG.0 side of the album and combines acoustic guitar with upbeat electronic production. The song was a massive international success reaching number 17 in the UK and 24 on the US billboard Hot 100.
HATE ME - WITH JUICE WRLD
Released in June 2019, Hate Me is a collaboration between Ellie and rapper Juice WRLD that was later included on EG.0. The song talks about the bitterness and mixed emotions left behind after a toxic breakup. The song became one of the biggest hits off the album, reaching number 33 in the UK and 56 in the US. Years after its release, the song experienced a renewed surge in popularity through TikTok.
MORE FROM THE BRIGHTEST BLUE ERA
SIXTEEN
Sixteen is a nostalgic pop song that reflects on the freedom, friendships and first love of being young. The song charted in the UK for 13 weeks.
START - FEAT SERPENTWITHFEET
Start is the atmospheric opening track of Brightest Blue, exploring the idea of leaving behind the past and embracing a new beginning.
