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It has been suggested that this article be merged with Ellie Goulding. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2011.

"Under the Sheets" is a song by English recording artist Ellie Goulding from her debut album, Lights. Produced by Starsmith, it was released as the album's lead single. The song premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 30 September 2009 and was released on the UK iTunes Store on 15 November 2009, peaking at number fifty-three on the UK Singles Chart on the issue dated 22 November 2009. It was also used to promote the second season of 90210 on the UK channel E4. According to Goulding, the single was released on independent label Neon Gold Records rather than Polydor so that she would not be put under too much pressure.

Background

When asked what "Under the Sheets" was about, Goulding said:

was probably the easiest song I've written, but actually when I listen back to the lyrics they are actually quite meaningful. They are about a girl and a guy who are in a relationship but it's a very dark relationship in that it's only based on being physical. It's not like a sexual song, it's more like shows that some relationships are based on nothing that is real, they are not based on something good. I've had that experience in my life, because you're trying to cling on to something that you know you're in denial. That's what the song is about in that you know the world won't bring us down, you can be as happy as Larry inside your house with your boyfriend or lover, but as soon as you step outside you're in the real world and you have to deal with it.

— Ellie Goulding, BBC

Critical reception

Digital Spy music editor Nick Levine wrote that "Under the Sheets" is "that bit more magical than the average electropop tune, managing to sound twinkly and chunky at the same time, and the chorus is pretty much irresistible." He also went on to describe Goulding's voice as "pure, girlish and as fluttery as a butterfly trapped in a cupboard." Fraser McAlpine of the BBC Chart Blog called the track an "immaculate frostypop masterpiece" and stated that "rom the first 'like all the boys, boys, boys, boys' to the final go around on the pleading chorus, Ellie's voice dominates. There is barely a second of music which does not feature her vocal in some way, either as a muffled pixie choir, a lead instrument, or a soft, tumbledown wail in the background." The Guardian reviewer Alexis Petridis described it as "a mildly anxious relationship memoir made over with digitised strings, breeze-block synths and crashing 1980s drums." Mark Beaumont from the NME referred to the song as one of the album's "spangliest tracks" along with "Starry Eyed", further commenting that it sees Goulding "in more bruised and bitter mood as producer Starsmith feeds her vulnerable vocals through an Auto-Tune the size of the Large Hadron Collider."

Music video

In the music video, directed by the Lennox Brothers and released in late 2009, Goulding leaves a bed occupied by an unknown male and walks though a brick building surrounded by different versions of herself. She can be seen sitting on the floor, playing guitar, riding a vintage bicycle and swinging in a hanging chair all simultaneously. She can be seen playing drums covered in glitter and while sitting in a wicker chair a close shot of Goulding's hand with a heart drawn on the inside of her fingers is shown with her fingers opening and closing. Throughout the video Goulding wears a sequin top and high-top kicks.

Track listings

UK iTunes EP

1. "Under the Sheets" – 3:46
2. "Fighter Plane" – 4:24
3. "Under the Sheets" (Jakwob Remix) – 5:36
4. "Under the Sheets" (Pariah Remix) – 4:50

UK 7" single

A. "Under the Sheets" – 3:46

B. "Fighter Plane" – 4:24

German CD single and iTunes single

1. "Under the Sheets" – 3:44
2. "Guns and Horses" (Live at Metropolis Studios) – 3:48

Personnel

• Ellie Goulding – vocals, acoustic guitar
• Starsmith – producer, keyboards, drum programming, bass
• Charlie Morton – backing vocals, additional acoustic guitar
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
• Naweed – mastering
• Alan Clarke – photography
• Traffic – design

Charts

Release history

References

1. "Neon Gold Beat Company: WRONG FROM THE START". Neon Gold Records. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009. In other news, the wonderful Huw Stephens will be premiering "Under The Sheets", the massive debut single from Ellie Goulding (out on Neon Gold in November) on Radio 1 tonight. EXCITED MUCH?
2. ^ "Under the Sheets – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
3. "Ellie Goulding's spiritual home". BBC Mid Wales. BBC News Online. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
4. "Under The Sheets by Ellie Goulding". Songfacts. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
5. Levine, Nick (16 November 2009). "Ellie Goulding: 'Under The Sheets'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
6. McAlpine, Fraser (16 November 2009). "Ellie Goulding – 'Under The Sheets'". BBC Chart Blog. BBC Online. Retrieved 19 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
7. Petrides, Alexis (25 February 2010). "Ellie Goulding: Lights". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
8. Beaumont, Mark (28 February 2010). "Album review: Ellie Goulding – 'Lights' (Polydor)". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
9. Knight, David (29 October 2009). "Ellie Goulding's Under The Sheets by Lennox Brothers". Promo News. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
10. "Ellie Goulding – Under The Sheets". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
11. "Airplay Top-20 – 48/2009". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (in Danish). Hitlisten.NU. Retrieved 4 October 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
12. "Musicline.de – Chartverfolgung – Ellie Goulding – Under The Sheets (2-track)". Media Control (in German). PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 23 October 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
13. "Chart Stats – Ellie Goulding – Under The Sheets". The Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. Retrieved 11 December 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
14. "Neon Gold Beat Company: LIKE ALL THE BOYS BEFORE". Neon Gold Records. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
15. "Under the Sheets – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store Belgium. Apple Inc. Retrieved 7 January 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
16. "Under the Sheets – Single von Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store Germany (in German). Apple Inc. Retrieved 23 October 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
17. "Ellie Goulding – Under The Sheets – (CD Single)". Universal Music Germany. Retrieved 23 October 2010.

• Articles to be merged from February 2011
• 2009 singles
• Debut singles
• Ellie Goulding songs
• Polydor Records singles
• Songs written by Ellie Goulding