Higher Than Heaven Explained

Higher Than Heaven
Type:studio
Artist:Ellie Goulding
Cover:Ellie Goulding - Higher Than Heaven.png
Caption:Physical standard edition artwork
Genre:
Length:36:42
Label:Polydor
Producer:
Prev Title:Brightest Blue
Prev Year:2020

Higher Than Heaven is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 7 April 2023 by Polydor Records.[3] [4] It marks her first album in three years, since Brightest Blue (2020).

The record was preceded by the singles "Easy Lover", "Let It Die", "Like a Saviour" and "By the End of the Night", and was met with moderate commercial success, debuting at number-one on Scotland and the United Kingdom. It became Goulding's fourth chart-topping album on the later, making Goulding tie with Adele as the two British female artists with the most number-one albums in UK history.

Higher Than Heaven received generally positive reviews from music critics. Several critics praised Goulding's honesty after calling it "her least personal album yet", with many critics stating that her statement worked in her favour, as well valuing the singer focus of bringing back escapist Pop as "refreshing" and "fun".[5] [6] [7]

Background and development

The album was written in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Goulding: "There was definitely a darkness about [the past two years] that was palpable in the studio, with everyone having gone through it differently. I think for that reason, nobody wanted to sit and agonise over some relationship or some drama. So that's how this album came together."[8]

Goulding expressed that in contrast to her previous 2020 album Brightest Blue, the album is her "least personal album." She elaborated "...I think it's the best album because I got to just explore other things about myself. I just really, really enjoy writing, really enjoy being a singer. [It] was such a relief and really refreshing to not be sitting in the studio going through all the things that happened to me and affected me. Because I feel things very deeply."[9]

Release and promotion

On 19 October 2022, Goulding announced the album's title and revealed its artwork cover, with an initial release date of 3 February 2023.[10] However, on 9 January 2023, Goulding announced an initial delay to 24 March, stating "...we've had some exciting opportunities appear behind the scenes."[11] [12] On 28 February, she announced a second delay to 7 April; stating issues with sourcing eco-friendly material for the album's physical formats.[13] [14]

On 31 March, Goulding released the songs "Midnight Dreams", "Cure for Love", "Love Goes On" and "Higher Than Heaven" on digital platforms in conjunction with her appearance on the Amazon Freevee concert film Monumental; making the first 8 tracks of the album available.[15] [16] [17] [18]

On 7 April, the day of the album's release, Goulding released a music video for "Better Man", directed by Tom Sandford.[19] [20]

Higher Than Heaven Tour

Artist:Ellie Goulding
Album:Higher Than Heaven
Number Of Legs:1
Number Of Shows:12
Location:Europe
Last Tour:Brightest Blue Tour
(2021)
This Tour:Higher Than Heaven Tour
(2023)
Support Act:Olivia Lunny

In support of the album, Goulding announced European dates for the Higher Than Heaven Tour:[21] She also announced shows in the United States, accompanied by an orchestra.[22]

Set listThis set list is taken from the show at 3Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland on 16 October 2023.[23] It does not represent all shows on this tour.

  1. "Better Man"
  2. "Let It Die"
  3. "Outside"
  4. "Love Goes On"
  5. "Power"
  6. "By the End of the Night"
  7. "How Deep Is Too Deep"
  8. "Frozen" (Madonna cover)
  9. "Halcyon"
  10. "Starry Eyed"
  11. "Midnight Dreams"
  12. "Anything Could Happen"
  13. "Brightest Blue"
  14. "Still Falling for You"
  15. "Lights"
  16. "Miracle"
  17. "Joy"
  18. "Somebody"
  19. "Higher Than Heaven"
  20. "Animal"
  21. "I Need Your Love"

Encore

  1. "Love Me like You Do"
  2. "Burn"

Notes

Critical reception

Higher Than Heaven received generally favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received a weighted average score of 77, based on seven reviews - Goulding's highest-rated album of her career. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album a 6.7 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

Katie Bain from Billboard praised Goulding decision of "trading straightforward confessions for slick, textural dance pop and lyrical sweet nothings about dim lights and easy lovers", stating that Goulding "delivered one of her best (and most club-friendly) albums to date". As well dubbing Goulding as "one of the defining voices of dance music over the last decade".

Tomás Mier for Rolling Stone praised Goulding decision of making a "fun, escapist pop" record that "remind listeners of Goulding’s pop prowess", instead of going into an introspective route like most of her peers did in recent years.

Higher Than Heaven was named one of the best albums of the year by Rolling Stone,[24] and Billboard,[25] on their mid-year lists.

Rankings

Publication! scope="col"
AccoladeRankRef.
AllMusicThe Best Pop Albums of 2023Listed[26]
Rolling StoneThe Best Albums of 2023 So FarListed
Pop Passion10 Best Pop Albums of 202310[27]
BillboardThe 50 Best Albums Of 2023 So Far: Staff PicksListed

Commercial performance

In the United Kingdom, Higher Than Heaven debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, shifting 11,818 album-equivalent units in its first week, the lowest of any of her albums.[28] It became Goulding's fourth chart-topping album in the country, tying with Adele as the two British female artists with the most number one albums.[29] In the same week, her single "Miracle", a collaboration with Calvin Harris, reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, earning Goulding her first "chart double", although "Miracle" does not feature on Higher Than Heaven.[28] [29] [30] Higher Than Heaven only spent two weeks on the UK Album Charts, becoming her shortest running album, to date. In the second week, the album dropped from number one to number 84 making it one of the few number-one albums to spend only one week in the top 75.[31] [32] In Scotland, the album also debuted at number one on the Scottish Albums Chart, becoming her second chart-topper, and first since Halcyon (2012). The record had a better chart-running staying on the charts from three weeks inside the top 75. Meanwhile, In Ireland, the record became Goulding's lowest charting album to date, and her first effort to miss the top-ten, peaking at number 97 on the Irish Album Chart.[33]

In the United States, Higher Than Heaven debuted at number 125 on the Billboard 200, becoming Goulding's lowest charting effort, to date.[34]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[35] 15
Australian Physical Albums (ARIA)38
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[36] 47

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Edition(s)Label
Various7 April 2023StandardPolydor[37]
Deluxe[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ellie Goulding: Higher Than Heaven review — sex, drugs and no personal revelations. 7 April 2023. Potton. Ed. https://archive.today/20230407044003/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ellie-goulding-higher-than-heaven-new-album-review-hppnm6fgs. 7 April 2023. live. The Times. 7 April 2023.
  2. Web site: Ellie Goulding brings us dance-floor delight, HMLTD is as eccentric as ever – the week's best albums. McCormick. Neil. Neil McCormick. 11 tracks of gleaming nu-disco, upgraded '80s synth pop and sleek electronic dance-music concocted with teams of established hitmakers. 7 April 2023. 7 April 2023. The Daily Telegraph. 7 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230407150919/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-albums-of-the-week-ellie-goulding/. live.
  3. Web site: Ellie Goulding pushes back release date of new album Higher Than Heaven due to sourcing issues . . 1 March 2023 . 6 April 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406131032/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ellie-goulding-pushes-back-release-date-of-new-album-higher-than-heaven-due-to-sourcing-issues__38660/ . live .
  4. News: Clarke. Naomi. Ellie Goulding reveals release date for her fifth studio album. Evening Standard. 19 October 2022. 27 November 2022. 3 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221103004928/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/ellie-goulding-lights-b1033908.html. live.
  5. News: D'Souza . Shaad . 2023-04-04 . 'It's my least personal album!' Thank you, Ellie Goulding, for making pop escapist again . 2024-07-29 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  6. Web site: Ellie Goulding: Higher Than Heaven review - her least personal album is probably her most fun Ellie Goulding . 2024-07-29 . The Line of Best Fit . en-US.
  7. Web site: Smyth . David . 2023-04-07 . Ellie Goulding: Higher Than Heaven album review: only good vibes here . 2024-07-29 . Evening Standard . en.
  8. Web site: Skinner . Tom . Ellie Goulding announces fifth album 'Higher Than Heaven' . . 20 February 2023 . en . 20 October 2022 . 14 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230114143638/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/ellie-goulding-announces-fifth-album-higher-than-heaven-new-single-let-it-die-listen-3332545 . live.
  9. Tomás . Mier . Ellie Goulding Spills Secrets Behind Her New Album, Motherhood, and Her Best Unreleased Songs . . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406095708/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ellie-goulding-interview-higher-than-heaven-femininty-1234701792/ . 6 April 2023 . 23 March 2023.
  10. Web site: Ellie Goulding Announces New Album Higher Than Heaven Out 3rd February 2023 . Universal Music Canada . 6 April 2023 . 19 October 2022 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406140108/https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/ellie-goulding-announces-new-album-higher-than-heaven-out-3rd-february-2023/ . live .
  11. Web site: Aubrey . Elizabeth . Ellie Goulding delays release of new album 'Higher Than Heaven' . . 6 April 2023 . en-AU . 10 January 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406131559/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/ellie-goulding-delays-release-new-album-higher-than-heaven-3378258 . live .
  12. Bowenbank . Starr . Ellie Goulding Delays 'Higher Than Heaven' Album Release . Billboard . 20 February 2023 . 10 January 2023 . 21 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121032352/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ellie-goulding-album-release-delayed-higher-than-heaven-1235196656/ . live .
  13. 1630585084112785409 . elliegoulding . ... so we've worked really hard to stick to that promise. As a result and due to delays in sourcing these products, we have to push back the release ever so slightly to April 7 just so we can get these beautiful products to you as soon as possible. . Goulding, Ellie . 28 February 2023 . 28 February 2023.
  14. Web site: Ellie Goulding's new album Higher Than Heaven will arrive two weeks late . . 6 April 2023 . en . 1 March 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406131032/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ellie-goulding-pushes-back-release-date-of-new-album-higher-than-heaven-due-to-sourcing-issues__38660/ . live .
  15. Web site: Midnight Dreams . . 6 April 2023 . en . 31 March 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406131601/https://open.spotify.com/album/6VFJSjwJRS5qMf9z2FaxAP?si=f_xhwBJGRke4FAiRkMFmbQ . live .
  16. Web site: Cure For Love . . 6 April 2023 . en . 31 March 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406131600/https://open.spotify.com/album/2KU9xbHp3q7e3xzv8yYIVE?si=keCw2pUGTm-48_cTqUujIA . live .
  17. Web site: Love Goes On . . 6 April 2023 . en . 31 March 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406131600/https://open.spotify.com/album/7KMUX6nlGTLhwR6ak11ndi?si=s3Cs8odmS9qn-vvlRr0qvQ . live .
  18. Web site: Higher Than Heaven . . 6 April 2023 . en . 31 March 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406131559/https://open.spotify.com/album/5NoumVwpAYQdSDo6DEknjZ?si=_rULJaiBQRaEtPp3ci0Q5w . live .
  19. Web site: Ellie Goulding - Better Man . . 7 April 2023 . en . 7 April 2023 . 7 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407145013/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILCOtajKDoM&feature=youtu.be . live .
  20. Web site: Better Man by Ellie Goulding on TIDAL . 7 April 2023 . . 7 April 2023 . 7 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407141758/https://tidal.com/browse/video/287910770 . live .
  21. Web site: Krol . Charlotte . 30 March 2023 . Ellie Goulding announces 2023 UK and Ireland 'Higher Than Heaven' tour . 4 April 2023. NME. 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404163156/https://www.nme.com/news/music/ellie-goulding-announces-2023-uk-and-ireland-higher-than-heaven-tour-buy-tickets-3423155 . live .
  22. Web site: 2023-09-06 . Ellie Goulding to play US shows with orchestra this November . 2023-10-17 . 97.9 WRMF . en-US.
  23. Web site: Ellie Goulding Setlist at 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin . 2023-10-17 . setlist.fm . en.
  24. The Best Albums of 2023 So Far. Rolling Stone. 13 June 2023. 9 July 2023. 1 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230701153906/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-2023-so-far-1234766016/. dead.
  25. The 50 Best Albums Of 2023 So Far: Staff Picks. Billboard. 20 June 2023. 9 July 2023.
  26. Web site: The Best Pop Albums of 2023 AllMusic 2023 in Review . 2024-10-02 . AllMusic . en.
  27. Web site: Nicole . Kaitlyn . 2023-12-14 . 10 Best Pop Albums of 2023 . 2024-07-29 . Pop Passion Blog . en.
  28. Web site: Charts analysis: Ellie Goulding secures first chart double with fourth No.1 album. Jones. Alan. Music Week. 14 April 2023. 16 April 2023. 16 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230416150441/https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/charts-analysis-ellie-goulding-secures-first-chart-double-with-fourth-no-1-album/087739. live.
  29. Web site: Ellie Goulding's Higher Than Heaven and Calvin Harris collab Miracle are Number 1: Official Chart Double. Griffiths. George. Official Charts Company. 14 April 2023. 16 April 2023. 15 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230415215708/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ellie-gouldings-higher-than-heaven-and-calvin-harris-collab-miracle-are-number-1-official-chart-double-__39042/. live.
  30. Web site: Polydor scores third consecutive No.1 album as Ellie Goulding does the chart double. Paine. Andre. Music Week. 14 April 2023. 16 April 2023. 16 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230416061912/https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/polydor-scores-third-consecutive-no-1-album-as-ellie-goulding-does-the-chart-double/087741. live.
  31. Web site: 2023-04-20 . HIGHER THAN HEAVEN . 2024-08-10 . Official Charts . en.
  32. Web site: 2023-04-23 . Official Albums Chart Top 100 on 21/4/2023 . 2024-08-10 . Official Charts . en.
  33. Web site: irishcharts.com - Discography Ellie Goulding . 2024-11-01 . www.irish-charts.com.
  34. Web site: Ellie Goulding Biography, Music & News . 2024-11-01 . Billboard . en-US.
  35. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 April 2023. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1728. 7, 10. 17 April 2023.
  36. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży: Albumy. ZPAV. pl. 20 April 2023. Select week 07.04.2023–13.04.2023.. live. 2 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230202134525/https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/albumy.
  37. Higher Than Heaven standard release formats:
    • Web site: Higher Than Heaven Cassette #1 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407200459/https://shop.elliegoulding.com/*/*/Higher-Than-Heaven-Cassette-1/7M150000000 . 7 April 2023 . 2 March 2023 . Ellie Goulding Store.
    • Web site: Higher Than Heaven CD . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407200244/https://shop.elliegoulding.com/%2A/%2A/Higher-Than-Heaven-CD/7M0W0000000 . 7 April 2023 . 2 March 2023 . Ellie Goulding Store.
    • Web site: Higher Than Heaven Digital Album . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407200220/https://shopelliegoulding.com/products/higher-than-heaven-digital-album . 7 April 2023 . 2 March 2023 . Ellie Goulding Store.
    • Web site: Higher Than Heaven by Ellie Goulding . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419015455/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/higher-than-heaven/1649386100 . 19 April 2023 . 19 April 2023 . Apple Music (UK).
    • Web site: Higher Than Heaven Black Vinyl . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230302002250/https://shop.elliegoulding.com/*/*/Higher-Than-Heaven-Black-Vinyl/7M190000000 . 2 March 2023 . 2 March 2023 . Ellie Goulding Store.
  38. Higher Than Heaven deluxe release formats:
    • Web site: Higher Than Heaven (Deluxe) CD . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230408022813/https://shop.elliegoulding.com/%2A/%2A/Higher-Than-Heaven-Deluxe-CD/7M0Y0000000 . 8 April 2023 . 2 March 2023 . Ellie Goulding Store.
    • Web site: Higher Than Heaven (Deluxe) by Ellie Goulding . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407195301/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/higher-than-heaven-deluxe/1649973108 . 7 April 2023 . 2 March 2023 . Apple Music (UK).

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