Sixteen (Ellie Goulding song) explained

"Sixteen" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding, released as a single through Polydor Records on 12 April 2019.^[1] It appears as an international bonus track on the digital and streaming edition of her fourth studio album Brightest Blue.^[2] It was co-written by Goulding with Raye and Fred, and produced by Ian Kirkpatrick, Fred and Mike Wise. Goulding has said the song is about the "reckless days of adolescence".^[3]

Composition

"Sixteen" is a pop, EDM and dance-pop ballad with an electronic beat that speaks about the "reckless days of adolescence".^{[4] [5] [3]} It is written in the key of A-flat major with a tempo of 110 beats per minute.^[6]

Promotion

Goulding announced the song on social media on 11 April 2019, also posting that she compiled the cover artwork from friends' photos of when they were sixteen years of age.^[7]

Music video

The music video directed by Tim Mattia was released on April 17, 2019, reflecting on Goulding's teenage years, focusing on her and a friend bunking off school to steal alcohol, smoke cannabis, get tattoos, and meet boys at an arcade.^{[8] [9] [10]}

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Canadian Hot Digital Songs (Billboard)[11]	44
China Airplay/FL (Billboard)[12]	16
Ireland (IRMA)[13]	20
Lithuania (AGATA)[14]	35
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[15]	8

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label
<	-- Do not change to "Worldwide", as no music platform is available in every country -->Various	12 April 2019		Original	Polydor
Italy	Contemporary hit radio		Universal		[16]
United Kingdom			Polydor		[17]
Various	10 May 2019			Don Diablo Remix	[18]
	31 May 2019			99 Souls Remix	[19]
	14 June 2019			Acoustic	[20]

Notes and References

1. 1116309466088189952. elliegoulding. Tomorrow. . 11 April 2019.
2. Web site: Ellie Goulding的《Brightest Blue》. 2020-07-16. Apple Music. zh-hk.
3. Web site: Ellie Goulding torna con il singolo Sixteen. Prima Radio. Italian. 11 April 2019. 12 April 2019. 24 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924012814/https://www.primaradio.net/2019/04/11/ellie-goulding-singolo-sixteen/. dead.
4. Web site: Don Diablo drops fresh remix of Ellie Goulding track 'Sixteen'. We Rave You. 11 May 2019. 15 May 2019.
5. Web site: Ellie Goulding's 'Sixteen' Is A Nostalgic Dance-Pop Anthem. Gilke. Chloe. Uproxx. 12 April 2019. 12 May 2019.
6. https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0195655 Ellie Goulding "Sixteen" Sheet Music in Ab major
7. 1116326639401603075. elliegoulding. I asked my friends to send photos from when they were 16 this single's artwork, it was so much fun putting this tog… . 11 April 2019. 11 April 2019.
8. Web site: Ellie Goulding Celebrates Youth With Her "Sixteen" Music Video. Idolator. Mike. Nied. April 17, 2019.
9. Ellie Goulding Reflects on Her Teenage Years in 'Sixteen' Music Video: Watch. Billboard. Rania. Aniftos. April 17, 2019.
10. See Ellie Goulding Celebrate Her Teenage Friendship in 'Sixteen' Video. Rolling Stone. Claire. Shaffer. April 17, 2019.
11. Ellie Goulding – Chart history (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales). Billboard. 26 July 2019.
12. Web site: China Airplay Chart/Foreign Language - 29/04/2019. Billboard China. Chinese. May 9, 2019. 2019-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190509185254/http://www.billboardchina.cn/top/radiocharts/2019-04-29.html. dead.
13. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 25 May 2019.
14. Web site: Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). Lithuanian. AGATA. 17 May 2019. 4 December 2019.
15. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 22 April 2019. 20 April 2019.
16. Web site: Ellie Goulding - Sixteen (Radio Date: 12-04-2019). April 12, 2019.
17. Web site: Radio 1 Playlist. https://web.archive.org/web/20190412194220/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3tqPdBWF9yMbTrfjWvfKV8t/radio-1-playlist. April 12, 2019. BBC. 12 November 2019.
18. Web site: Sixteen (Don Diablo Remix) - Single by Ellie Goulding. 10 May 2019.
19. Web site: Sixteen (99 Souls Remix) - Single by Ellie Goulding. 31 May 2019.
20. Web site: Sixteen (Acoustic) - Single by Ellie Goulding. 14 June 2019.