A&E (song)

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For the Clean Bandit song, see A+E (song).

"A&E"
Goldfrapp - A&E.png
Single by Goldfrapp
from the album Seventh Tree
Released11 February 2008 (2008-02-11)
Recorded2006–2007
Genre
Length3:19
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Alison Goldfrapp
  • Will Gregory
  • Flood (co.)
Goldfrapp singles chronology
"Satin Boys, Flaming Chic"
(2006) 		"A&E"
(2008) 		"Happiness"
(2008)
Alternative cover
CD single #2
CD single #2

"A&E" is a song by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp from their fourth studio album, Seventh Tree (2008). The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with co-production handled by Flood. It was released as the album's lead single on 11 February 2008.[3]

Background and writing[]

"A&E" was composed as a collaborative effort between Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory in 2007 in a recording studio near Somerset, England.[4] Its lyrics were inspired by Goldfrapp's visit to the emergency department of a hospital on a Saturday afternoon. The doctors "pumped [her] up with loads of painkillers" and she described the situation as a "bit surreal."[citation needed] The track finds Goldfrapp reflecting on a bad situation which resulted in an "accident and emergency" (A&E). The situation made her "feel blue", and at the end of the song she concludes that finally "the pain has started to slip away", even though she admits there might be "pills at work."[5]

Critical reception[]

"A&E" received positive reviews from music critics. John Murphy of musicOMH called the song "a beautifully paced ballad, with a memorable hook [...] which buries its way into your head after just a couple of listens".[6] Digital Spy reviewer Nick Levine described "A&E" as "lush, folky and [...] organic" and wrote that Goldfrapp's vocals were "full of longing and slow-burning sexuality".[7] Popjustice described the song as "fucking brilliant".[8] Alex Denney of Drowned in Sound was less impressed, writing that "the sparks [...] fail to fly".[9]

The song appeared at number 73 on Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Tracks of 2008" list.[10]

Commercial performance[]

"A&E" debuted at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 16 February 2008.[11] The following week the song reached its peak position at number 10 and spent nine weeks on the chart.[12] Elsewhere, the track saw modest chart success. "A&E" debuted and peaked at number 33 on the Irish Singles Chart,[13] while reaching number 38 in Belgium, number 85 in Australia number 98 in Germany.[14][15]

The single reached number 65 on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.[16] It also reached number 12 on the Euro Digital Tracks chart and number 14 on the Euro Digital Songs chart.[17][18] In the United States, "A&E" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales chart and number two on Hot Singles Sales chart.[19][20]

Music video[]

The music video for "A&E" was directed by Dougal Wilson which, in sharp contrast to the song's hospital theming, is more nature-themed than the song.[21] The video is set in a forest and opens with Goldfrapp in a white dress lying in a clearing, looking up at the camera. She is soon joined by several leaf-men who dance around her as she sings. Midway through the video, day turns into night and Goldfrapp is joined by several woodland creatures. The video concludes with Gregory playing a guitar and making tea beside an orange tent.

The video premiered on 12 January 2008 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.[22] In a review for Drowned in Sound, Alex Denney described the video as "weird" and compared it to music videos by Kate Bush and The Mighty Boosh.[9] Pitchfork reviewer Marc Hogan wrote that the video was a "good fit for Goldfrapp's bright, folksy turn" and praised its "twist ending".[21]

Track listings[]

Personnel[]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Seventh Tree.[23]

Goldfrapp

Additional personnel

  • Nick Batt – additional drum programming
  • Steve Evans – acoustic guitar
  • Flood – co-production, guitar, keyboards, mixing
  • Tony Hoffer – overdub engineering
  • Serge Leblon – photography
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass
  • Bill Mims – overdub engineering
  • Ruth Wall – harp samples
  • Denny Weston, Jr. – drums

Charts[]

References[]

  1. ^ Young, Martyn (5 February 2012). "Goldfrapp – The Singles". DIY. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  2. ^ Gittins, Ian (27 November 2011). "Goldfrapp – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Goldfrapp Seventh Tree (Mute)". Music Week. 5 November 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
  4. ^ Kleinfeld, Justin (1 February 2008). "Countryside Manner". Electronic Musician. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  5. ^ Timmermans, Arjan (27 December 2007). "Goldfrapp's New Single "A&E" + Remixes". ArjanWrites.com. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  6. ^ Murphy, John (2008). "Goldfrapp – A&E (Mute)". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  7. ^ Levine, Nick (25 January 2008). "Goldfrapp: 'A&E'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Goldfrapp – 'A&E'". Popjustice. 18 January 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Denney, Alex (11 February 2008). "Single Review: Goldfrapp – A&E". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  10. ^ Orme, Mike (15 December 2008). "The 100 Best Tracks of 2008". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 10–16 February 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "Goldfrapp: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Irish-charts.com – Discography Goldfrapp". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Issue 937" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ultratop.be – Goldfrapp – A&E" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 120 no. 8. 23 February 2008. ISSN 0006-2510.
  17. ^ "A&E (Single Version) – Goldfrapp: Euro Digital Tracks". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2017.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "A&E (Single Version) – Goldfrapp: Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2017.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "Goldfrapp Chart History (Hot Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b Hogan, Marc (8 January 2008). "Video: Goldfrapp: "A & E"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  22. ^ "Goldfrapp – AandE, Seventh Tree". Berlinista. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  23. ^ Seventh Tree (liner notes). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2008. CDSTUMM280.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Goldfrapp – A&E" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  26. ^ "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  27. ^ "UK Year-end Charts 2008" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. p. 3. Retrieved 15 September 2011.

External links[]

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