A&E (song)
Encyclopedia
"A&E" is a song performed by British duo Goldfrapp
. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp
and Will Gregory
for the duo's fourth album Seventh Tree
(2008). It was released as the album's first single
on 11 February 2008.
and Will Gregory in 2007 in a recording studio near Somerset
, England. 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." According to Goldfrapp, the song is a metaphor
for a horrible relationship. The track describes 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."
. The video features Alison Goldfrapp in a forest wearing a white dress. It begins with Goldfrapp lying in a clearing, looking up at the camera. She is soon joined by several leaf-men who dance around her as she sings. Mid-way through the video, day turns into night and Goldfrapp is joined by several woodland
creatures. The video concludes with Will Gregory playing a guitar and making tea beside an orange tent.
The video premiered on 12 January 2008 on Channel 4
in the UK. 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
. Pitchfork Media reviewer Marc Hogan wrote that the video was a "good fit for Goldfrapp's bright, folksy turn" and praised its "twist ending."
reviewer Nick Levine described "A&E" as "lush, folky and organic" and wrote that Alison Goldfrapp's vocals were "full of longing and slow-burning sexuality". Popjustice
described the song as "brilliant". Alex Denney of Drowned in Sound
was less impressed, writing that "the sparks...fail to fly".
The song appeared at number 73 on Pitchfork Media's Top 100 Best Tracks of 2008 list.
on 12 February 2008 at number eighteen. The following week the song reached its peak position at number ten and spent eight weeks on the UK Top 75. The single sold 66,250 copies in the UK during 2008, finishing the year as the 157th best-selling single in the UK. Outside of the UK, the song was not especially successful but did chart. It reached number thirty-three in Ireland
and became Goldfrapp's fourth top fifty single on the singles chart. In Germany, the song became Goldfrapp's second single to chart where it reached number ninety-eight.
The track reached number sixty-five on the Eurochart Hot 100
. It also reached number twelve on the Euro Digital Tracks chart and number fourteen on the Digital Songs chart. In the United States, "A&E" reached number one in the Billboard
Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart and number two on Hot Singles Sales
chart.
UK CD single #1
(CDMUTE389; Released 11 February 2008)
UK CD single #2 / Digital EP #1
(LCDMUTE389; Released 11 February 2008)
UK 7" Picture disc
(Limited edition; MUTE389; Released 11 February 2008)
U.S. CD maxi-single
(MUTE9380 ; Released 12 February 2008)
Digital EP#2
Promotional CD
(RCDMute389; Released December 2007)
Promotional Club CD
(PCDMute389; Released December 2007)
U.S iTunes EP
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
and Will Gregory
Will Gregory
William Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer...
for the duo's fourth album Seventh Tree
Seventh Tree
Seventh Tree is the fourth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp, released in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2008 by Mute Records and the day after in the United States....
(2008). It was released as the album's first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on 11 February 2008.
Background and writing
"A&E" was composed as a collaborative effort between Alison GoldfrappAlison Goldfrapp
Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
and Will Gregory in 2007 in a recording studio near Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. Its lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
were inspired by Goldfrapp's visit to the emergency department
Emergency department
An emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
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." According to Goldfrapp, the song is a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for a horrible relationship. The track describes 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."
Music video
The music video for "A&E" was directed by Dougal WilsonDougal Wilson
Dougal Wilson is a director of commercials and music videos.Wilson was born in Heswall, England. After studying astrophysics at Durham University, he worked as a copywriter at the Leith advertising agency in Edinburgh before moving to London to pursue a career as a director.His music videos...
. The video features Alison Goldfrapp in a forest wearing a white dress. It begins with Goldfrapp lying in a clearing, looking up at the camera. She is soon joined by several leaf-men who dance around her as she sings. Mid-way through the video, day turns into night and Goldfrapp is joined by several woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
creatures. The video concludes with Will Gregory playing a guitar and making tea beside an orange tent.
The video premiered on 12 January 2008 on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in the UK. In a review for Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
, Alex Denney described the video as "weird" and compared it to music videos by Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
and The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy troupe featuring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Developed from three stage shows and a six episode radio series, it has since spawned a total of twenty television episodes for BBC Three and two live tours of the UK, as well as two live shows in the...
. Pitchfork Media reviewer Marc Hogan wrote that the video was a "good fit for Goldfrapp's bright, folksy turn" and praised its "twist ending."
Critical reception
"A&E" received positive reviews from music critics. John Murphy in a review for MusicOMH.com called the song "a beautifully paced ballad, with a memorable hook...which buries its way into your head after just a couple of listens". Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
reviewer Nick Levine described "A&E" as "lush, folky and organic" and wrote that Alison Goldfrapp's vocals were "full of longing and slow-burning sexuality". Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
described the song as "brilliant". Alex Denney of Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
was less impressed, writing that "the sparks...fail to fly".
The song appeared at number 73 on Pitchfork Media's Top 100 Best Tracks of 2008 list.
Chart performance
"A&E" entered the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on 12 February 2008 at number eighteen. The following week the song reached its peak position at number ten and spent eight weeks on the UK Top 75. The single sold 66,250 copies in the UK during 2008, finishing the year as the 157th best-selling single in the UK. Outside of the UK, the song was not especially successful but did chart. It reached number thirty-three in Ireland
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
and became Goldfrapp's fourth top fifty single on the singles chart. In Germany, the song became Goldfrapp's second single to chart where it reached number ninety-eight.
The track reached number sixty-five on the Eurochart Hot 100
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles
The European Hot 100 Singles has been compiled by Billboard and Music & Media magazine since March, 1984. The chart is based on national singles sales charts in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,...
. It also reached number twelve on the Euro Digital Tracks chart and number fourteen on the Digital Songs chart. In the United States, "A&E" reached number one in the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart and number two on Hot Singles Sales
Hot 100 Singles Sales
The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the...
chart.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "A&E".UK CD single #1
(CDMUTE389; Released 11 February 2008)
- "A&E" – 3:19
- "Clowns" (Super 8) – music video
UK CD single #2 / Digital EP #1
(LCDMUTE389; Released 11 February 2008)
- "A&E" – 3:19
- "A&E" (Gui Boratto Remix) – 7:02
- "A&E" (Gui Boratto Dub) – 7:20
- "A&E" (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) – 7:06
UK 7" Picture disc
(Limited edition; MUTE389; Released 11 February 2008)
- "A&E" – 3:19
- "A&E" (Maps Instrumental Remix) – 5:36
U.S. CD maxi-single
(MUTE9380 ; Released 12 February 2008)
- "A&E" (Album Version) – 3:19
- "A&E" (Maps Instrumental Remix) – 5:36
- "A&E" (Gui Boratto Remix) – 7:02
- "A&E" (Gui Boratto Dub) – 7:20
- "A&E" (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) – 7:06
Digital EP#2
- "A&E" – 3:19
- "A&E" (Maps Instrumental Remix) – 5:36
- "A&E" (Maps Remix) – 5:37
Promotional CD
(RCDMute389; Released December 2007)
- "A&E" (Single Version) – 3:19
Promotional Club CD
(PCDMute389; Released December 2007)
- "A&E" (Single Version) – 3:19
- "A&E" (Maps Remix) – 5:37
- "A&E" (Maps Instrumental Remix) – 5:36
- "A&E" (Gui Boratto Remix) – 7:02
- "A&E" (Gui Boratto Dub) – 7:20
- "A&E" (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) – 7:06
U.S iTunes EP
- (Single Version) – 3:19
- (Maps Remix) – 5:35
- (Maps Instrumental Mix) – 5:36
- (Gui Boratto Remix) – 7:02
- (Gui Boratto Dub) – 7:20
- (Hercules and Love Affair Remix) – 7:06
Personnel
The following people contributed to "A&E":- Alison Goldfrapp – vocals
- Nick Batt – drum programming
- Flood – guitar, keyboards, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Denny Weston Jr. – drums
- Steve Evans – acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
- Justin Meldal-JohnsenJustin Meldal-JohnsenJustin Meldal-Johnsen is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work with Grammy Award-winning artist Beck. He served as the touring bassist for Nine Inch Nails during their final tours.-Recording career:...
– bass - Ruth Wall – harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
samples - Bill Mims, Tony Hoffer – engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Stephen Marcussen – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Serge Leblon – photography
Charts
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
85 |
| Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... |
38 |
| Euro Digital Songs | 14 |
| Euro Digital Tracks | 12 |
| European Singles Chart Eurochart Hot 100 Singles The European Hot 100 Singles has been compiled by Billboard and Music & Media magazine since March, 1984. The chart is based on national singles sales charts in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,... |
65 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
98 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
33 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
10 |
| U.S Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
22 |
| U.S Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes... |
1 |
| U.S Billboard Hot Singles Sales Hot 100 Singles Sales The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the... |
2 |
End of year
| Country (2008) | Position (Year End Singles Chart) |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 157 |