"A&E"
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)

"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.[4]

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.[5][6] 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."

Writing for Pitchfork, Matthew Perpetua interpreted the song's storyline as "showcase for both her lyrical and vocal strengths...from the perspective of an incredibly lonely woman driven to a suicide attempt while waiting around for a phone call from a man she's not even sure she likes."[7]

In 2023, Goldfrapp commented "it’s so autobiographical. It’s not fantastical at all, it’s kind of [about] what happened. You know, I was in A&E in a hospital gown having a bit of a meltdown. So it does feel slightly odd now when I sing it."[8]

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".[9] 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".[10] Popjustice described the song as "fucking brilliant".[11] Alex Denney of Drowned in Sound was less impressed, writing that "the sparks [...] fail to fly".[12]

The song appeared at number 73 on Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Tracks of 2008" list.[13]

Commercial performance

"A&E" debuted at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 16 February 2008.[14] The following week the song reached its peak position at number 10 and spent nine weeks on the chart.[15] Elsewhere, the track saw modest chart success. "A&E" debuted and peaked at number 33 on the Irish Singles Chart,[16] while reaching number 38 in Belgium, number 85 in Australia number 98 in Germany.[17][18]

The single reached number 65 on the European Hot 100 Singles chart.[19] It also reached number 12 on the Euro Digital Tracks chart and number 14 on the Euro Digital Songs chart.[20][21] 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.[22][23]

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.[24] 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.[25] 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.[12] Pitchfork reviewer Marc Hogan wrote that the video was a "good fit for Goldfrapp's bright, folksy turn" and praised its "twist ending".[24]

Track listings

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Seventh Tree.[26]

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. ↑ Phares, Heather. Goldfrapp - The Singles (2012): Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Goldfrapp Seventh Tree (Mute)". Music Week. 5 November 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
  5. ↑ Kleinfeld, Justin (1 February 2008). "Countryside Manner". Electronic Musician. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Timmermans, Arjan (27 December 2007). "Goldfrapp's New Single "A&E" + Remixes". ArjanWrites.com. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  7. ↑ Perpetua, Matthew. "The Singles". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  8. ↑ Levine, Nick. "50 Questions With Alison Goldfrapp". AnOther. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  9. ↑ Murphy, John (2008). "Goldfrapp – A&E (Mute)". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  10. ↑ Levine, Nick (25 January 2008). "Goldfrapp: 'A&E'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "Goldfrapp – 'A&E'". Popjustice. 18 January 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  12. 1 2 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.
  13. ↑ Orme, Mike (15 December 2008). "The 100 Best Tracks of 2008". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  14. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 10–16 February 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Goldfrapp: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Irish-charts.com – Discography Goldfrapp". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Issue 937" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Goldfrapp – A&E" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  19. 1 2 "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 8. 23 February 2008. ISSN 0006-2510.
  20. ↑ "A&E (Single Version) – Goldfrapp: Euro Digital Tracks". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  21. ↑ "A&E (Single Version) – Goldfrapp: Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  23. 1 2 "Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 9. 1 March 2008. p. 42.
  24. 1 2 Hogan, Marc (8 January 2008). "Video: Goldfrapp: "A & E"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  25. ↑ "Goldfrapp – AandE, Seventh Tree". Berlinista. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  26. ↑ Seventh Tree (liner notes). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2008. CDSTUMM280.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ↑ "Goldfrapp – A&E" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  28. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  29. ↑ "Goldfrapp Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  30. ↑ "UK Year-end Charts 2008" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. p. 3. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
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