Ellie Goulding has cemented her place as one of the most iconic voices in contemporary pop music. The English singer-songwriter and activist has delivered a remarkable catalog of best Ellie Goulding songs of all time that spans over a decade of chart-topping anthems, emotional ballads, and dancefloor bangers. Whether you are revisiting her earliest records or keeping up with her newest releases, this guide covers every must-hear track in her discography — perfect for listening through quality headphones or your favorite earbuds.
Love Me Like You Do
“Love Me Like You Do” is arguably the most globally recognized song in Ellie Goulding’s catalog, released in 2015 as part of the Fifty Shades of Grey Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The song reached number one in multiple countries, including the UK, Ireland, Australia, and several European nations, making it one of the biggest crossover pop ballads of the decade. Written by Ellie Goulding alongside a team of songwriters including Max Martin and Savan Kotecha, its sweeping production and emotionally charged vocals perfectly capture the tension and desire central to the film’s narrative.
Lights
“Lights” is the song that truly introduced Ellie Goulding to the world, released on her debut album of the same name in 2010. The track became an anthem of its era, particularly after it gained massive traction in the United States following its inclusion on various TV shows and its viral spread through social media. The shimmering, ethereal synth-pop arrangement paired with Goulding’s signature breathy vocal style created a sound that felt entirely fresh and defined her early artistic identity.
My Blood
“My Blood” is a standout track from Ellie Goulding’s second studio album Halcyon, released in 2012, and represents a deeper, more introspective side of her songwriting. The song layers rich electronic textures with deeply personal lyrics that explore themes of love, loyalty, and emotional dependency. It was embraced by fans as one of the more underrated gems in her catalog, showcasing her ability to craft songs that balance vulnerability with sonic power.
Burn
Released in 2013 as the lead single from Halcyon Days, “Burn” became one of Ellie Goulding’s biggest commercial successes, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The song’s soaring chorus and pulsing electro-pop production made it a stadium-ready anthem, earning it extensive radio play across Europe and North America. Co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, “Burn” showcased a bolder, more confident musical direction for Goulding as she stepped into arena pop territory.
Anything Could Happen
“Anything Could Happen” was released as the lead single from Halcyon in 2012 and became an uplifting declaration of hope and new beginnings. The song’s optimistic tone, combined with its infectious chorus and tribal-influenced percussion, made it an immediate fan favorite that performed strongly in the UK and internationally. It captures a pivotal emotional moment in Goulding’s life and career, reflecting on personal growth and the courage to embrace uncertainty with open arms.
Hate Me
“Hate Me” was released in 2020 as part of Ellie Goulding’s fourth studio album Brightest Blue, featuring a collaboration with Juice WRLD that bridged pop and rap in a compelling way. The song deals with the emotional complexity of a dissolving relationship, capturing the pain and frustration of still caring for someone who has caused you harm. Tragically, Juice WRLD passed away before the song’s release, giving it an added layer of emotional resonance for fans of both artists and making it one of the most poignant tracks on the album.
Close to Me
“Close to Me” from the Brightest Blue album, released in 2020 in collaboration with Diplo and Swae Lee, is a high-energy pop and electronic track built around themes of desire and intimacy. The song’s infectious production, driven by Diplo’s masterful beatmaking, gave it strong crossover appeal across pop, dance, and electronic music audiences. It performed well on streaming platforms worldwide and introduced Goulding’s fourth album era to a broader international audience seeking danceable yet emotionally resonant music.
Still Falling For You
“Still Falling For You” was released in 2016 for the Bridget Jones’s Baby Original Soundtrack and became one of Goulding’s most beloved ballads. The song captures the exhilarating feeling of falling deeply in love all over again, delivered through Goulding’s characteristically ethereal vocals set against a lush orchestral pop arrangement. It resonated not just with fans of the iconic Bridget Jones franchise but with general audiences who connected deeply with its universal message of rediscovering love. Listening to it through high-quality earbuds truly elevates the emotional impact of every layer in the production.
Beating Heart
“Beating Heart” appeared on Halcyon in 2012 and was also featured prominently in the film Divergent (2014), which brought it to an entirely new generation of listeners. The song is a tender, restrained ballad that stands in contrast to some of Goulding’s more electrified material, leaning into acoustic-leaning textures and heartfelt lyricism. Its placement in a major Hollywood franchise helped it become one of the defining songs associated with both the Divergent series and the emotional coming-of-age themes the film explored.
On My Mind
“On My Mind” was released in 2015 as a single from Delirium and became one of Ellie Goulding’s most commercially successful tracks in that era, reaching the top ten in the UK and charting internationally. The song features a driving synth-pop production paired with candid lyrics that many fans and media outlets interpreted as referencing her past relationship with musician Ed Sheeran, though Goulding neither confirmed nor denied the connection. Its combination of personal narrative and polished pop production made it one of the most talked-about tracks of her Delirium campaign.
Starry Eyed
“Starry Eyed” was one of the early defining singles from Ellie Goulding’s debut Lights album in 2010 and helped establish her as a distinctive force in UK indie pop. The song’s quirky, layered production and whimsical lyrics about obsessive romantic attraction set it apart from the typical pop landscape of the time. It received widespread critical praise and remains one of the tracks most associated with the early, raw, and experimental phase of her career that first captured the imagination of listeners worldwide.
Worry About Me
“Worry About Me,” featured on Brightest Blue (2020), is a collaborative single with blackbear that takes a confident, self-assured stance on moving forward after heartbreak. The song’s sparse, minimalist production allows Goulding’s vocal performance to take center stage, and the lyrics reflect a period of emotional growth and self-reliance. It received strong streaming numbers and was appreciated for its honest portrayal of learning to prioritize your own mental and emotional health over lingering in unhealthy relationships.
Your Song
Ellie Goulding’s cover of Elton John’s timeless classic “Your Song” was released on the Lights album in 2010 and quickly became a signature moment in her early career. Her delicate, intimate rendition stripped back the original’s orchestral grandeur and replaced it with a modern acoustic-electronic arrangement that felt entirely her own while still honoring the song’s classic status. The cover introduced her voice to an entirely new generation of listeners and demonstrated her ability to interpret emotionally resonant material with authenticity and grace.
All by Myself
Ellie Goulding’s rendition of “All by Myself” was included in a compilation album in 2022 and reminded listeners just how extraordinary her vocal range truly is. Originally made famous by Celine Dion in 1996, Goulding’s interpretation brings a raw, stripped-back quality that leans into vulnerability rather than theatrical showmanship. The performance was widely praised on social media and streaming platforms for its emotional depth and technical precision, sparking renewed appreciation for her vocal capabilities among both long-time fans and newcomers to her work.
How Long Will I Love You
“How Long Will I Love You” is a deeply romantic ballad that Ellie Goulding recorded for the film About Time (2013) and has since become one of her most beloved and enduring recordings. The song, originally written and recorded by The Waterboys, was reimagined by Goulding with a tender, minimal production that allowed her voice and the emotional weight of the lyrics to carry the full impact. It became a popular choice for weddings and romantic occasions, consistently appearing on curated lists of the most emotionally moving love songs in contemporary music. Fans looking to explore more emotionally resonant songs across genres will find this track a perfect starting point.
Hanging On
“Hanging On,” from the Halcyon album (2012), originally appeared as a collaboration with Active Child but found a wider audience through Goulding’s solo recordings and live performances. The song captures the sensation of being emotionally suspended between holding on and letting go in a relationship, rendered through haunting vocals and a shimmering electronic backdrop. It remains one of the more critically admired tracks from the Halcyon era and is frequently cited by music journalists as evidence of Goulding’s ability to create atmospheric, emotionally layered pop music.
First Time
“First Time” was released in 2017 as part of the Stargazing EP and marked a vibrant, joyful entry in Goulding’s discography that celebrated new love with infectious energy. The track features punchy production and an upbeat tempo that made it a radio-friendly hit while still retaining the personal touch that characterizes her best work. It performed well on streaming services and was praised for offering a lighter, more celebratory contrast to some of the more emotionally heavy material she had released in the years prior.
Something in the Way You Move
Taken from the Delirium album (2015), “Something in the Way You Move” is a sweeping electro-pop ballad that channels classic pop romanticism through a modern sonic lens. The track features one of Goulding’s most confident and controlled vocal performances on the album, navigating its emotional peaks and valleys with impressive technical skill and artistic sensitivity. It stands as one of the deeper cuts from Delirium that rewards repeated listening and demonstrates the full breadth of creative ambition Goulding brought to that record.
Midnight Dreams
“Midnight Dreams” is one of the more recent additions to Ellie Goulding’s catalog, appearing on her 2023 album Higher Than Heaven. The song reflects a more mature, reflective dimension of her songwriting, drawing on themes of nostalgia, longing, and the beauty found in quiet, intimate moments shared between two people. It received positive critical reception and was noted as one of the album’s emotional cornerstones, demonstrating that Goulding continues to evolve as a songwriter and artist even as her career enters its second decade.
I Adore You
“I Adore You,” released in 2024 as part of the Ladies Night Out project, is one of Ellie Goulding’s most recent singles and showcases the continued evolution of her sound into a more sophisticated, emotionally nuanced pop landscape. The track blends warm synth textures with an intimate vocal delivery that feels both timeless and distinctly contemporary, signaling that Goulding remains firmly at the creative forefront of modern pop music. It has already generated considerable excitement among her fanbase and music media as a preview of what promises to be another compelling new chapter in her remarkable career.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ellie Goulding’s most famous song?
“Love Me Like You Do” is widely considered Ellie Goulding’s most famous song globally, having reached number one in numerous countries following its release as part of the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack in 2015. The track remains her highest-charting and most-streamed song to date and is the first track most new listeners discover when exploring her catalog.
What album did “Lights” appear on?
“Lights” appeared on Ellie Goulding’s debut studio album of the same name, released in 2010. The album also spawned other early hits including “Starry Eyed” and “Your Song,” establishing Goulding as one of the most exciting new voices in UK pop and indie music at the time.
Has Ellie Goulding released new music recently?
Yes, Ellie Goulding has continued releasing new music in recent years. Her 2023 album Higher Than Heaven included tracks such as “Midnight Dreams,” and in 2024 she released “I Adore You” as part of the Ladies Night Out project, demonstrating that she remains an active and creatively energetic force in contemporary pop music.
What genre is Ellie Goulding?
Ellie Goulding is primarily classified as a pop and electropop artist, though her music incorporates elements of indie pop, synthpop, dance, and folk. Her sound has evolved considerably across her five studio albums, moving from the organic, acoustic-influenced textures of her debut toward increasingly polished and electronic-driven productions in later records.
Is Ellie Goulding also an activist?
Yes, Ellie Goulding is widely recognized not only as a singer-songwriter but also as an environmental and social activist. She has been involved in numerous campaigns related to mental health awareness, climate change, and wildlife conservation, and is a United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador.