A&E (song)

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“A&E”
“A&E” cover
Single by Goldfrapp
from the album Seventh Tree
Released February 11, 2008 (2008-02-11)
Format CD single, Digital download, 7" picture single
Recorded 2006-2007
Genre Acoustic
Folk
Length 3:19 (Album/Single Version)
Label Mute - Mute 389
Writer(s) Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory
Producer Goldfrapp, Gregory
Goldfrapp singles chronology
"Satin Boys, Flaming Chic"
(2006)
"A&E"
(2008)
"Happiness"
(2008)
Alternate cover
CD single #2 cover
CD single #2 cover

"A&E" (short for "Accident and Emergency") is a folk-tronica 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 February 11, 2008.[1]

Contents

[edit] Music video

Alison Goldfrapp lying in a forest covered in leaves.
Alison Goldfrapp lying in a forest covered in leaves.

The music video for "A&E" was directed by Dougal Wilson.[2] 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 January 12, 2008 on Channel 4 in the UK.[3] Alex Denney in a review for Drowned in Sound described the video as "weird" and compared it to videos by Kate Bush and The Mighty Boosh.[4] Pitchfork Media's Marc Hogan wrote that the video was a "good fit for Goldfrapp's bright, folksy turn" and praised its "twist ending".[2]

[edit] 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".[5] Digital Spy 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".[6][7] Alex Denney of Drowned in Sound was less impressed, writing that "the sparks...fail to fly".[4]

[edit] Chart performance

"A&E" entered the UK Singles Chart on February 12, 2008 at number eighteen.[8] The following week the song reached its peak position at number ten[9] and spent eight weeks on the UK Top 75. To date, as of May 4, 2008, the single has sold 59,710 copies 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.[9] In Germany, the song became Goldfrapp's second single to chart where it reached number ninety-eight.[9]

The track reached number sixty-five on the Eurochart Hot 100.[10] It also reached number twelve on the Euro Digital Tracks chart and number fourteen on the Digital Songs chart.[11][12] 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.[13][14]

[edit] Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "A&E".

UK CD single #1
(CDMUTE389; Released February 11, 2008)

  1. "A&E" - 3:19
  2. "Clowns" (Super 8) - music video

UK CD single #2
(LCDMUTE389; Released February 11, 2008)

  1. "A&E" - 3:19
  2. "A&E" (Gui Boratto Remix) - 7:02
  3. "A&E" (Gui Boratto Dub) - 7:20
  4. "A&E" (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) - 7:06

UK 7" Picture disc
(Limited edition; MUTE389; Released February 11, 2008)

  1. "A&E" - 3:19
  2. "A&E" (Maps Instrumental Remix) - 5:36

U.S. CD maxi-single
(MUTE9380 ; Released February 12, 2008)

  1. "A&E" (Album Version) - 3:19
  2. "A&E" (Maps Instrumental Remix) - 5:36
  3. "A&E" (Gui Boratto Remix) - 7:02
  4. "A&E" (Gui Boratto Dub) - 7:20
  5. "A&E" (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) - 7:06

Promotional CD
(RCDMute389; Released December 2007)

  1. "A&E" (Single Version) - 3:19

Promotional Club CD
(PCDMute389; Released December 2007)

  1. "A&E" (Single Version) - 3:19
  2. "A&E" (Maps Remix) - 5:37
  3. "A&E" (Maps Instrumental Remix) - 5:36
  4. "A&E" (Gui Boratto Remix) - 7:02
  5. "A&E" (Gui Boratto Dub) - 7:20
  6. "A&E" (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) - 7:06

[edit] Personnel

The following people contributed to "A&E":[15]

[edit] Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[9] 85
Belgian Singles Chart[9] 38
Euro Digital Songs[12] 14
Euro Digital Tracks[11] 12
European Singles Chart[10] 65
German Singles Chart[9] 98
Irish Singles Chart[9] 33
UK Singles Chart[9] 10
U.S Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[16] 22
U.S Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[13] 1
U.S Billboard Hot Singles Sales[14] 2

[edit] Notes


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