Army (Ellie Goulding song)

"Army" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from her third studio album, Delirium (2015). The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States on 19 April 2016 as the album's third single in North America, and second overall on 15 January 2016.

"Army"
Single by Ellie Goulding
from the album Delirium
Released	15 January 2016 (2016-01-15)
Studio	MXM (Los Angeles, California) Wolf Cousins (Stockholm, Sweden) Studio at the Palms (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Length	3:57
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Ellie Goulding Max Martin Savan Kotecha Ali Payami
Producer(s)	Max Martin Ali Payami
Ellie Goulding singles chronology
"On My Mind" (2015) "Army" (2016) "Something in the Way You Move" (2016)
Music video
"Army" on YouTube

Composition

"Army" is written in the key of B major with a tempo of 87 beats per minute. Goulding's vocals span from B₃ to B₄.^[1] The song was written about Goulding's best and closest friend, Hannah.^[2][3][4]

Music video

The music video for "Army" was directed by Conor McDonnell and premiered on 14 January 2016.^[5] Shot in black and white, the video features Goulding having fun with friends in several settings, as well as performing the song live.

Track listings

Digital EP^[6]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Army" (Orchestral Abbey Road Performance) (Live)	4:12
2.	"Army" (Danny Dove Remix)	3:13
3.	"Army" (Mike Mago Remix)	3:18
Total length:		10:44

Digital download – remixes^[7]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Army" (Mike Mago Remix)	3:18
2.	"Army" (Danny Dove Remix)	3:13
Total length:		6:31

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Delirium.^[8]

Recording

• Recorded at MXM Studios (Los Angeles, California) and Wolf Cousins Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)
• Vocals recorded at Studio at the Palms (Las Vegas, Nevada)
• Mixed at MixStar Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)

Personnel

• Ellie Goulding – vocals
• Max Martin – production, programming, backing vocals
• Ali Payami – production, guitars, programming, backing vocals
• Sam Holland – engineering, backing vocals
• Rob Katz – engineering
• Cory Bice – engineering assistance, backing vocals
• Jeremy Lertola – engineering assistance, backing vocals
• Kristian Lundin – additional vocals recording
• Savan Kotecha – backing vocals
• Doris Sandberg – backing vocals
• Jenny Schwartz – backing vocals
• Peter Carlsson – backing vocals
• Silke Lorenzen – backing vocals
• Rickard Göransson – backing vocals
• Serban Ghenea – mixing
• John Hanes – engineering for mix
• Tom Coyne – mastering
• Randy Merrill – mastering assistance

Charts

Chart performance for "Army"

Chart (2015–2016)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[9]	87
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10]	41
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[11]	52
Ireland (IRMA)[12]	53
Scotland (OCC)[13]	13
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[14]	37
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	20
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[16]	33

Certifications

Certifications for "Army"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Army"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	30 October 2015	Digital download[a]	Polydor	[18]
Italy	15 January 2016	Radio airplay	Universal	[19]
Various[b]	29 January 2016	Digital EP	Polydor	[6]
United States	19 April 2016	Contemporary hit radio	Cherrytree Interscope	[20]
United States	29 April 2016	Digital download (remixes)		[7]

Notes

1. Via pre-order of Delirium
2. Except North America

References

1. "Ellie Goulding "Army" Sheet Music". Musicnotes. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
2. Goulding, Ellie (30 October 2015). "To my fans". Retrieved 2 January 2016 – via Tumblr.
3. Stumme, Clifford (2 November 2015). "What does "Army" by Ellie Goulding mean? Warning! Double Meaning!". The Pop Song Professor. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
4. "Ellie Goulding – 'Army'". Capital. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
5. "Army – Ellie Goulding". 14 January 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2018 – via Vevo.
6. "Army – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
7. "Army (Remixes) – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. United States. 29 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
8. Delirium (liner notes). Ellie Goulding. Polydor Records. 2015. 00602547587152.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. "ARIA Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 9th November 2015" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 1341. 9 November 2015. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015 – via Pandora Archive.
10. "Ellie Goulding – Army" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
11. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 24. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
12. "Chart Track: Week 11, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
14. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201622 into search. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
16. "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
17. "British single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Army". British Phonographic Industry. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
18. Roth, Madeline (30 October 2015). "Ellie Goulding Stands With An 'Army' On Her Soaring New Single". MTV News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
19. "Ellie Goulding "Army"". Radio Airplay Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 13 January 2016.
20. "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.