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Anything Could Happen

(Redirected from Anything Could Happen (Ellie Goulding song))
For other uses, see Anything Can Happen (disambiguation).

"Anything Could Happen" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding from her second studio album, Halcyon (2012). It was released on 17 August 2012 as the album's lead single. Written and produced by Goulding and Jim Eliot of English electropop duo Kish Mauve, the song received positive reviews from music critics. "Anything Could Happen" peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart. Outside the United Kingdom, "Anything Could Happen" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Poland, the top 20 of the charts in Australia, the Czech Republic Ireland and New Zealand and the top 50 of the charts in the United States.

"Anything Could Happen"
Single by Ellie Goulding
from the album Halcyon
Released17 August 2012 (2012-08-17)
Genre
Length4:47
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jim Eliot
  • Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding singles chronology
"Lights"
(2011) 		"Anything Could Happen"
(2012) 		"Figure 8"
(2012)
Music video
"Anything Could Happen" on YouTube

The accompanying music video was directed by Floria Sigismondi and filmed in Malibu, California. The video depicts Goulding and her on-screen boyfriend getting into a car accident. "Anything Could Happen" was used in the Beats by Dre's #ShowYourColor campaign commercial and in the trailer for the second season of the HBO series Girls. The song has been covered by the Script, Fun and Fifth Harmony.

Background and composition

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Goulding appeared on Fearne Cotton's BBC Radio 1 show on 9 August 2012 for the premiere of the song.[1] She told Cotton, "I've been with this song a long time and I've had to listen to it a lot to get it just how I wanted it."[2]

During a behind-the-scenes featurette for the "Anything Could Happen" music video, Goulding told MTV News, "I suppose it's one of those songs where I sort of talk about bits of my childhood, but also about my friendship with this person, and, um, I suppose it's a song of realization [...] And it's called 'Anything Could Happen,' [so] I'm hoping it will make people go out and propose to their girlfriends or go on that holiday they never ended up doing. I hope it will provoke positivity, as opposed to make people really sad."[3]

"Anything Could Happen" is an electropop and synth-pop song.[4][5] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, "Anything Could Happen" is written in the key of C major and has a moderate tempo of 103 beats per minute. Goulding's vocals span from G3 to E5 in the song.[6]

Critical reception

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"Anything Could Happen" received positive reviews from critics, with most praising the lyrical content and Goulding's vocals. Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave "Anything Could Happen" four out of five stars, stating, "'After the war we said we'd fight together/ I guess we thought that's what humans do,' the electro-folk starlet serenades over a booming bass synth and choppy piano, before bursting into a sky-soaring chorus that manages to keep up with her haunting, high-pitched "ooohs". The result is a gothic love anthem that, truth be told, we'd happily see replace 'Puppy Love' at wedding receptions for years to come."[7] Entertainment Weekly commented that with "Anything Could Happen", Goulding "strikes shimmery synth-pop gold again."[5] Erin Thompson of the Seattle Weekly called the song "lovely" and "impactful", while commending Goulding for "writing songs that unfold like stories".[8] "Anything Could Happen" was ranked number 84 by the Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[9]

Commercial performance

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"Anything Could Happen" debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart, selling 49,680 copies in its first week.[10] The single stayed at number five the following week, selling 37,895 copies.[11] As of August 2013, it had sold 326,836 copies in the UK.[12]

In the United States, "Anything Could Happen" debuted at number 17 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart on the issue dated 8 September 2012,[13] before rising to number three on 20 October upon its release to radio.[14] The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 75 for the week of 27 October 2012, peaking at number 47 in its tenth week on the chart.[15] It also topped the Hot Dance Club Songs chart during the final week of 2012.[16] The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 17 January 2013, and platinum on 24 July 2013.[17] As of January 2014, the song had sold 1,166,000 copies in the US.[18]

The song performed moderately elsewhere, reaching number two in Poland,[19] number 16 in the Czech Republic, Ireland and New Zealand,[20][21][22] number 20 in Australia,[23] number 37 in Canada[24] and number 66 in Germany.[25]

Music video

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The music video for "Anything Could Happen" was directed by Floria Sigismondi.[26] In an interview with Carson Daly on his 97.1 AMP Radio show on 6 August 2012, Goulding stated that the video would be filmed the following day in Malibu, California.[27] The video revolves around a couple's car crash near a Malibu beach. "I find myself on a rock, with no idea how I've been there", she told Fuse. "I've been in a car crash. I end up being a mermaid-type thing." She added, "I wanted to do a big video with big effects by the ocean [...] I wanted to do something really epic."[28] Goulding declined offers of a stuntwoman to help her shoot the video, and instead performed her own stunts, such as being dropped onto a roof.[citation needed]

On 5 September, the "Anything Could Happen" video debuted via Goulding's YouTube channel. The video shows Goulding in a car with her on-screen boyfriend as they observe waves crashing on a beach. Goulding is then seen waking up on the beach, singing to the song, and walking around the beach finding silver floating spheres and triangled shaped mirrors. Goulding is also seen close up crying while singing and then bleeding out of her nose. The video continues to show Goulding and the on-screen boyfriend in a car crash, meeting up again in their "after life" on the beach. Later, Goulding is shown looking on to the car crash from above, while observing her blood-covered boyfriend, with a big fluffy pink ball holding her up by ropes. The video ends as Goulding floats away from the crash scene.

Lyric video

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In late July 2012, Goulding invited fans via Facebook to contribute to a lyric video for "Anything Could Happen" by submitting photos related to the song's lyrics using Instagram.[29] The lyric video premiered on Goulding's YouTube channel on 9 August 2012.[30]

Ben & Ellie Edit

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A second music video, titled the Ben & Ellie Edit, was released on Goulding's YouTube channel on 9 October 2012.[31] This version all shot close up and cross fading into different scenes. The video begins with the text "Ellie Goulding", and flashes of a car driving and Goulding in multiple shots of her body. Once the song begins, Goulding starts singing, multiple shots of her being shown, close-up, side view, and bright lights, singing along.

Use in media and cover versions

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Goulding is featured performing "Anything Could Happen" in the Beats by Dre commercial as part of their #ShowYourColor campaign, which debuted in September 2012, alongside the likes of Miami Heat player LeBron James and fellow Universal Music artists Lil Wayne and MGK.[32]

The track was also used in the trailer for the second season of the HBO comedy-drama series Girls and in an episode of the Fox sitcom New Girl.[33][34] It was also used in the trailer for the fourth season of the Network Ten comedy-drama series Offspring in Australia.[35] The track was also used by TBS during the intro for game one of the 2012 ALDS between the Oakland Athletics and the Detroit Tigers.[36] The song is also featured as the background music for the HTC Vive commercial, with Emily Blunt, Jennifer Garner, Michelle Yeoh and Juliette Lewis.

The song was covered in BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge by both Irish alternative rock band the Script and American indie pop band Fun on 27 November 2012 and 26 February 2013, respectively.[37][38] In December 2012, the girl group Fifth Harmony performed "Anything Could Happen" in the semi-finals and finals on the second season of The X Factor (U.S.).[39][40] Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist and Kevin McHale covered the song in the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of the Fox series Glee, "I Do", aired 14 February 2013.[41] Goulding joined Taylor Swift for a surprise performance of the song during Swift's Red Tour at Los Angeles' Staples Center on 23 August 2013.[42] On 14 December 2013, Goulding performed "Anything Could Happen" on tenth series finale of The X Factor with finalist Luke Friend.[citation needed] The track has also been featured in the 2013 teen comedy film G.B.F.

Notable performances

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On 30 September 2021, Goulding performed the song surrounded by floating cloud structures and white-clad dancers as part of the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 held under the fair's centerpiece, the Al Wasl Dome in Dubai, U.A.E.[43]

Track listings

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UK and Irish digital EP – Remixes[44][45]
No.TitleLength
1."Anything Could Happen"4:46
2."Anything Could Happen" (Birdy Nam Nam Remix)4:01
3."Anything Could Happen" (Submerse Remix)5:02
4."Hanging On" (Sigma Remix)4:40
US limited-edition 7-inch promotional single[46]
No.TitleLength
1."A. Anything Could Happen"4:46
2."B. Anything Could Happen" (White Sea Remix)5:06
Canadian and US digital EP – Remixed[47][48]
No.TitleLength
1."Anything Could Happen" (Betablock3r Remix)4:46
2."Anything Could Happen" (Alex Metric Remix)7:07
3."Anything Could Happen" (Flinch Remix)4:24
4."Anything Could Happen" (Birdy Nam Nam Remix)4:01
5."Anything Could Happen" (White Sea Remix)5:03
6."Anything Could Happen" (Submerse Remix)5:02
7."Anything Could Happen" (Guy Scheiman TLV Club Remix)7:45

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Halcyon.[49]

  • Ellie Goulding – vocals, production
  • Jim Eliot – production, drums, synths, piano, percussion, drum programming, sound effects
  • London Community Gospel Choir – choir
  • Sally Herbert – choir arrangement, choir conducting
  • Graham Archer – choir recording engineering
  • Joel M. Peters – choir recording engineering assistance
  • Tom Elmhirst – mixing
  • Ben Baptie – mixing assistance, additional engineering
  • Naweed – mastering

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Anything Could Happen"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[60] Gold 35,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[61] Gold 30,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[62] Gold 30,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] Gold 7,500*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[64] Platinum 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] Platinum 620,000[65]
United States (RIAA)[17] 2× Platinum 1,166,000[18]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Anything Could Happen"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Australia 17 August 2012 Digital download Universal [67]
Belgium [68]
France [69]
Germany [70]
Sweden [71]
Canada 21 August 2012 [72]
United States
[73]
Ireland 27 September 2012 Digital EP – Remixes Polydor [45]
United Kingdom [44]
United States 2 October 2012 Contemporary hit radio
  • Cherrytree
  • Interscope
 [74]
Canada 15 January 2013 Digital EP – Remixed Universal [47]
United States
  • Cherrytree
  • Interscope
 [48]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Copsey, Robert (7 August 2012). "Ellie Goulding announces new single premiere details". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  2. ^ Corner, Lewis (9 August 2012). "Ellie Goulding debuts new single 'Anything Could Happen' – listen". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  3. ^ Montgomery, James (27 August 2012). "Ellie Goulding's 'Anything Could Happen' Video: Go Behind The Scenes Now!". MTV News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Ellie Goulding Shows 'Anything Could Happen' on 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. 11 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Singles Swap". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1246. 15 February 2013. ISSN 1049-0434. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen Sheet Music". Musicnotes. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  7. ^ Corner, Lewis (14 September 2012). "Ellie Goulding: 'Anything Could Happen' – Single review". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  8. ^ Thompson, Erin (23 August 2012). "Ellie Goulding Explores New Sounds with "Anything Could Happen"". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Pazz+Jop 2012". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  10. ^ Jones, Alan (8 October 2012). "Official Charts Analysis: Rihanna comfortably outsells One Direction". Music Week. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  11. ^ Jones, Alan (15 October 2012). "Official Charts Analysis: Mumford & Sons enter 2012's Top 10 sellers". Music Week. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  12. ^ Jones, Alan (19 August 2013). "Official Charts Analysis: Richard & Adam need just 19k sales to hold on at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. 8 September 2012. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  14. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 : Oct 20, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  17. ^ a b "American single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  18. ^ a b Grein, Paul (8 January 2014). "Chart Watch: Pitbull & Kesha & Eminem & RiRi". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  19. ^ a b "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  20. ^ a b "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 10. týden 2013 in the date selector. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
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  23. ^ a b "Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  26. ^ Stern, Doug (12 September 2012). "WATCH IT: Ellie Goulding "Anything Could Happen" (Floria Sigismondi, dir.)". Video Static. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  27. ^ Ellie Goulding Talks Halcyon, Skrillex, & Success in the U.S. With Carson Daly (Radio broadcast). Los Angeles: CBS Radio / 97.1 AMP Radio. 6 August 2012. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  28. ^ Berman, Taylor (30 August 2012). "Behind the Scenes: Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen" Video Shoot". Fuse. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  29. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (30 July 2012). "Ellie Goulding To Release 'Halcyon' Album in October". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  30. ^ Daw, Robbie (9 August 2012). "Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen": Watch The Lyric Video For Her New Single". Idolator. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  31. ^ "Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen (Ben & Ellie Edit)". 9 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ "Ellie Goulding's New Song Featured in Beats By Dre 'Show Your Color' Fall Campaign". 97.1 AMP Radio. 18 September 2012. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  33. ^ Rowley, Alison (30 November 2012). "'Girls' season two trailer unveiled by HBO – watch". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  34. ^ Beard, Lanford (1 May 2013). "PopWatch Playlist: First-time TV tunes that struck a chord – LISTEN". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  35. ^ Willis, Charlotte (4 April 2013). "Exclusive – Offspring Season 4 sneak peek: What to expect when Nina's expecting". news.com.au. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  36. ^ MLBGlobal12 (8 October 2012). "ALDS GAME 1 – October 06, 2012". Retrieved 10 October 2018 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ "Live Lounge The Script". BBC Radio 1. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  38. ^ "Live Lounge fun". BBC Radio 1. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  39. ^ "Semi-Finals Recap: Who Sung Their Way to the Finals?". The X Factor USA. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  40. ^ "The Finale Night 1 Recap: Who Earned the Crown Tonight?". The X Factor USA. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  41. ^ Rose, Josée (14 February 2013). "'Glee,' Season 4, Episode 14, 'I Do': TV Recap". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  42. ^ Wete, Brad (24 August 2013). "Taylor Swift Surprises Staples Center Audience with Ellie Goulding Duet: Watch Here". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  43. ^ "Expo 2020 Dubai: Live from the opening ceremony". CNN. 30 September 2021.
  44. ^ a b "Anything Could Happen (Remixes) – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  45. ^ a b "Anything Could Happen (Remixes) – EP by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. Ireland. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  46. ^ "Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen (Vinyl)". Discogs. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  47. ^ a b "Anything Could Happen (Remixed) – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. Canada. January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  48. ^ a b "Anything Could Happen (Remixed) – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. United States. January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  49. ^ Halcyon (liner notes). Ellie Goulding. Polydor Records. 2012. 3714241.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  50. ^ "Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  51. ^ "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  52. ^ "Airplay 100" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 16 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  53. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  54. ^ "Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  55. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  56. ^ "Ellie Goulding Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  57. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2012". Official Charts Company. 2 January 2019.
  58. ^ "Official Singles Chart – 2013" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. p. 4. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  59. ^ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  60. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  61. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  62. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Ellie Goulding in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Anything Could Happen in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  63. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen". Recorded Music NZ. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  64. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  65. ^ Griffiths, George (13 April 2023). "Ellie Goulding's biggest singles on the Official Chart revealed". Official Charts. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  66. ^ "British single certifications – Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen". British Phonographic Industry. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  67. ^ "Anything Could Happen – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. Australia. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  68. ^ "Anything Could Happen – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. Belgium. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  69. ^ "Anything Could Happen – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. France. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  70. ^ "Anything Could Happen – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. Germany. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  71. ^ "Anything Could Happen – Single av Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store (in Swedish). Sweden. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  72. ^ "Anything Could Happen – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. Canada. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  73. ^ "Anything Could Happen – Single by Ellie Goulding". iTunes Store. United States. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  74. ^ "Top 40/Mainstream > Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
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