"Sixteen" is a song by English singer Ellie Goulding, released as a single through Polydor Records on 12 April 2019.[1] It appears as an international bonus track on the digital and streaming edition of her fourth studio albumBrightest Blue.[2] It was co-written by Goulding with Raye and Fred, and produced by Ian Kirkpatrick, Fred and Mike Wise. Goulding has said the song is about the "reckless days of adolescence".[3]
"Sixteen" is a pop, EDM and dance-pop ballad with an electronic beat that speaks about the "reckless days of adolescence".[4][5][3] It is written in the key of A-flat major with a tempo of 110 beats per minute.[6]
Goulding announced the song on social media on 11 April 2019, also posting that she compiled the cover artwork from friends' photos of when they were sixteen years of age.[7]
The music video directed by Tim Mattia was released on April 17, 2019, reflecting on Goulding's teenage years, focusing on her and a friend bunking off school to steal alcohol, smoke cannabis, get tattoos, and meet boys at an arcade.[8][9][10]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 16. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 40. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 16. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved 24 April 2019.