The dance-pop tune went from U.K. bonus track to U.S. smash over the course of nearly two years.
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Ellie Goulding's "Lights" has been kicking around for nearly two years now, but finally became a big crossover hit in the United States this summer. The song was expected to knock Carly Rae Jepsen's summer pop anthem "Call Me Maybe" off the top of the Billboard Hot 100 this week, but as it turns out, Flo Rida's "Whistle" is taking that honor instead. Regardless of whether Goulding makes it to Number One, it's pretty amazing that she's camped out at Number Two on the U.S. pop chart with a song that's been out for such a long time. Here's a timeline of how Goulding pulled it off.
February 26th 2010: Ellie Goulding released her debut album Lights in her native United Kingdom, but despite the title, the record does not include the song of the same name.
November 29th 2010: Lights is reissued as Bright Lights, and "Lights" made its debut as one of six bonus tracks tacked on to the original 10-track album. Sales for the album jumped up in the U.K., thanks in large part to it now including her popular cover of Elton John's "Your Song."
January 20th 2011: The video for "Lights" is released on Goulding's YouTube channel. It was going to be the first single from the Bright Lights reissue, but the label opted to push "Your Song" instead.
Source: youtube.com
