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This article is about the song. To see alternate articles, check out the album or the character with the same name.

Electra Heart is a standalone single by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Initially intended for her second studio album Electra Heart, it was released, months after the era was over, under BetaTraxx with Marina as a feature. On April 27, 2022, Electra Heart was re-released on Electra Heart (Platinum Blonde Edition) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the album.

The song was written by Marina and BetaTraxx, who produced the song.

Electra Heart was used as Part 11 of 'The Archetypes', and ended the era.

Background[]

In February 2011, BetaTraxx released Relic, an instrumental.[1] Marina then contacted BetaTraxx to ask if she could sing over the track,[2] and the song was rerecorded with Marina's vocals,[3] BetaTraxx explained in 2014:[4]

This instrumental [Relic] was the original track that Electra Heart was recorded over. So while it is a 'remix' it actually existed before Electra Heart did. Although it has been totally done up to make this final version.

In March 2012 Marina was asked if there was a title track along the same vein as The Family Jewels which was also left off the final tracklist she replied:[5]

Yes! It’s weird because I consider Electra Heart to be a multi-media project so there are songs and videos that won’t be to the mainstream liking but they are still part of the overall endeavour. Maybe I’ll do a CD at the end of the project, which will have everything on it. I think the track Electra Heart will probably be an opener for my final live tour.

The song was first revealed as a snippet intro on the final leg of the Lonely Hearts Club Tour in the US in early 2013, before the title was released it was known amongst fans as "Lights".

On August 8, 2013, the studio version of the song was released along with the final instalment of 'The Archetypes' video series, and marked the end of the Electra Heart era.

In January 2014, BetaTraxx, stated that the video version was a demo, and the new version would be released soon by Marina's label.[citation needed]

Around March 13, 2022, the song was made available to stream on Spotify worldwide.[6] A month later, on April 29, Electra Heart was released on Electra Heart (Platinum Blonde Edition), to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the album.

Trivia[]

Connections[]

The theme of "lights" and "living in the dark" connects Electra Heart to various other tracks of the era including:

  • Bubblegum Bitch: "He made my doll heart light up with joy."
  • Primadonna: "In the limelight, I want to stay." "When the lights dimming down, down, down."
  • Lies: "You only ever touch me in the dark"
  • Living Dead*: "The weight of an empty life, Will lessen in the moonlight. In the light, In the light-light-light"
  • Fear and Loathing: "And when the time comes along, and the lights run out. I know a light will burn on, when they blow me out" "When the lights will go out." "When the lights, they go out"
  • Radioactive: "Waiting for the night fall, for my heart to light up."
  • Lonely Hearts Club: "Laugh track on a TV show, echoes in the dark alone" "And I’ll go back into the dark"
  • Buy the Stars: "Because your life is dark and it needs some light" "The light inside you died" "You’re buying stars to shut out the light" "You’re still living life in the dark" "And in your man-made dark"
  • EVOL: "A day in the dark"

Outtakes:

  • Bump in the Night*: "And I watch you fade, in the light"
  • Miss Y**: "I walked all night long in the dark just to be standing here" "And the lights, they get stronger"

*Never intended for Electra Heart. **Intended for Die Life.

Artwork[]

Electra Heart single artwork
Credits
Photographer
N/A
Designer
N/A
Media

Videos[]

Video Credits
Electra_Heart_♡_Part_11
Title Electra Heart
Premiere 08 Aug 2013
Length 3:24
Director Margarita Louca
Editor Margarita Louca


Official Versions[]

Version Released on Date Length
Final Electra Heart (featuring Marina & the Diamonds)Electra Heart (Platinum Blonde Edition) 29 Apr 2022 3:43
Classical Electra Heart (Classical) 09 Jun 2014 6:38
[9] Acapella (Deleted ~Mar/Apr 2015) Electra Heart (Acapella) 18 Aug 2014 3:30
Remixes
BetaTraxx Remix (Uses Relic's instrumental) Electra Heart (BetaTraxx Remix) 24 May 2014 4:25
Teddy Killerz Remix Electra Heart (Teddy Killerz Remix) 30 May 2014 3:38
Demos
Relic (Original Instrumental, not featuring Marina) The X EP 15 Feb 2011 3:59
'The Archetypes'/YouTube YouTube 08 Aug 2013 3:25


Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
I'm Electra, I'm Electra Heart (Hey)
Only living, living in the dark
Lights, they blind me
Can we go back, go back to the start
Where the Holy Father made his mark?
Lights, they blind me

[Refrain 1]
Can we go back?
Li-i-i Li-i-i-i
Lights, they blind me
Lights, they blind me

[Verse 2]
For forgiveness, you could always pray (Hey)
That the sickness, it could go away
Lights, they blind me
At the altar, would you pay the price? (Hey)
Would you give your, would you give your life?
Lights, they blind me

[Refrain 2]
For forgiveness
Li-i-i Li-i-i-i
Lights, they blind me
Lights, they blind me
Li-i-i Li-i-i-i
Lights, they blind me


References[]

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