Synopsis

Ellie Goulding moves through a hazy urban night in the video for "Hanging On," alternating between shots of her walking through busy streets and singing alone against stark, empty backgrounds. Blurred lights, flowers, overhead illumination, nightlife signs, and passing crowds create an unsettled, dreamlike atmosphere. The imagery mirrors the song's emotional tension, shifting between isolation and sensory overload. Goulding's exposed, apprehensive performance remains the visual focus, while layered effects and fragmented editing give the clip the feeling of a memory or emotional breakdown.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Hanging On" is Goulding's cover of Active Child's 2011 song, originally recorded by American musician Patrick James Grossi.

• Goulding's version was used to preview her second studio album, *Halcyon*. It was released as a free download through her SoundCloud page on July 10, 2012.

• The featured version adds a middle-eight rap section by Tinie Tempah. Although he appears on the recording, he does not appear in the music video.

• The video was released on July 13, 2012, only a few days after the promotional track became available.

• The clip's intentionally blurred photography and sparse performance scenes contrast with its crowded city imagery, reinforcing the song's themes of emotional instability and trying to hold on.

• Goulding's cover later appeared in television programs including *Gossip Girl* and *Nikita*, and was also included on the soundtrack connected with the 2013 film *The Host*.