Ed Sheeran talks new album & the meaning behind the new songs
Ed Sheeran launched his new album, Ă· (or 'divide'), last Friday and now he's made history.
The album sold over 232,000 copies in the UK alone on its first day (bigger than any artistâs âweek oneâ sales from the past year) and it comfortably remains at No.1 with 432,000 sales in todayâs official midweekâs, outselling the UK Top 200 twice over, with 63% of his sales comprised of physical purchases.
What's more, Edâs comeback single âShape Of Youâ is on course for a 9th week at No.1 in the UK, marking seventeen consecutive weeks at #1 in the UK.
Ed Sheeran did an interview with Spotify about his inspiration for the tracks on the new album.
âIâve had the concept for Divide since 2010. I wanted the whole album to feel a bit schizophrenic. My first sort of music that I got into that wasnât from my parents was rap, metal, punk.. I went one day listening to Iowa, Slipknot and the next day listening to Damian Riceâs âOâ, It was quite a switch.â
âShape Of You was actually the only song that I was like 'this isnât me at all'. It took Johnny and Steve (the guys I wrote it with) probably about a month or two to convince me that should even be on the album, and probably took them another month to convince me that it should be a single. Originally, instead of âmy bedsheetsâ it was meant to be âmy T shirt smells of youâ or something like that, but I changed it to bedsheets so it could be androgynous."
âEraser was a song that was very therapeutic to write. Whilst swimming I had this idea that bit should be Eraser. I donât know why but it just popped into my head and I was like 'ah, thatâs a cool title for a songâ.
âGalway is a city in Ireland where my cousin and uncle live and itâs a really beautiful place -itâs like cobbled streets, itâs quintessential Ireland. Thereâs already a Steve Earle song called Galway Girl and I was thinking of lots of different things; Limerick Girl or Dublin Girl, Belfast Girl and none of it really fit so I just went with Galway GirlâŠâ
âIâve definitely got to a point in my life where Iâm friends with all my ex-girlfriends now, like weâre all cool and itâs very much like Iâm really happy that youâre happy and with someone that you love, and they are really happy that Iâm happy and with someone and thereâs a grown up element to it. Happier was like that coming out I guess - me writing a grown-up songâ
Well, don't forget - Ed Sheeran wants to be a dad to fat, chubby babies.
âI really wanted it to sound like an old school Van Morrison Song. I played a really shit guitar solo on it trying to be John Mayer and then was like 'ah I have got John Mayerâs email, let me just email him see if heâll play on it'. So I sent it off to him, kind of forgot about it and then John Mayer sent it back with this fucking amazing solo on it and I was like ooh, 'wow, this sounds like a song now!'â.
Get your Ed Sheeran fix on Spotify.
Right, now see all of the times Ed Sheeran has truly loved life...
Getty ImagesThat time when he... performed with Stormzy at the Brit Awards 2017. Twitter was going mad over the new BFFs - and what a performance!
Getty ImagesThat time when he... won an Ivor Novello Award
Things just get better and better for Ed Sheeran. The singer posed with his Songwriter Of The Year gong. Go Ed!
Getty ImagesThat time when he... gave Taylor Swift a congratulatory hug at the Billboard Awards
Ed Sheeranâs got his arm around Taylor Swiftâs bare midriff â no wonder heâs enjoying himself!
That time when he... made a cameo on Home and Away
Ed Sheeran had a ball as he filmed scenes for an upcoming episode of Home and Away. The singer-songwriter was spotted shooting scenes at the show's Palm Beach location in Sydney - one to tick off the bucket list.
Getty ImagesThat time when he... got really drunk after The BRITs
One too many, Ed? Ed Sheeran celebrated winning two BRIT Awards in the best way he possibly could - by getting blind drunk. The sozzled star was pictured being carried home by his minder, you know it's a good night when that happens.
Getty ImagesThat time when he... had Beyoncé in the palm of his hand
Not many ginger lads from West Yorkshire can say they've shared the same stage as Queen Beyoncé. You go Ed!
teddysphotos/InstagramThat time when he... gatecrashed a wedding
Well, kind of. Ed Sheeran proved heâs one of the nicest men in music when he surprised a couple on their wedding day in Australia. When Ed found out this pair chose one of his hit songs for their first dance, he turned up to sing it for them in person. He captioned this picture: "Available for weddings, birthdays and bar mitzvah's."
teddysphotos/InstagramThat time when he... attended Elton John's wedding and then stole his glasses
Of course he did, the little rascal. The flame-haired crooner arrived at the star-studded wedding looking dapper in a black suit and tie, but then he got all mischievous during a group photo.
Rex FeaturesThat time when he... died and went to heaven at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Ed Sheeran took to the stage surrounded by a bevvy of beautiful angels as he performed the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Just look at that face - Ed Sheeran was thanking his lucky stars that he was blessed with an amazing singing voice.
Getty ImagesThat time when he... had everyone wondering whether he was dating Taylor Swift
Ok, so we know they're just friends, but for a while, the rumour mill was awash with rumours that Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift were making sweet music together - and not just in the studio. Turns out the pair are just friends, which is even more of a reason to love life. Who wouldn't want Tay-Tay as a BFF!?
teddysphotos/InstagramThat time when he... posed with his "dad" Mick Hucknall
This Mick Hucknell and Ed Sheeran selfie is TOO good. Look at it, it's amazing. The singer seemed very excited to be posing with the Simply Red star and shared the hilarious snap on his Instagram account. He captioned it: "Alright dad."
teddysphotos/InstagramThat time when he... dressed up as Austin Powers
Groovy Baby!
teddysphotos/InstagramThat time when he... met his doppelganger
Well, this lookalike is just uncanny. We wonder if this fella's life is as amazing as Ed's? We doubt it.
