I love Ed Sheeran. Call me a stereotypical, young, white girl all you want but it's true. He's a poet with a guitar and talent and I've loved listening to his albums and seeing him live
1. Eraser
Unlike his past albums, Ed starts this one off with an upbeat, angry tune. I was drawn to it instantly; he sounds so powerful and determined and it fit my mood instantly when hearing it (it’s the last week before spring break…we all need a little determination). I’m not going to begin to try to figure out what exactly this is about, but personally, I heard perseverance, so I’m going to stick with that. It's got Ed's version of rap and a really cool guitar riff, too, which gives it even more of a determined tone. Mood: Determination, pushing through, perseverance. Probably good for when you’re angry, working out, singing to in the shower.
2. Castle on the Hill
This is one of the two singles Ed dropped in January. I’ve listened to it enough at this point to know it’s about returning home/homesickness. It makes me feel nostalgic, personally, which isn’t always something I like to dwell on, but it has its place in both the album and in life. It’s a lovely, homey tune. Mood: Nostalgia, homesick, happy. Probably good for drives home after being away for a while, looking through old photos, feeling kind of melancholy.
3. Dive
This is a pretty blues-y tune about holding back from falling in love until you’re completely sure of the other person’s intentions. I’ve not listened to this one a lot, but it’s pleasant to just listen to and, of course, its lyrically relevant to the lives of most young (and old) people. Mood: Reminiscent, calm. Probably good for when you’re taking a relaxing bath, studying, or are actually holding back from falling in love with someone.
4. Shape of You
This was the second of the first singles Ed released and also a radio single, so, again, I’ve been listening to this one a lot. I dig it. Lyrically, it’s kind of quirky, talking about going to an all-you-can-eat buffet on a first plate and smuggling food out in a bag, but it’s not nearly as deep as some of the other songs on the album. That being said, it’s fun to jam to…and to dance to, whether you can or can’t dance. Mood: Happy, energetic. Probably good for rocking out to in the car, clubbing/dancing, singing to in the shower.
5. Perfect
If you’re looking for “Thinking Out Loud” Ed, you’ve found him. This song sounds like it could be in a Disney movie. It’s got a similar vibe to “Dive,” although the blues-y elements are more subtle. This song will probably have you wishing that you were in love. At least that’s what it did to me. Mood: Love. Probably good for swaying, dancing with someone you love in your living room (or outside in the grass), studying, just listening to.
6. Galway Girl
Okay…this one is one of my favorites. I’m not sure that it always will be as those tend to change based on my mood, but I was feeling the peppy, upbeat tunes when I first listened, and this is definitely that. It’s catchy, makes you want to dance and sing along. It’s got the fast talking/rap that Ed is known for and the addition of a fiddle playing an Irish melody in the background, which is awesome. It’s just fun. Mood: Happy, energetic, fun. Probably good for dancing, rocking out to in the car, background music for having small party-type-things with your friends.
7. Happier
Don’t listen to this one unless you’re already sad. It’s so mournful and hopeless and beautiful at the same time, but it will definitely not make you feel any sort of better. If you’re empathetic like me, you’ll feel whatever Ed was feeling when he wrote it and be able to clearly picture his ex-girlfriend entering a pub with another guy while Ed watches, soaked with rain, from the sidewalk. It’s haunting and hits deep. Mood: Sad, mournful, broken-hearted, raw. Probably good for crying over an ex, falling asleep, feeling sad.
8. New Man
This was another one that I was drawn to right away…so much so that I already know all the words. Ooops. Rap Ed is back for this tune and it gets pretty comical when it comes to describing the “new man.” (One of the lyrics is “He’s got his eyebrows plucked and his asshole bleached.” I kid you not.) Despite the catchy, upbeat music and the guitar riffs, (and the kind of 90s throwback at the end) the message is, once again, relevant. The point Ed is trying to make is that you need to be alone to find yourself or else you’re going to constantly be changing based on the person you’re with. I think we all need to hear that, especially in such a funky way. Mood: Happy, dance-y, energetic. Probably good for singing in the shower, alone in your bedroom, or in the car with the windows down, also good for party-type-things, dancing.
9. Heart’s Don’t Break Around Here
I haven’t really listened to this one yet, either, but it’s got a pleasant, folky vibe, similar to debut album Ed. It’s soft with poetic lyrics and about being in love, although it probably goes deeper than that. I’ll get around to listening to this more eventually. Mood: Quiet, relaxed, sad. Probably good for studying, falling asleep, thinking, reminiscing, and being melancholy.
10. What Do I Know?
This is a fun one. It’s just Ed and his guitar commenting on the state of the world in fewer words. It’s a simple, feel good, uplifting song about changing the world through music and love and living simply for what you want. There’s not much to say other than that. Mood: Hopeful, chill. Probably good for learning to play on the guitar/piano/other instrument yourself, background noise, driving with the windows down.
11. How Would You Feel (Paean)
I’ve not listened to this one a lot, either, despite it being dropped before the rest of the album. It, again, is a slow ballad about love...well, actually, it’s about realizing you’re in love with someone and wanting to tell them. (I guess I’m just not feeling those love-y songs right now? I dunno?) Of course, it’s beautiful and slow and good to be in love to. Mood: Love, quiet. Probably good for slow-dancing to at a wedding, falling asleep to.
12. Supermarket Flowers
Tear-jerker alert. A piano, soft-voiced Ed singing about his mother. There’s always one of these on an Ed album that you can listen to after a loved one dies and feel so understood. It’s beautiful and breaks your heart at the same time. Mood: Sad, broken, grieving. Probably good for listening to while you cry, playing at a funeral, falling asleep to when you feel empty.
13. Barcelona
Ladies and gentlemen, Ed Sheeran can sing in Spanish. This is such a fun song about escaping life with someone you love by dancing and pretending you’re somewhere else. I can get behind this one, as someone who wants to travel more than she can afford to. Again, it’s simple with an exotic beat, which I’m digging about this whole album. Mood: Happy, wanderlust, stuck. Probably good for dancing, dreaming, driving with the windows down, actually being in a foreign country (especially Spain).
14. Bibia Be Ye Ye
This is another upbeat, exotic tune about taking life one day at a time. (The title literally translates to “All Will Be Well,” apparently.) I haven’t listened to this one a lot, either, but it’s definitely a feel good song. Mood: Happy, carefree, relaxed. Probably good for driving with the windows, cheering yourself up, breathing, dancing.
15. Nancy Mulligan
All right, so I’ve got a lot of feelings about this one, which tells the love story of Ed’s grandparents. Like Galway Girl, it has Irish influences and is very folky as well. It’s fun to listen to, especially if you like that folky-Irish sound and stories turned into songs. Mood: Feel-good, love, happy. Probably good to just listen to…I don’t really know what else.
16. Save Myself
Since he started off the album with an upbeat song, I guess Ed felt he needed to close out the album with a mournful tune. It’s quiet, just Ed a piano, and some strings singing about being used and needing to work on himself. Again, the lyrics and the message are poignant and relevant, but it’s delivery is chilling and sad. So much beauty, so little happiness. Mood: Sad, low, broken. Probably good to cry to, listen to, breathe to, sleep to, trying to rebuild yourself.
Divide did not disappoint. I’m glad to have this album to go back to, re-listen to, and further connect to. I’m not sure that it tops Multiply at this point, but it’s at least tied. I’d definitely recommend giving Divide a listen, at least once. There’s a good chance you’ll like something about it.
