I have been an Ed Sheeran fan since "A-team." I have all of his EPs, all of his albums and all of the songs he's featured in collected on my phone. Typically, pop isn't a genre I listen to on a regular basis, but I have always loved Ed for his lyrics, his voice and his undeniable talent.
Some of my favorite Ed Sheeran songs include: "Sunburn," "Be Like You," "Give Me Love," "Cold Coffee," and "Everything You Are." So, obviously, when he originally released his new singles "Castle on the Hill," "Shape of You" and "How Would You Feel," I immediately listened repeatedly until I knew all the words. Last Friday, he released of his full album. It was less than a week ago and I know every song.
After listening to each song once, I couldn't help but notice a few things.
First of all, his lyrics are so clever and well thought out. I'm not sure I've heard of another artist that can explain ordinary life in such a poetic way. Even in describing foolish aspects of growing up, for example, drinking too much and throwing up, he still finds a way to embellish it with desirable connotations, such as nostalgia and longing. "We found weekend jobs, when we got paid / We'd buy cheap spirits and drink them straight / Me and my friends have not thrown up in so long, oh how we've grown" ("Castle on The Hill"). Furthermore, in respect to his lyrics, they're so incredibly relatable to anyone in any walk of life and I think this attributes to his widespread fame.
Another aspect I noticed right away was the variety of his music. He incorporated beautiful ballads like "How Would You Feel," "Happier," "Perfect" and "Super Market Flowers" with upbeat and fun songs such as "Galway Girl," "Nancy Mulligan," "Barcelona" and "Shape Of You."
Even more, some songs are in their own complete category. For example, "New Man" is an upbeat and fun song, but the entirety is a completely clever and hilarious roast on his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.
Another example is "Castle on the Hill," which incorporates an acoustic guitar and a very indie vibe with pangs of nostalgia sewn into every word, note and strum. Every song is completely unique, yet I still enjoyed each one on the same level. He includes everything from acoustic instruments to raps. He is truly the Renaissance Man of music.
The last thing I slowly realized after listening to "Divide" was the incredible progress he's made as an artist. His sound has completely transformed by his own free will, not by peer pressure or lack of popularity. His music used to be very timid and earnest, as seen in his EPs and even as he became less timid, in "Plus," the music was still very earnest and angsty. But over "Multiply" and "Divide," it's become more distinct and developed. At the same time though, his music is very grounded and every word he sings is so obviously a piece of his heart and soul.
Not only that, but his voice has matured, certainly, since his first EPs but also since "Plus" and "Multiply." It seems to have a more centered sound with more certainly more confidence.
Among all of the songs on "Divide," my favorite songs are definitely "Save Myself," "Happier" and "Nancy Mulligan." However, even typing this I had to refrain from including most of the album in my "favorites" list.
Among these three, "Save Myself" and "Happier" are both ballads. "Save Myself" is, admittedly, very emotional, for me, especially. It is a confession of giving too much to the people he loved, even though they would never give him anything in return; "I gave you all my energy and I took away your pain / 'Cause human beings are destined to radiate or drain / What line do we stand upon, 'cause from here it looks the same / And only scars remain" (Save Myself).
Through the lyrics and the vocals, one can hear the emotional strain and damage caused by letting yourself stretch too thin trying to give out all your love and I think that is something anyone can relate to. "Happier," also an emotional piece, speaks on seeing an ex, that you still love, moving on with someone new; "Saw you walk inside a bar / He said something to make you laugh / I saw that both your smiles were twice as wide as ours / Yeah, you look happier, you do." (Happier).
The wisdom of the song comes from his resolution to allow his former lover to be happy because he can recognize that she's happier with someone else. Lastly, "Nancy Mulligan" is an adorable up beat track with Irish undertones that tells the love story of his grandparents falling in love despite political and religious disputes; "She and I went on the run / Don't care about religion / I'm gonna marry the woman I love / Down by the Wexford border." (Nancy Mulligan). The way he honors their love story in this culturally inclusive little jig is both endearing and catchy.
In conclusion, Ed Sheeran's new album, "Divide," is a hit all of the way around. I'm in love with every song and I think that his talent shines so brightly through each and every note. Anyone, with any music preference, can, in my opinion, find a song in "Divide" that speaks to him or her. He has truly set the bar even higher this time.
