Ed Sheeran is hands down one of the best artists out there. He is not a one dimensional artist releasing the same old generic stuff with little variation, he is unique and brilliant. He can rap like it’s nobody’s business. He can sing mellifluous tunes like an angel. He can sound raw and full of emotion. He does it all, and he does it well, captivating his listeners. In concert, Ed is a master, singing whilst playing the guitar and using a looping pedal. He is an authentic artist who needs no autotune, his voice perfect as is.
It is because of his immense talent that the world freaked out this morning, in a positive way, of course. Ed, after months of no new singles, released not just one, but two singles for his millions of fans to enjoy. What a fantastic way to ring in 2017!
Taylor Swift, whose beautiful song “Everything Has Changed” featured Ed, posted her reaction on Instagram, which is basically the reaction of every avid fan right now.
So does he deserve this hype? Are his new singles really that amazing? The answer is undoubtedly yes!
“Shape of You” has a catchy rhythm that makes you want to move and dance, and it showcases Ed’s range, from low in the beginning to high backed up by low vocals in the chorus. The “oh I, oh I, oh I” bits carry that haunting air that enraptures listeners, redolent of the “my, my, my, my, give me love” section of “Give Me Love.” This song fits in well with pop songs of today, while still holding its own and having that intoxicating Ed Sheeran flavor that keeps fans coming back for more.
“Castle On The Hill” (my favorite of the two) is classic, heartfelt Ed Sheeran, with detailedlyrics that tell a story. This might just be me, but Ed’s voice sounds different in this song (other than in the chorus)—different and lovely! It’s like he has unpeeled yet another layer of his infinite talent. One line I particularly like is “had my first kiss on a Friday night, I don’t reckon I did it right” because it is such a sweet, nostalgic line of a man remembering his firsts as a kid, with so much more to discover. A+++ from me!
With #WelcomeBackEd and #EdSheeran already trending on Twitter, there’s no question that Ed’s new music is being well-received by most, if not all. So maybe another stellar album soon? That would be the icing on the cake. Until that glorious day, we can all replay “Shape of You” and “Castle On The Hill” over and over and over, until we know every word by heart.
