On January 1st, Ed Sheeran made the announcement that many fans had been waiting for: he would be releasing new music at the end of the week. I spent the entire week wondering what that could entail. Would he release a single, or a whole album? What kind of sound would the song(s) have? What would they be called? My curiosity grew more and more each day as he posted hint after hint on Twitter and Instagram.
When he dropped not one, but two singles that night, I nearly fell over with excitement. The two songs, "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill," have been popular upon release, and held the top two spots on the iTunes charts for several days. From my perspective, each had a very different sound that showed the styles of music Ed is able to switch between, yet each one also had an evolved sound compared to songs from Ed’s previous two albums.
"Shape of You" is what I would call the “bop” of the two new songs. You are immediately drawn in by the beat of the song, which is similar to "Cheap Thrills" by Sia. It tells a story about hooking up with a girl at the bar (because finding a lover at the club is next to impossible, according to Ed), and how a romance develops between the two.
The song, which Ed had originally written for another artist’s use, sounds a lot like some of the songs on Ed’s most recent album, "Multiply," with its catchy beat and lyrics about drinking and spending time with a beautiful girl. This song differs, however, in that Ed seems to be more adjusted to singing in this style. In the last two albums, it seemed as if he was still easing his way into singing songs that were more upbeat, even in popular songs like "Sing" and "Don’t." "Shape of You" feels like it’s more of a natural comfort for him to sing a song that could be played in a club.
Ed’s second new single, "Castle on the Hill," tugged on my heartstrings. The ballad sends waves of nostalgia through every word. He tells about how he remembers his life growing up, goofing off with his friends and drinking cheap booze with the money they all made from their weekend jobs. It provides a feeling that anyone who has moved away from home will understand: a reminiscence and in some way yearning for a life that once was. At the end, he shares the experiences his friends have had since he last saw them—some good, some bad—and explains that despite the changes they’ve all been through, he was “raised” by these people and considers them family nonetheless. Ed’s music is especially moving when he’s singing about his personal life, and this song only proves that. The catchy guitar beat and lyrics combined give this song the sensation of being on a road trip, and the anticipation of getting to your destination.
Ed has since announced that his new album, "Divide," will be released on March 3rd, and has released the track list for the album. I have hopes that these songs are similar to the two singles in sound. I would love to see more of a balance between the upbeat songs and the slower songs since the last album at times felt like it lacked some of the slower sounds that make Ed’s voice shine. I’m also curious to see how Ed’s music will continue to evolve, both style wise and in songwriting. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to patiently wait for the album’s release date, but in the meantime, I am in love with both of his newly released singles and will continue listening to those while I anticipate what’s to come.
