March 3rd was the beginning of a celebration for some.
After a year long hiatus from social media in December 2015, Ed Sheeran returned with his third album. Consequently, all die-hard fans who have patiently waited throughout 2016 descended into chaos.
The album, entitled 'Divide' comes after Sheeran's first two albums, all with the same formulaic name of 'Plus' and 'Multiply.' The newest album sold 232,000 physical and digital copies on its first 24 hours released. As testimony to his success, it sold more copies that Sheeran's second album, 'Multiply' sold in its first week.
The most significant song of the album, for me, is 'Happier.' As one of Sheeran's classic ballads that cause you to miss a person you've never met, this type of genuinely sentimental tracks clearly is the artist's bread and butter. It seems like an ode to Sheeran's stream of conscious; it explores being so torn between the raw emotion of wanting the one you love to be happy, yet only with you. Despite this, 'Happier' differs from the typical breakup song by admitting his faults in the relationship (that "nobody hurt you like I hurt you"). The lovable Suffolk-bred artist makes the track unmissable by admitting his vulnerability, (to be "still in love with you") further securing himself as a timeless artist, to explore such a range of human emotion in only a few lines.
A number of tracks make parallels to Sheeran's second album, however 'Don't' and 'Shape of You' seem to draw the straightest line. The juxtaposition of the upbeat notes with the sarcastic overtone amounts to nearly four minutes of kiss and tell. It follows the beginnings of a flowering relationship, often swallowed by the initial physical attraction. Released as a single on the 6th January, just under a month of the album, it immediately attracted fans with the lusty words and techno beats.
An ode to his girlfriend when she was reportedly trapped in a taxi for three hours, 'How Would You Feel (Paen)' is the defining track of Sheeran's both reinvention and traditional imagining of a ballad. Again, it captures such intimate human emotion without being overly sentimental, and makes it so awfully adaptable that it could be anyone's first dance.
A new folk-music sound is lodged between ballads, the upbeat 'Galway Girl.' Seemingly a tip of his hat to Sheeran's idol, Van Morrison, while simultaneously touching upon Mumford and Sons style. 'Galway Girl' explores a completely new sound for the artist, moving away from the raggedy, outdone and outspoken persona presented in his first album toward the contented, emotionally-indulgent lover.
However, he seems to regress in the eighth track of the album, 'New Man.' Sheeran never fails to bring a sense of sarcasm with a dry humour, and this song succeeds in meeting these expectations. It explores the metrosexual habits of his lover's new beau, and all the tongue in cheek frustrations it brings.
'Castle on The Hill' was released as a single on January 6th along with 'Shape Of You'. Both shot up the charts, and made it clear that Sheeran, after nearly 6 years practice, seems to have secured the best formulae; to release two completely contrasting songs, both appealing to two different audiences. While 'Shape of You' plays to the club-pop younger demographic, 'Castle on the Hill' seemingly appeals to the older generation, satisfied by words laced with nostalgia. 'Castle on the Hill' is based around Sheeran's home town of Framlingham, while he reminisces of childhood memories such as his "breaking his leg" and his "first kiss." The castle referenced in the song is Framlingham.
In conclusion, the album is far from one to be missed. Once again, Sheeran refuses to conform to any one genre and thrives in any set before him; whether that be acoustic pop, hip hop or folk. When put together, an eclectic upbeat mix championed with sentimental, raw emotion in every track. Onto the fourth!
Molly Russell, Sydenham High School
