If there are two things that can get a group of people together no matter their age, they are a guitar and a melody. All that may be missing is the bonfire, right?
Wrong. There needs to be a person there to sing along with that melody.
Someone who sings true lyrics that are relevant to our everyday lives in moments both happy and sad, really bringing people together. We need songs to dance to, songs that we can listen to after a tough time, and Ed Sheeran and his masterful songwriting and beat-making do just that in his new album Divide.
When I first heard about Sheeran, it was when he came out with his first album Add with him and his fiery, orange locks on the cover. His lyrics were honest and his melodies were original and he continues to share his magic in his second album Multiply, and now Divide. But there is something that differentiates Sheeran from other Singer-Songwriters: he is a one-man-band. Watching Sheeran perform is like watching a magician doing an intricate trick. From one mic, he makes background vocals. He makes beats with his guitar and keyboard using his hands. However, his feet are the real stars of the show. Sheeran has a loop pedal to start, stop and repeat certain beats.
Divide highlights Sheeran’s talents portrayed by his wide array of music genres from love songs, to Irish music, to rap fusion and upbeat dance anthems. His third studio album follows the trend of the first two named after math functions and is his best yet.
The hit song off of the album is Shape of You, a catchy, pop tune that appeals to the masses and makes me, and others want to get up and dance. This is the epitome of Sheeran’s one-man-band concept. The captivating guitar and piano melodies all the way to the background vocals are done perfectly by Sheeran himself and can definitely get any crowd going.
Ashley Banayan 