= (album)

Last updated

=
Ed Sheeran - Equals.png
Studio album by
Released29 October 2021 (2021-10-29)
RecordedJune 2017 – July 2021 [1]
Genre Pop [2]
Length48:23
Label
Producer
Ed Sheeran chronology
No.6 Collaborations Project
(2019)
=
(2021)

(2023)
Singles from =
  1. "Bad Habits"
    Released: 25 June 2021
  2. "Shivers"
    Released: 10 September 2021
  3. "Overpass Graffiti"
    Released: 29 October 2021
  4. "The Joker and the Queen"
    Released: 11 February 2022
  5. "2step"
    Released: 22 April 2022

= ("Equals") is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. [3] [4] It was released on 29 October 2021 through Asylum and Atlantic Records. [5] The album was supported by five singles: "Bad Habits", "Shivers", "Overpass Graffiti", "The Joker and the Queen", and "2step". The song "Visiting Hours" was released as a promotional single.

Contents

Upon release, = received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who appreciated Sheeran's emerging sonic experimentation while criticising its production. The album reached number one in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Christmas edition of the album was released on 3 December 2021, although it was removed later on. It contained a sole guest appearance from fellow English singer-songwriter Elton John on the song "Merry Christmas", while the standard edition does not have any guest appearances.

The tour edition of the album was released on 27 May 2022. It contains his two songs from the 2019 film Yesterday , "One Life" and "Penguins", and two new songs, "I Will Remember You" and "Welcome to the World". The reissue also contains the 2020 single "Afterglow", the single version of "The Joker and the Queen" featuring American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, the single version of "2step" featuring American rapper Lil Baby, a remix of "Bad Habits" featuring British rock band Bring Me the Horizon, and his collaboration with Nigerian singer Fireboy DML, "Peru". A second remix of "2step" is also included in the reissue in several countries. [6]

A French version of the album was released on 4 November 2022. This version contains "Peru", a remix of "2step" featuring Leto, "Bam Bam" by Camila Cabello featuring Sheeran, and a new single "Call on Me" by Vianney featuring Sheeran. [7] A limited edition includes a DVD of the FNAC Live 2021 concert. [8] The album sold 1.3 million copies worldwide in 2021, becoming the fifth best-selling album of that year. [9]

Background

On 18 August 2021, Sheeran said there would be a "big announcement" the following day. [10] On 19 August, he announced the album and its release date of 29 October on his social media accounts. [11] He described the album as his "coming-of-age" record. [12] To him, the album was a "really personal record and one that means a lot to me", citing changes in his life, including marriage, the birth of his daughter and experienced losses. [13] The promotional single "Visiting Hours" was released alongside the announcement. [14]

In an interview with Capital FM on 27 June 2021, Sheeran also stated that he would like to see the songs he made for the film Yesterday appear on a repackaged version of the album before he goes on tour for the record. [15]

Singles

"Bad Habits" was released on 25 June 2021 as the album's lead single. [16] "Bad Habits" reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. [17]

"Shivers" was released on 10 September 2021 as the album's second single. [18] "Shivers" reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. [19]

"Overpass Graffiti" was released alongside the album on 29 October 2021 as the third single. [20] [21] "Overpass Graffiti" reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sheeran performed the song for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series on 26 October. [22]

A remix of "The Joker and the Queen" featuring Taylor Swift was released as the album's fourth single on 11 February 2022. "The Joker and the Queen" reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A remix of "2step" featuring Lil Baby was released as the album's fifth single on 22 April 2022. "2step" reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Promotional singles

"Visiting Hours" was released on 19 August 2021 as the sole promotional single. It reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 5.6/10 [23]
Metacritic 59/100 [24]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [25]
Clash 6/10 [26]
Evening Standard Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [27]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [28]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [29]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [30]
Pitchfork 3.6/10 [31]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [32]
The Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [33]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]

= received mixed reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the album has a weighted average score of 59 out of 100 based on 13 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [24]

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "Sheeran's melodies are soft yet insistent, and the production glistens with fair borrowed from younger, hipper artists who mine a similar blend of retro new wave and modern R&B, but he knows how to turn this stylish sound into something cozy and reassuring, which therefore "is the surest sign that Ed Sheeran has indeed grown up: he's not chasing trends, he's making music for people who have aged out of the clubs but have yet to wallow in nostalgia". [25] Writing for Clash , Robin Murray rated the album 6 out of 10, explaining that the album "follows his mathematically minded opening trilogy, and it puts you in mind of completion, resolution, and conclusion. The album itself, however, offers little in the way of those things, thriving instead on a series of dichotomies – between the everyman and the star, the guitarist and the producer, between the humble pop savant and the brash stadium-filling star". [26] David Smyth from Evening Standard wrote that "although there are a few quiet songs among the 14 here, and more than a few lyrics about the humble joy of staying home with his wife Cherry and their one-year-old daughter Lyra, this is no Taylor Swift-style slice of lockdown restraint". [27] Entertainment Weekly listed it among their three worst albums of 2021, calling it the "cringiest pop album" of the year. [34]

Commercial performance

= debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, selling 139,000 units in its first week, outperforming the rest of the week's Top 30 combined. It achieved the 3rd biggest opening week for an album of 2021 in the UK and the 2nd fastest selling album of 2021, behind Adele's 30 . [35] It later became the second best-selling album of 2021 in the UK with 432,000 sales. [36]

The album debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, becoming Sheeran's fourth chart-topping album in the United States. It opened with 118,000 album-equivalent units, of which 68,000 were pure sales. [37]

Track listing

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Tides"
  • Sheeran
  • Vance
  • Joe Rubel
  • McDaid
3:15
2."Shivers"
3:27
3."First Times"
  • Sheeran
  • Fred
3:05
4."Bad Habits"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
3:51
5."Overpass Graffiti"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
3:56
6."The Joker and the Queen"
3:05
7."Leave Your Life"Sheeran3:43
8."Collide"
3:30
9."2step"
  • Bell
  • Watt
2:33
10."Stop the Rain"Sheeran
  • Sheeran
  • Rubel
  • Fred
3:23
11."Love in Slow Motion"
3:10
12."Visiting Hours"
3:35
13."Sandman"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
4:19
14."Be Right Now"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
3:31
Total length:48:23
Christmas edition [lower-alpha 2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Merry Christmas" (with Elton John)
  • Sheeran
  • John
  • Mac
Mac3:28
Total length:51:51
Japanese edition bonus track [38]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Afterglow"
  • Sheeran
  • Hodges
  • Fred
  • Sheeran
  • Hodges
  • Parisi
3:05
Total length:54:56
Digital fan deluxe limited edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Overpass Graffiti" (NPR Tiny Desk version)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
4:01
16."Shivers" (NPR Tiny Desk version)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Lavelle
  • Mac
3:51
17."Visiting Hours" (NPR Tiny Desk version)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Wadge
  • Clemons
  • Smith
  • Pollack
  • Carter
3:49
Total length:60:04
Tour edition [39]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Afterglow"
  • Sheeran
  • Hodges
  • Fred
  • Sheeran
  • Hodges
  • Parisi
3:05
16."One Life" (from Yesterday)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Mac
  • Sheeran
  • Mac
3:57
17."Penguins" (from Yesterday)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
4:09
18."I Will Remember You"Sheeran
  • Sheeran
  • Rubel
3:35
19."Welcome to the World"SheeranRubel2:57
20."The Joker and the Queen" (featuring Taylor Swift)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
  • Romans
3:05
21."2step" (featuring Lil Baby)
  • Bell
  • Watt
2:43
22."Bad Habits" (featuring Bring Me the Horizon)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
4:11
23."Peru" (with Fireboy DML)
  • Shizzi
  • Kolten Perine
3:07
24."2step" (featuring Potter Payper [lower-alpha 3] )
  • Bell
  • Watt
2:33
Total length:85:13
French edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."2step" (featuring Leto)
  • Sheeran
  • Hodges
  • Bell
  • Watt
  • Leto
  • Bell
  • Watt
2:34
16."Peru" (with Fireboy DML)
  • Sheeran
  • Fireboy DML
  • Ivory Scott IV
  • Shizzi
  • Shizzi
  • Kolten Perine
3:07
17."Call on Me" (with Vianney)
  • Sheeran
  • Vianney
  • Sheeran
  • Vianney
3:21
18."Bam Bam" (with Camila Cabello)
3:26
Total length:60:51

Note

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Is an additional producer.
  2. On the Christmas Edition of the album, the tracks from the standard edition are renumbered to tracks 2-15 and are listed in their original order after "Merry Christmas".
  3. The Potter Payper remix of "2step" is only featured on the UK version of the reissue. Some international versions of the reissue have a different artist featured instead, depending on the country. In other countries, a second remix of "2step" is not present on the reissue, leaving "Peru" as the last track.

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for =
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [120] Platinum70,000
Austria (IFPI Austria) [121] 2× Platinum30,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [122] Platinum40,000
Canada (Music Canada) [123] 4× Platinum320,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [124] 3× Platinum60,000
France (SNEP) [125] 3× Platinum300,000
Germany (BVMI) [126] Gold100,000
Italy (FIMI) [127] 2× Platinum100,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) [128] 3× Platinum45,000
Poland (ZPAV) [129] 2× Platinum40,000
Portugal (AFP) [130] Gold7,500^
Singapore (RIAS) [131] Gold5,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [132] Gold20,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [133] 3× Platinum1,020,421 [134]
United States (RIAA) [135] Platinum1,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for =
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef.
Various29 October 2021 [136]

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