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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 29 October 2021 | |||
Recorded | June 2017 – July 2021 [1] | |||
Genre | Pop [2] | |||
Length | 48:23 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Ed Sheeran chronology | ||||
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Singles from = | ||||
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= ("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.
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, containing a 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]
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]
"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.
"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.
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 5.6/10 [23] |
Metacritic | 59/100 [24] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Clash | 6/10 [26] |
Evening Standard | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 3.6/10 [31] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Telegraph | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
= 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".
= 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 . [34] It later became the second best-selling album of 2021 in the UK with 432,000 sales. [35]
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. [36]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Tides" |
| 3:15 | |
2. | "Shivers" |
|
| 3:27 |
3. | "First Times" |
|
| 3:05 |
4. | "Bad Habits" |
|
| 3:51 |
5. | "Overpass Graffiti" |
|
| 3:56 |
6. | "The Joker and the Queen" |
|
| 3:05 |
7. | "Leave Your Life" | Sheeran |
| 3:43 |
8. | "Collide" |
|
| 3:30 |
9. | "2step" |
|
| 2:33 |
10. | "Stop the Rain" | Sheeran |
| 3:23 |
11. | "Love in Slow Motion" |
|
| 3:10 |
12. | "Visiting Hours" |
|
| 3:35 |
13. | "Sandman" |
|
| 4:19 |
14. | "Be Right Now" |
|
| 3:31 |
Total length: | 48:23 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Merry Christmas" (with Elton John) |
| Mac | 3:28 |
Total length: | 51:51 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Afterglow" |
|
| 3:05 |
Total length: | 54:56 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
15. | "Overpass Graffiti" (NPR Tiny Desk version) |
| 4:01 |
16. | "Shivers" (NPR Tiny Desk version) |
| 3:51 |
17. | "Visiting Hours" (NPR Tiny Desk version) |
| 3:49 |
Total length: | 60:04 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Afterglow" |
|
| 3:05 |
16. | "One Life" (from Yesterday ) |
|
| 3:57 |
17. | "Penguins" (from Yesterday) |
|
| 4:09 |
18. | "I Will Remember You" | Sheeran |
| 3:35 |
19. | "Welcome to the World" | Sheeran | Rubel | 2:57 |
20. | "The Joker and the Queen" (featuring Taylor Swift) |
|
| 3:05 |
21. | "2step" (featuring Lil Baby) |
|
| 2:43 |
22. | "Bad Habits" (featuring Bring Me the Horizon) |
|
| 4:11 |
23. | "Peru" (with Fireboy DML) |
|
| 3:07 |
24. | "2step" (featuring Potter Payper [c] ) |
|
| 2:33 |
Total length: | 85:13 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "2step" (featuring Leto) |
|
| 2:34 |
16. | "Peru" (with Fireboy DML) |
|
| 3:07 |
17. | "Call on Me" (with Vianney) |
|
| 3:21 |
18. | "Bam Bam" (with Camila Cabello) |
|
| 3:26 |
Total length: | 60:51 |
Note
Musicians
Technical
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [123] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [124] | 2× Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [125] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [126] | 4× Platinum | 320,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [127] | 3× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [128] | 3× Platinum | 300,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [129] | Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [130] | 2× Platinum | 100,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [131] | 4× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [132] | 2× Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP) [133] | Gold | 7,500^ |
Singapore (RIAS) [134] | Gold | 5,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [135] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [136] | 3× Platinum | 1,159,660 [137] |
United States (RIAA) [138] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 29 October 2021 | [139] |
The discography of English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran consists of seven studio albums, two compilation albums, seventeen extended plays, one video album, sixty-five singles, eight promotional singles, one box set, and seventy-one music videos. As of October 2021, Sheeran has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists in history. According to RIAA, Sheeran is the 15th best-selling digital singles artist in the United States with certified sales of 103 million.
+ ("Plus") is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 9 September 2011 by Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. The album is considered Sheeran's commercial breakthrough. He previously released five EPs independently. Jake Gosling and Sheeran produced the majority of the album, with additional production by American hip hop producer No I.D.
"Everything Has Changed" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring the English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran from Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012). It was released as the sixth single from the album on July 14, 2013, by Big Machine Records. A music video for the song was released earlier on June 6, 2013. Produced by Butch Walker, "Everything Has Changed" is a guitar-led folk-pop ballad. Its lyrics are about wanting to know a new lover better. The song received mixed reviews from critics, who either complimented or criticized the production.
x is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran. It was released on 20 June 2014 in Australia and New Zealand, and worldwide on 23 June through Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. The album received positive reviews from music critics. It was an international commercial success, peaking at No. 1 in 15 countries, while topping both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. x also reached the top five in seven other countries and was the best selling album of 2014 in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Five singles were released from the album: "Sing", "Don't", "Thinking Out Loud", "Bloodstream", and "Photograph".
"Thinking Out Loud" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran recorded for his second studio album, × (2014). It was written by Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge, and produced by frequent collaborator Jake Gosling. It was released in the US on 14 August 2014 as the album's third single.
Beauty Behind the Madness is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on August 28, 2015, through XO and Republic Records. It features guest appearances from Labrinth, Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey. The album was executive produced by the Weeknd, DaHeala and Illangelo, and includes production from Kanye West, Stephan Moccio, Ben Billions, DannyBoyStyles, Max Martin, and Ali Payami, among others.
÷ ("Divide") is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 3 March 2017 through Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. "Castle on the Hill" and "Shape of You" were released as the album's lead singles on 6 January 2017. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. As of March 2024, the deluxe version of the album is the most streamed album of all time on Spotify.
"Shape of You" is a song by English singer Ed Sheeran. It was released on 6 January 2017 as one of the double lead singles from his third studio album ÷ (2017), along with "Castle on the Hill". The dancehall & R&B infused song was written by Sheeran, Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid. Due to its interpolation of "No Scrubs" by TLC, Kandi Burruss, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs are also credited as writers. The song was produced by Sheeran and Steve Mac.
"Perfect" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran from his third studio album, ÷ (2017). After the album's release, it charted at number four on the UK Singles Chart. On 21 August 2017, Billboard announced that "Perfect" would be the fourth single from the album. The song was serviced to pop radio on 26 September 2017 as the third single from the album in the United States. The second version of the single, titled "Perfect Duet", with American singer Beyoncé, was released on 1 December 2017. Another duet with Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, titled "Perfect Symphony", was released on 15 December 2017.
Phoenix is the second studio album by British singer Rita Ora, released on 23 November 2018 through Atlantic Records UK. The release was Ora's first album since Ora in 2012. Ora announced the album on 18 September 2018 and it was made available for pre-order the same day.
No.6 Collaborations Project is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 12 July 2019 through Asylum and Atlantic Records. The album includes guest appearances from Khalid, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, PnB Rock, Stormzy, Yebba, Justin Bieber, Travis Scott, Eminem, 50 Cent, Young Thug, J Hus, Ella Mai, Paulo Londra, Dave, H.E.R., Meek Mill, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Skrillex, Chris Stapleton, and Bruno Mars. It is a sequel to Sheeran's 2011 compilation extended play, No. 5 Collaborations Project.
"Beautiful People" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran featuring American singer Khalid. It was released on 28 June 2019 through Asylum Records as the third single from the former's compilation album, No.6 Collaborations Project (2019).
"Bad Habits" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 25 June 2021, through Asylum and Atlantic Records, as the lead single from his fourth studio album, = ("Equals"). The song marked his first solo release from an album in over four years. A limited edition CD and cassette single were also released. The song received mixed reviews from music critics, who compared its sound and style to the works of the Weeknd, as well as Bronski Beat.
Red (Taylor's Version) is the second re-recorded album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on November 12, 2021, by Republic Records. A re-recording of Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012), it is part of her re-recording projects following the 2019 dispute over the ownership of her back catalog.
"Shivers" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, released through Asylum Records and Atlantic Records on 10 September 2021 as the second single from his fifth studio album, = (2021). "Shivers" entered atop the charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland, dethroning Sheeran's previous single "Bad Habits" after eleven consecutive weeks at the summit in both countries. The song also topped the charts in Austria, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
"2step" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran from his fifth studio album = (2021), appearing as the ninth track on its track listing. It was written by Sheeran, David Hodges, Louis Bell and Andrew Wotman, and produced by the latter two. A remix featuring American rapper Lil Baby was released on 22 April 2022, making it the fifth and final single from the album. It was sent to hot adult contemporary radio in the United States three days later. On 2 May 2022, Sheeran released a version of the song featuring Ukrainian pop-rock band Antytila, and later released an additional 12 "global remixes" of the song, with artists from Finland, India, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Brazil.
"Overpass Graffiti" is a song by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, released through Asylum and Atlantic Records on 29 October 2021, as the third single from his fifth studio album, = (2021). It was written and produced by Sheeran, Johnny McDaid and Fred.
Love, Damini is the sixth studio album by Burna Boy. It was released on 8 July 2022 through Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Ladysmith Black Mambazo, J Hus, Vict0ny, Popcaan, Blxst, Kehlani, Ed Sheeran, J Balvin, and Khalid. It was supported by two singles, "Kilometre" and "Last Last". The album is named after Burna Boy's legal first name and serves as the follow-up to his previous album, Twice as Tall (2020).
Gloria is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Sam Smith, released on 27 January 2023 through Capitol Records. The album serves as a follow-up to Love Goes (2020). Smith took creative control on the album, resulting in gaining an increasingly provocative image in the public eye. Musically, Gloria is a pop album, with lyrical themes of sex, lies, passion, self-expression, and imperfection.
Autumn Variations is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 29 September 2023 through his record label, Gingerbread Man Records. All tracks on the album were solely produced by Aaron Dessner, except the track "Spring", which was produced by Dessner together with his twin brother Bryce. The album also serves as Sheeran's second project of 2023, following the May release of his previous album -, and is the first studio album for which he owns the copyright.