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| How has Ed Sheeran managed to stay so relevant? |
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 Jan 4 2020, 02:09 PM
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#1
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 BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 24 November 2009
Posts: 9,229 User: 10,059 
  
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Most artists tend to have a slump in their chart success at some point but he's getting more success nowadays than he did with his debut! He's just had what, four #1's from the same album?
I personally don't listen to any of his music and find his whole 'appeal' so contrived and annoying (singing about 'take me back to London' and acting like he grew up in the streets when he did nothing of the sort, his constant 'relatable' lyrics about being an outsider and not being able to connect with famous or rich people etc) and am annoyed he racks up hits so effortlessly while there's other artists with much more talent and likeability than him struggling but he must have SOMETHING about him? How has he done it? Is he ever going to have a flop? |
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Jan 4 2020, 02:18 PM
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#2
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electric butterflies
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 49,112 User: 70
       
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I'd like to understand this too because if we understand it, we can work together to STOP IT #riseup
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Jan 4 2020, 02:19 PM
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#3
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 4 November 2013
Posts: 30,510 User: 20,053
   
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Collaborating with the right ppl, always gets on board with the right breakthrus.
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Jan 4 2020, 02:21 PM
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#4
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 Paul Hyett
Joined: 4 April 2006
Posts: 25,346 User: 364
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QUOTE(shadow2009 @ Jan 4 2020, 02:09 PM)  Most artists tend to have a slump in their chart success at some point but he's getting more success nowadays than he did with his debut! He's just had what, four #1's from the same album? It could be argued that his current album *is* slumping, at least compared to the 3 previous... 
This post has been edited by vidcapper: Jan 4 2020, 02:21 PM |
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Jan 4 2020, 02:25 PM
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#5
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 Here to play, here to stay
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 8 February 2015 Posts: 20,189 User: 21,587
        
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He’s managed to remain the most relevant singer for almost a decade now ever since he brought us The A Team.
I think 2020 will in fact be a quiet year for him. |
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Jan 4 2020, 04:00 PM
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#6
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BuzzJack Enthusiast
Joined: 24 November 2013
Posts: 1,480 User: 20,128
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Bottom line is Fantastic song writing.
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Jan 4 2020, 04:16 PM
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#7
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 BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 22 December 2009
Posts: 30,289 User: 10,275
   
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He's been too big to fail, most songs of the recent project wouldn't perhaps been hits for anyone else.
This post has been edited by SKOB: Jan 4 2020, 04:16 PM |
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Jan 4 2020, 04:20 PM
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#8
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Radical Pink Troll
Joined: 11 March 2006
Posts: 26,599 User: 177
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He’s safe and extremely clever. He knows exactly what image and sound people want and expect from him.
I’ve never really got the appeal, there are so many other solo singer songwriters out there who I feel do it better but don’t get the success. |
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Jan 4 2020, 04:20 PM
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#9
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 BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 22,812 User: 17,376
 
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Being an all-round nice bloke, making contacts with other high-profile stars, collabs, and a willingness to step out of his comfort zone without getting big-headed about anything and not take himself too seriously. And the odd occasional pop banger.
I mean, I too find his endless dirgey ballads far too OTT for me, but I still like him as a person. 
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Jan 4 2020, 04:22 PM
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#10
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electric butterflies
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 49,112 User: 70
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QUOTE(Popchartfreak @ Jan 4 2020, 04:20 PM) Being an all-round nice bloke, making contacts with other high-profile stars, collabs, and a willingness to step out of his comfort zone without getting big-headed about anything and not take himself too seriously. And the odd occasional pop banger. I mean, I too find his endless dirgey ballads far too OTT for me, but I still like him as a person. I actually think the nice guy routine is very fake. You're right that it's one of the reasons people like his music, but I think he's actually quite arrogant and takes himself very seriously. The smart thing is marketing himself as though he isn't. |
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Jan 4 2020, 04:25 PM
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#11
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 you never forget your first time...
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 121,537 User: 13,530       
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QUOTE(SKOB @ Jan 4 2020, 04:16 PM) He's been too big to fail, most songs of the recent project wouldn't perhaps been hits for anyone else. Really? I don't agree with this at all. Of course his status helps but songs like I Don't Care, Beautiful People and South of the Border really would've been hits by anybody else. I'm not sure anybody else would've made a song like Take Me Back to London in the first place, it's got Ed written all over it and that's why he sells it well. What helps Ed is that he comes across as pretty down to earth. He's instantly likeable to the general public, and very relatable. He's a very good songwriter too, a song like Thinking Out Loud was destined to be a classic because it has such a timeless feel to it. He's also smart and knows how to play the music industry. He's on top of trends, knows who to work with, and what to do to ensure he gets the best platforms possible for his music. He's business minded. The current era's been helped by the big names he's worked with, too. Look at the big hits of the era: they've been collaborations with Justin Bieber, Khalid, Stormzy, Camila, Cardi, and even Chance the Rapper isn't a nobody. The combined star power is only keeping interest high, even if the project as a whole probably won't appeal to every single listener (it feels more designed for people to cherry pick their faves cause it's not remotely cohesive). Honestly I think his appeal is very easy to see, and you don't have to like him to get why so many other people do! |
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Jan 4 2020, 04:26 PM
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#12
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 22 December 2009
Posts: 30,289 User: 10,275
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QUOTE(Popchartfreak @ Jan 4 2020, 06:20 PM) Being an all-round nice bloke, making contacts with other high-profile stars, collabs, and a willingness to step out of his comfort zone without getting big-headed about anything and not take himself too seriously. And the odd occasional pop banger. I mean, I too find his endless dirgey ballads far too OTT for me, but I still like him as a person. He might not take himself too seriously but he's obsessed with success. He bragged on IG that No.6 went #1 around the world "without any promotion" and being "outside his usual wheelhouse". What's not promotion in the biggest visibility on streaming services and several music videos and radio deals and remixes and stuff 
This post has been edited by SKOB: Jan 4 2020, 04:30 PM |
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Jan 4 2020, 04:33 PM
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#13
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BuzzJack Gold Member
Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 3,628 User: 3,429
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Whilst is it astonishing that he can do a cheesy video like I Don't Care and a slushy Westlife-style ballad like Perfect yet still maintain his credibility, I think really it boils down to the fact the songs are bloody good. He's just very talented, whether you like him or not, sorry!
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Jan 4 2020, 04:56 PM
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#14
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Jord
Joined: 12 March 2017
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I can see it! I’m a fan of him to an extent.
He can write a good song, and he does work with the right people at the right time too. He’s a relatable writer and his music kind of feel true to people. I think a lot of people think he’s much less manufactured etc than what he is like a lot of people would he surprised by the amount of co-writers etc are on his songs but I think people like him outside of this forum because they think he’s real as a person too. Also.. he sort of sees what’s on trend and capitalises on it but without going too extreme to turn fans off. He is clever in terms of marketing etc like he isn’t someone who’s stuff all sounds exactly the same but you’re never gonna get a big risk from him either. He’s clever enough to not be too active on social sites where he posts stuff what’s not music related and he’s rarely in the news for causing trouble or mouthing off either so that probably helps him too. He sort of takes himself seriously as being like the good guy of pop in a way Taylor likes to be seen as the good girl of pop. He’s talented to an extent. Like I don’t think he deserves as many #1s and those album sales but I can see it. My main issue with him is that as a live act he’s not really that interesting or stadium worthy like you don’t really get a show just watching him stand there if that makes sense. I’d take him over a lot of other male artists though. This post has been edited by Jordan Lee: Jan 4 2020, 04:58 PM |
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Jan 4 2020, 05:03 PM
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#15
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 3 August 2006
Posts: 8,209 User: 1,031
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Well he’s still had a lot of success with his latest collaborations album. It may not have reached the dizzy heights in terms of sales compared to his earlier albums but it’s sold consistently over last year and ended up the 2nd best selling album of last year. This has occurred in the context of album sales declining in general. He has also been very successful in the singles chart with multiple T10 singles off his latest album. I’m not sure why he is doing so well but he obviously continues to have mass appeal!
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Jan 4 2020, 05:37 PM
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#16
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 16 November 2009
Posts: 7,590 User: 9,988
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Oh good an Ed Sheeran bashing thread.
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Jan 4 2020, 05:38 PM
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#17
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BuzzJack Regular
Joined: 13 July 2007
Posts: 302 User: 3,909
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I don’t understand his appeal at all. In my opinion his personality is very fake and conniving! I find him very unlikable.
Also some of his lyrics, songs and videos are awful. Meanwhile the UK has some fantastic singer songwriters that don’t get half enough attention e.g. James Morrison. This post has been edited by diamondtooth: Jan 4 2020, 05:38 PM |
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Jan 4 2020, 06:53 PM
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#18
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Radical Pink Troll
Joined: 11 March 2006
Posts: 26,599 User: 177
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Yeah, I’m not sure he is that good a songwriter. He’s capable that’s for sure but his songs aren’t always that memorable. He’s also quite frequently accused of stealing melodies and such. He’s overblown as a songwriter in the way that Gary Barlow is.
He’s got the ‘down to Earth’ thing to a tee. I’d love to say that it’s an act but I’m not too sure if I’m honest as I saw him in Yesterday and he wasn’t that convincing at playing himself. I do think a lot of his success boils down to laziness on the part of the GP, our charts are made up from a lot of lazy listening habits. Ed Sheeran is a name people know and he’s generally regarded as decent and so people go for that. |
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Jan 4 2020, 07:17 PM
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#19
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 The owls are not what they seem
Pronouns: He/him
Joined: 11 July 2009 Posts: 37,104 User: 9,232
      
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He's just smart and knows how to play the industry - 'down to earth' image, never out of the spotlight for too long, writes songs that will be eaten up by the radio yet also has a bit of street cred with his collaboration with rappers and big names which opens him up to other audiences. I mean look at when he went for Christmas Number 1, he knew exactly what he needed to do to get it and he succeeded by a mile.
At this point, his name is enough to sell anything so he can do a lot of things that not a lot of artists can do. Yet he still never strays too far from MOR and never something not suitable for radio. It's all very safe, and honestly that reason is why I've never really got into him as I don't feel any of his songs have been a proper risk. He'll fade eventually, every artist has a certain time of relevance before it passes on, he's just been good at making his time worth it. |
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Jan 4 2020, 09:39 PM
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#20
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BuzzJack Gold Member
Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 3,628 User: 3,429
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QUOTE(T Boy @ Jan 4 2020, 06:53 PM) Yeah, I’m not sure he is that good a songwriter. He’s capable that’s for sure but his songs aren’t always that memorable. He’s also quite frequently accused of stealing melodies and such. He’s overblown as a songwriter in the way that Gary Barlow is. He’s got the ‘down to Earth’ thing to a tee. I’d love to say that it’s an act but I’m not too sure if I’m honest as I saw him in Yesterday and he wasn’t that convincing at playing himself. I do think a lot of his success boils down to laziness on the part of the GP, our charts are made up from a lot of lazy listening habits. Ed Sheeran is a name people know and he’s generally regarded as decent and so people go for that. Sorry but there has to be more to it than that. He hasn't got 3 of the top 5 best-selling singles of the decade for nothing. Some of his lyrics are a bit cringe but he knows how to write a catchy tune. You can't say his songs are not memorable. |
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