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| How has Ed Sheeran managed to stay so relevant? |
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 6th January 2020, 02:32 PM
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#41
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 BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 11 October 2013
Posts: 31,028 User: 19,931 
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Ed is very calculated and it's quite transparent, but it works for him, so you can't really argue it, when it seems to be what he wants from the industry at this point.
For example, he bottles up his work as something authentic and "real". Even the "title" of his latest album, is his way of trying to pass it off as some experimental little side project... When in reality he has simply gone down a list of the most streamed and up and coming artists of now, and what we're left with is an album featuring everyone who has had a song with 1 billion streams in the last couple of years, but it's packaged in a way in which your generic album buyer think they're getting something innovative. Like I said, it's a winning formula. But the final project often comes off pretty empty, which is why he suffers critically. This post has been edited by 365: 6th January 2020, 04:03 PM |
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6th January 2020, 02:42 PM
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#42
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 BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 22 December 2009
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Well put! Also, can't see the younger generation (people under 20) getting behind his music en masse any more in coming years.
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6th January 2020, 02:44 PM
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#43
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 16 November 2009
Posts: 7,600 User: 9,988
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QUOTE(365 @ Jan 6 2020, 02:32 PM)  Ed is very calculated, it's quite transparent, but it works, so you can't really argue it. For example, he bottles up his work as something authentic and "real". Even the "title" of his latest album, is his way of trying to pass it off as some experimental little side project... When in reality he has simply gone down a list of the most streamed and up and coming artists of now, and what we're left with is an album featuring everyone who has had a song with 1 billion streams in the last couple of years, but it's packaged in a way in which your generic album buyer think they're getting something innovative. Like I said, it's a winning formula. But the final project often comes off pretty empty, which is why he suffers critically. It is called the no.6 collaborations project because before he got signed and hit the big time he released 5 EPs and the 5th was called no.5 collaborations project. It is a continuation of his pre-signed days and paying homage to that. Again there is so much absolute rubbish spoken about him on here. He does a side project continuing on the name and theme of his pre-signed work and yet you still make it out like it's some masterminded underhand thing. This post has been edited by sammy01: 6th January 2020, 02:45 PM |
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6th January 2020, 02:57 PM
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#44
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 22 December 2009
Posts: 30,354 User: 10,275
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QUOTE(sammy01 @ Jan 6 2020, 04:44 PM) It is called the no.6 collaborations project because before he got signed and hit the big time he released 5 EPs and the 5th was called no.5 collaborations project. It is a continuation of his pre-signed days and paying homage to that. Again there is so much absolute rubbish spoken about him on here. He does a side project continuing on the name and theme of his pre-signed work and yet you still make it out like it's some masterminded underhand thing. It still doesn't delete the fact that the artists he collaborated with were chosen in as opportunistic way as possible. |
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6th January 2020, 03:01 PM
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#45
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 24 November 2009
Posts: 9,234 User: 10,059
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QUOTE(sammy01 @ Jan 6 2020, 02:44 PM) Again there is so much absolute rubbish spoken about him on here. He does a side project continuing on the name and theme of his pre-signed work and yet you still make it out like it's some masterminded underhand thing. It's not a 'side project'. It's an album. It has Justin Bieber, Khalid, Stormzy, Cardi B, Dave, Camila Cabello, Chance The Rapper and other popular/heavily streamed artists on every single track. It got Spotify playlisting, music videos, radio airplay and interviews/live performances to promote it. He released it on every media sharing application possible. It's very blatantly him trying to undermime it's effort and expectations ("just a little thing I've been working on! Who cares about the charts?!") yet giving it the same treatment as a solo album. These artists have HUGE streams and very popular on Spotify. He didn't collaborate with any small time artists, did he? It's all A-Listers. Even looking at the non-singles he's still got tracks with Eminem, 50 Cent, Bruno Mars, Young Thug, J Hus, Skrillex, Boogie With Da Hoodie.... You don't see him getting some small-time, local acts on his stuff do you? For someone who goes on about being from 'London' and how he can't relate to anyone living the celebrity/famous lifestyle you'd think he'd help out some London acts who could benefit hugely from the exposure and change their careers but instead he goes for Dave and Stormzy who he knows will benefit his streams. |
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6th January 2020, 03:04 PM
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#46
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 13 November 2015
Posts: 33,251 User: 22,665
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about being cocky: you cannot deny that his lyrics about there Divide tour making millions is a very cocky statement, that's just the opposite of humble
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6th January 2020, 03:21 PM
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#47
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 11 October 2013
Posts: 31,028 User: 19,931
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QUOTE(sammy01 @ Jan 6 2020, 02:44 PM) It is called the no.6 collaborations project because before he got signed and hit the big time he released 5 EPs and the 5th was called no.5 collaborations project. It is a continuation of his pre-signed days and paying homage to that. Again there is so much absolute rubbish spoken about him on here. He does a side project continuing on the name and theme of his pre-signed work and yet you still make it out like it's some masterminded underhand thing. I appreciate and respect that it's hard seeing criticism for an artist you love, we can all get defensive about these kinds of things, but I think this is quite facetious. Ed Sheeran is very talented, and has shown moments of pure brilliance over the course of his career, but it's silly to deny that he uses this authentic, underdog, every man image to further his success, more now than ever. Even if you look at the lyrics of 'Beautiful People' for instance, he sings as if he's some sad, wee relatable wallflower who feels out of place at parties for the rich and famous when the reality he's pictured in all the top parties in LA schmoozing with fellow A-listers and hanging with Victoria models. But what I'm saying is that the I'm this down-and-out everyman with a guitar image works for him, and if it gets him money and a load of #1s, then good him - that's his aim I would assume! But you can't judge a lot of people for being cynical. And, again, while I have no issue that you're such a massive Ed Sheeran apologist (people should enjoy what they like! - I actually think a couple of the songs on the new album are perfectly catchy myself), some of the arguments you push again and again just simply do not ring true. "It is ridiculous that you say these things like they are negatives, when if they were done by other buzzjack faves, like Kylie, Mariah, Little Mix, Leona etc, they would be seen as positives." Let's look at Little Mix for a moment, who are very popular here - their single 'Bounce Back' got a massive push, huge playlisting, huge Spotify payola, 3(!) videos including a vertical video added straight to Hot Hits...I could go on. But people's main issue was "Why are they doing all this for such an underwhelming single?" And I know it's been said time and time again, but people picking out issues with Ed Sheeran has never been an "on here" issue. It's not some bizarre Buzzjack obsession, maybe expand your reach to a couple more websites, his album just won "least imaginative A&R decision" on the Popjustice readers poll for example. This post has been edited by 365: 6th January 2020, 03:35 PM |
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6th January 2020, 04:49 PM
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#48
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 is my brain across your walls?
Joined: 14 February 2009
Posts: 115,077 User: 8,300
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QUOTE(365 @ Jan 6 2020, 02:32 PM) Even the "title" of his latest album, is his way of trying to pass it off as some experimental little side project... When in reality he has simply gone down a list of the most streamed and up and coming artists of now, and what we're left with is an album featuring everyone who has had a song with 1 billion streams in the last couple of years, but it's packaged in a way in which your generic album buyer think they're getting something innovative. I'm not going to argue that his music is any more 'authentic' than any other pop music because it obviously isn't, No.6 was a focus grouped project geared at giving him a ton of hit singles and there's totally legitimate criticism of the music / 'artistry' involved in it, hence it getting ripped apart by the critics and pretty justifiably so. That's 95% of all pop music. But come on, this is a massive stretch. The title is A) a literal description of what the project is and B) a reference to one of his older EPs, I don't know how you think anyone is seeing the title 'No.6 Collaborations Project' and thinking that it must be some low budget weird experimental project with no-name artists when it's very clearly got a ton of huge names on it (and of course it does, it's an update to the concept of the last EP that reflects that he's now a bigger artist). And he's not exactly going to come out marketing it as 'lol I don't care about this music at all it's just what the label told me to do', neither would any other pop artist? QUOTE(Bjork @ Jan 6 2020, 03:04 PM) about being cocky: you cannot deny that his lyrics about there Divide tour making millions is a very cocky statement, that's just the opposite of humble Wow he put one flexing line into a rap song, world shocked. I don't understand why you seem to think this lyric is so uniquely awful that you've pointed it out a good 10 times, it was so painfully predictable you'd mention it in this thread eventually. Never mind that the whole song is about how he's had big success but still wants to come back home to do simple things, completely fitting his 'everyman' image. Is he supposed to just never acknowledge that he's had massive achievements? |
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6th January 2020, 05:03 PM
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#49
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 you never forget your first time...
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 121,692 User: 13,530 
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QUOTE(shadow2009 @ Jan 6 2020, 03:01 PM) It's not a 'side project'. It's an album. It has Justin Bieber, Khalid, Stormzy, Cardi B, Dave, Camila Cabello, Chance The Rapper and other popular/heavily streamed artists on every single track. It got Spotify playlisting, music videos, radio airplay and interviews/live performances to promote it. He released it on every media sharing application possible. It's very blatantly him trying to undermime it's effort and expectations ("just a little thing I've been working on! Who cares about the charts?!") yet giving it the same treatment as a solo album. These artists have HUGE streams and very popular on Spotify. He didn't collaborate with any small time artists, did he? It's all A-Listers. Even looking at the non-singles he's still got tracks with Eminem, 50 Cent, Bruno Mars, Young Thug, J Hus, Skrillex, Boogie With Da Hoodie.... You don't see him getting some small-time, local acts on his stuff do you? For someone who goes on about being from 'London' and how he can't relate to anyone living the celebrity/famous lifestyle you'd think he'd help out some London acts who could benefit hugely from the exposure and change their careers but instead he goes for Dave and Stormzy who he knows will benefit his streams. It is a side project, it's quite clearly not intended to be his fourth "proper" album because of its concept. It's a bit like a Christmas album in that sense - I don't think many people consider Under the Mistletoe to be Justin Bieber's actual sophomore album over Believe, because being a concept album (ie. Christmas music) separates it from his usual releases. It's an album, just a different type of album and therefore more of a side project. You do realise that he likely has little say in Spotify playlisting and radio airplay too? The label will control most of this, and why WOULDN'T they want to promote an album by one of the biggest artists in the world, collaborating with some of the other biggest artists in the world? It would be absolutely baffling if they didn't. re. his "no promo" comment, it was silly and short-sighted but I think he meant TV & radio interviews and performances - he's actually done none of these during the No.6 Collaborations Project era. Not a single track has been performed on TV and the only interviews seem to be exclusive to his YouTube channel. Obviously promotion also includes Spotify playlisting etc but again, Ed doesn't control the playlists. It's also interesting that you missed out the album also seeing contributions from YEBBA, PnB Rock, Ella Mai, Paulo Londra and H.E.R, all of whom are relatively unknown especially in the UK, or are up-and-coming. Perhaps no complete unknowns, but like Bré said, it's a clear progression from No.5 Collaborations Project, which was the intention of this release. |
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6th January 2020, 05:10 PM
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#50
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is my brain across your walls?
Joined: 14 February 2009
Posts: 115,077 User: 8,300
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QUOTE(JosephStyles @ Jan 6 2020, 05:03 PM) It is a side project, it's quite clearly not intended to be his fourth "proper" album because of its concept. It's a bit like a Christmas album in that sense - I don't think many people consider Under the Mistletoe to be Justin Bieber's actual sophomore album over Believe, because being a concept album (ie. Christmas music) separates it from his usual releases. It's an album, just a different type of album and therefore more of a side project. This is a great analogy - the lines between what an album / mixtape / EP / whatever are very much blurred now (I'd argue this project is more of a 'mixtape' than an album for whatever nearly nonexistent distinction there is between the two) but even if you do want to insist on calling it his 4th studio album it's very clear that it's an entirely different concept to his previous albums and is not intended to be the real successor to '÷' in his discography. It being promoted does not mean it isn't a side project. I'd say Lady Gaga's 'Cheek To Cheek' is also similar, no one considers that to be the follow-up album to 'ARTPOP' or makes a big deal about how it sold far less. I know this isn't really relevant to the point of this thread but I just find it a little disingenuous when people compare the success of this release to that of '÷' as if they're not two different releases that had different aims and 'No.6 Collaborations Project' was never going to be a behemoth album seller like that was xx |
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6th January 2020, 05:20 PM
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#51
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is my brain across your walls?
Joined: 14 February 2009
Posts: 115,077 User: 8,300
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#edsheerandefenceforce
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6th January 2020, 05:35 PM
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#52
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 22 December 2009
Posts: 30,354 User: 10,275
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Out of curiosity, what would be DIFFERENT to I Don't Care when he returns with a new single then (I assume sometimes 2021)?
The thing is, he would put out songs EXACTLY like IDC and BP no matter what the album was titled. |
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6th January 2020, 05:38 PM
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#53
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you never forget your first time...
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 121,692 User: 13,530
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QUOTE(SKOB @ Jan 6 2020, 05:35 PM) Out of curiosity, what would be DIFFERENT to I Don't Care when he returns with a new single then (I assume sometimes 2021)? The thing is, he would put out songs EXACTLY like IDC and BP no matter what the album was titled. Yet he'd be unlikely to be putting out songs like Cross Me, Antisocial and some of the album tracks. It's still an Ed Sheeran release, it's no shock that his style is still present on it, but that doesn't stop it not being the proper, actual follow-up to Divide. |
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6th January 2020, 05:38 PM
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#54
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 BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 23 June 2018
Posts: 9,511 User: 73,240
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QUOTE(SKOB @ Jan 6 2020, 05:35 PM) Out of curiosity, what would be DIFFERENT to I Don't Care when he returns with a new single then (I assume sometimes 2021)? The thing is, he would put out songs EXACTLY like IDC and BP no matter what the album was titled. It wouldn't be a collaboration 
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6th January 2020, 05:39 PM
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#55
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is my brain across your walls?
Joined: 14 February 2009
Posts: 115,077 User: 8,300
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It'd probably be a solo song for one thing, considering none of his previous albums had any collaborations on them...
 The main difference will be that the next album will (presumably) have at least an attempt at some sort of cohesion rather than being a collection of totally unrelated standalone songs blending their genres around the choices of features. |
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6th January 2020, 05:43 PM
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#56
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 "Jayrusaleminians" - Umi.
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 4 April 2007 Posts: 41,452 User: 3,217
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I understand & agree with the point Joe was making re: the impression Ed/his label wants to give with this release. The title / the way it’s been marketed, is very deliberate. On the surface, it being tied in with his pre-fame releases suggests some kind of “back to his roots” moment, but in actuality it’s simply his most commercialised release so far, with a slew of huge names, tailor made for streaming. What Joe said wasn’t a criticism! It was an observation on how it’s been marketed in a clever way.
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6th January 2020, 05:52 PM
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#57
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is my brain across your walls?
Joined: 14 February 2009
Posts: 115,077 User: 8,300
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QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Jan 6 2020, 05:43 PM) I understand & agree with the point Joe was making re: the impression Ed/his label wants to give with this release. The title / the way it’s been marketed, is very deliberate. On the surface, it being tied in with his pre-fame releases suggests some kind of “back to his roots” moment, but in actuality it’s simply his most commercialised release so far, with a slew of huge names, tailor made for streaming. What Joe said wasn’t a criticism! It was an observation on how it’s been marketed in a clever way. 'No.5 Collaborations Project' was arguably his most commercialised release up to that point as well lol so I think that's fitting ~ the names on that EP aren't as huge as the ones on No.6 but they weren't obscure either, they are some of the biggest names in grime. It is throwing a bone to people who have been long time fans of him so clever marketing in that way but I disagree with Joe implying that the title was chosen to somehow trick people into thinking it's experimental. It is what it is, an update to the formula of the original EP, and the title is a reflection of that. |
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6th January 2020, 06:58 PM
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#58
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BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 11 October 2013
Posts: 31,028 User: 19,931
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hmmm My post was just a direct response to the thread's title, 'How has Ed Sheeran managed to stay so relevant?', in which my take was one example of the way he very cleverly walks the line between making massive, commercial pop bangers, but packages it as something more 'authentic' and 'high brow' to help it appeal to as wide a demographic possible (unlike, say, something by Liam Payne or Mabel would, despite using some of the same co-writers and producers as them). Yes, I can find it hollow and overly calculated but I also think most of the people who are sick of him also wish their favs were as savvy in the business.
(Spotify exposed me as an Ed stan for the first time last year with 3 of the songs off the album ending up on my Wrapped) |
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6th January 2020, 07:04 PM
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#59
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BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 24 November 2009
Posts: 9,234 User: 10,059
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QUOTE(Bré @ Jan 6 2020, 05:10 PM) I know this isn't really relevant to the point of this thread but I just find it a little disingenuous when people compare the success of this release to that of '÷' as if they're not two different releases that had different aims and 'No.6 Collaborations Project' was never going to be a behemoth album seller like that was xx But why not? It's had singles released? Music videos? It's released on all platforms? What's actually the difference between this album (besides the fact it's got the word 'project' in the title) and his other albums? If it was a massive smash seller he'd be taking credit for it and saying he had "xx amount of million selling albums" but it seems like he's labelled it like this so if it flops or underperforms he can just say 'it wasn't an album anyway'. |
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6th January 2020, 07:04 PM
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#60
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is my brain across your walls?
Joined: 14 February 2009
Posts: 115,077 User: 8,300
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That's fair then, just thought you were slightly overthinking the significance of the album title ~
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