I feel as though Castle On The Hill needs some form of clapping or a guitar taking the lead on the chorus. Shape Of You really is reminding me of Sia in terms of the instrumental. I do feel both tracks just need a bit more oomph in the chorus

Shape Of You is good but the instrumental sounds very cheap? It's so off putting. I actually think I would like it if it had a stronger instrumental/voice. Shoulda stayed with Rihanna.

Shape of You is definitely sounding the better of the two songs! I don't really hear Cheap Thrills, it sounds much more like The Greatest. In fact that are VERY similar instrumentals. Castle on the Hill sounds decent and will probably be the grower of the two!

So I'm in the minority it seems and prefer 'Castle On The Hill' to 'Shape Of You'? :lol:

 

'Castle On The Hill' seems pretty anthemic to me. Absolutely brilliant! 'Shape Of You' reminds me of 'Cheap Thrills' (mixed with a bit of 'Be Alright' by Ariana) also, but without the personality of it.

 

Both tracks are at least very good though. Really excited for his album!

I'm not really sure which one I prefer out of the two yet but I'm really liking both, they offer something different from his usual style I think which is great. Shape of You definitely gives me Sia teas with the instrumental like everyone's said but I don't think it's any kind of rip-off, the song as a whole is nothing like Sia. Very impressed anyway, hope they can both get a turn at #1! :lol:

Casttle on the hill is so amazing :wub:

I feel like it's going to be completely overshadowed by Shape of you though :(

'Castle On The Hill' is winning the Youtube Views! ;D

 

'Castle On The Hill': 1,013,790

'Shape Of You': 948,502

Very pleased with these new singles! Both strong, though 'Castle On The Hill' has the edge for me.

Shape of You is sublimely well produced. I don't feel it's too close to Cheap Thrills. Feels like it could be a great 'driving at night' banger.

 

Castle on the Hill is going to be gobbled up by UK audiences too. He done good.

I prefer Castle On The Hill, I wish the chorus was more powerful.

 

As you say the instrumental in Shape Of You is a beat cheap.

Shape Of You just following the overused tropical house style production but at least the vocal is good.

 

Castle On the Hill is better a decent indie rock style song, we haven't seen much indie rock in the charts recently so it is refreshing

Edited January 6, 20178 yr by 🚡🚟🍥-♨🎪🚘🎉🍥

I didn't hear Cheap Thrills at all on first listen as the songs are different different overall. Had to go back and give the intro a listen once you lot said it. Very similar intro until the vocal kicks in.

Only heard SOY three times and COTH once but definitely enjoying the former the most of the two so I'm glad that it seems to be the most likely to hit #1 out of the two, another great change in sound after he surprised us all with Sing and it's already got in my head with the hook. COTH was nice enough on first listen and I'll have to give it a bit longer to settle in but it wasn't one of his best at all, I probably prefer every other track on the 'x' album but I'm way more familiar with them so maybe it's a bit early to write it off already :P

I can't hear 'Cheap Thrills' in 'Shape Of You'. I can see it as having a very vague tropical influence but it sounds organic and like it's completely him*. I'm quite impressed!

 

*Unlike for example what Maroon 5 recently did.

Edited January 6, 20178 yr by mr_pmt

OBSESSED NOW. What a f****** amazing track!

I love seeing Ed experiment with styles different from his own. "Shape Of You" seems a bit generic at parts but it's so new for him that I think we'll give him a pass. I'm surprised everyone isn't hating it upon first listen though. "Castle On The Hill" seems like a grower, I can agree with that, and it's more within his comfort zone than SOY but it's still really nice. That break has done wonders for him.

I think having played them a few times throughout the day I prefer Castle On The Hill now. Both are pretty much equally great but it really is anthemic.

"Castle On The Hill" definitely has the edge for me right now. "Shape Of You" is quite good too though.

OK, fair play, I'm actually quite impressed with both of these. I agree Shape of You sounds like an experimentation but it's one that suits him (I actually hear Cold Water more than Cheap Thrills in there) and wayyy better than Sing ever was. Castle on the Hill sounds VERY U2-esque but that's certainly not a bad thing in my book~

 

I mean they're not favourites and I could still get sick of them a few months down the line, but at least he seems to be going somewhere with his sound rather than rehashing past glories.

Castle On The Hill is Ed's best song ever comparing first listens, fantastic lyrics, so anthemic with a wonderful nostalgic feel. This is the sort of song I imagined Taylor would release when I read her new album would be "alternative rock"-infused. Shape Of You is more generic but I'm still a fan, and perhaps it will actually have more longevity as Castle On The Hill's emotional pull wears off the more you hear it. We shall see but it is two fantastic tracks from Ed that are immediately amongst his best ever, my heart is with Castle On The Hill though! :heart: