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==Commercial performance==
==Commercial performance==
"''= (equals)''" debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, selling 139,000 units in its first week (outperforming the outperforming the rest of this week’s Top 30 combined.)
=


==Track listing==
==became the rlisting==
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = ''='' track listing
| headline = ''='' track listing
Line 187: Line 187:


'''Note'''
'''Note'''
* {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} indicates an additional producer
* {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} indicates an additional prod r
het


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
'''Musicians'''
'''Mus'''own'''s'''
{{div col}}
{{div col}}
* [[Ed Sheeran]] – vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1, 4–6, 8, 10, 11, 14), bass (1, 10, 11), [[boy soprano]], drums (1); guitar (1, 2, 9), [[pizzicato]] violin (2), acoustic guitar (4, 5, 11, 12), percussion (4, 11), keyboards (10), ukulele (13)
* [[Ed Sheeran]] – vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1, 4–6, 8, 10, 11, 14), bass (1, 10, 11), [[boy soprano]], drums (1); guitar (1, 2, 9), [[pizzicato]] violin (2), acoustic guitar (4, 5, 11, 12), percussion (4, 11), keyboards (10), ukulele (13)
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{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


'''Te'''[[÷ (album)|Divide]]
'''Technical'''

{{div col}}
{{div col}}
* Ed Sheeran – [[Executive producer|executive production]]
* Ed Sheeran – [[Executive producer|executive production]]

Revision as of 11:16, 6 November 2021

=
Studio album by
Ed Sheeran
Released29 October 2021 (2021-10-29)
Genre
Length48:23
Label
Producer
Ed Sheeran chronology
No.6 Collaborations Project
(2019) 		=
(2021)
Singles from =
  1. "Bad Habits"
    Released: 25 June 2021
  2. "Shivers"
    Released: 10 September 2021
  3. "Overpass Graffiti"
    Released: 29 October 2021

= (pronounced and subtitled "equals") is the fourth solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, released on 29 October 2021 by Asylum and Atlantic Records.[4][5] The album was supported by the singles "Bad Habits", "Shivers" and "Overpass Graffiti", in addition to "Visiting Hours", released as the sole promotional single. It received mixed reviews from music critics, who praised its production but criticised its lyrical content as formulaic.

Background

On 18 August 2021, Sheeran said there would be a "big announcement" the following day.[6] On 19 August, he announced the album and its release date of 29 October on his social media accounts.[7] He described the album as his "coming-of-age" record.[8] 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.[9] The promotional single "Visiting Hours" was released alongside the announcement.[10]

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.[11]

Singles

"Bad Habits" was released on 25 June 2021 as the album's lead single.[12] "Bad Habits" reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.[13]

"Shivers" was released on 10 September 2021 as the album's second single.[14] "Shivers" reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.[15]

"Overpass Graffiti" was released alongside the album on 29 October 2021 as the third single.[16][17] Sheeran performed the song for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series on 26 October.[18]

Promotional singles

"Visiting Hours" was released on 19 August 2021 as the sole promotional single.[19]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?5.5/10[20]
Metacritic57/100[21]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash6/10[22]
Evening Standard[23]
The Guardian[24]
The Independent[25]
NME[26]
Pitchfork3.6/10[27]
Rolling Stone[28]
The Telegraph[29]
The Times[1]

= received mixed reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the album has a weighted average score of 57 out of 100 based on 11 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[21]

Commercial performance

"= (equals)" debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, selling 139,000 units in its first week (outperforming the outperforming the rest of this week’s Top 30 combined.)

became the rlisting

= track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Tides"
  • Sheeran
  • Vance
  • Joe Rubel
  • McDaid
3:15
2."Shivers"
  • Sheeran
  • Fred
  • Steve Mac
3:27
3."First Times"
  • Sheeran
  • Fred
3:05
4."Bad Habits"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
  • Parisi[a]
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"Sheeran
  • Sheeran
  • Elvira Anderfjärd
3:43
8."Collide"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
  • Benji Gibson[a]
3:30
9."2step"
  • Bell
  • Watt
2:33
10."Stop the Rain"Sheeran
  • Sheeran
  • Rubel
  • Fred
3:23
11."Love in Slow Motion"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
  • Rubel[a]
3:10
12."Visiting Hours"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Parisi[a]
3:35
13."Sandman"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
4:19
14."Be Right Now"
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
  • Parisi[a]
3:31
Total length:48:23
Digital Fan Deluxe edition bonus tracks[30]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Overpass Graffiti" (NPR Tiny Desk version)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Fred
 
16."Shivers" (NPR Tiny Desk version)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Lavelle
  • Mac
 
17."Visting Hours" (NPR Tiny Desk version)
  • Sheeran
  • McDaid
  • Wadge
  • Clemons
  • Smith
  • Pollack
  • Carter
 

Note

  • ^[a] indicates an additional prod r

het

Personnel

Musowns

  • Ed Sheeran – vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1, 4–6, 8, 10, 11, 14), bass (1, 10, 11), boy soprano, drums (1); guitar (1, 2, 9), pizzicato violin (2), acoustic guitar (4, 5, 11, 12), percussion (4, 11), keyboards (10), ukulele (13)
  • Foy Vance – piano (1, 10), backing vocals, guitar (1)
  • Joe Rubel – drum programming, guitar (1, 10); programming (1, 10, 11); bass, guitar, piano (1); additional programming (2), strings programming (3, 6), keyboards (10, 11), acoustic guitar, percussion (11)
  • Johnny McDaid – piano (1, 11–13), guitar (2), acoustic guitar (4, 11, 14), backing vocals (5, 8, 11, 12, 14), bass (5, 8, 12), electric guitar (5, 8, 12, 14), keyboards (5, 8, 11–13), programming (5, 11–13), percussion (8), drums (11), glockenspiel, marimba (13)
  • Matt Glasbey – programming (1, 10)
  • Fred – bass (2–8, 10, 14), drums (2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14), guitar (2, 4), keyboards (2, 4–8, 10, 14), programming (2, 4, 5, 14), piano (3, 4, 7, 11), backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 10, 11), acoustic guitar (5), string arrangement (6)
  • Chris Laws – drums, programming (2)
  • Steve Mac – keyboards (2)
  • Parisi – additional strings (3)
  • Ashok Klouda – cello (3, 6)
  • Tim Lowe – cello (3, 6)
  • Victoria Harrild – cello (3, 6)
  • Leon Bosch – double bass (3, 6)
  • Matthew Sheeran – string arrangement (3, 6), programming (6)
  • Eoin Schmidt-Martin – viola (3)
  • Laurie Anderson – viola (3)
  • Rebecca Lowe – viola (3)
  • Gary Pomeroy – viola (3)
  • Meghan Cassidy – viola (3)
  • Ann Bielby – viola (3)
  • Kirsty Mangan – violin (3)
  • Kathy Gowers – violin (3)
  • Thomas Gould – violin (3)
  • Michael Jones – violin (3)
  • Marije Johnston – violin (3)
  • Jan Regulski – violin (3)
  • Anna Blackmur – violin (3)
  • Antonia Kesel – violin (3)
  • Beatrix Lovejoy – violin (3)
  • Warren Zielinksi – violin (3)
  • Samantha Wickramasinghe – violin (3)
  • Ciaran McCabe – violin (3)
  • Matthew Denton – violin (3)
  • Martyn Jackson – violin (3)
  • Iain Archer – slide guitar (4)
  • Hal Ritson – additional vocals, additional programming, bass, keyboards (5); programming (8)
  • Richard Adlam – additional programming, percussion (8)
  • Louise Clare Marshall – additional vocals (5)
  • Sam Roman – guitar, piano (6)
  • Elvira Anderfjärd – backing vocals, bass, drums, keyboards, programming (7)
  • Graham Archer – backing vocals (8)
  • Will Reynolds – backing vocals (8), keyboards (8, 11, 12) acoustic guitar (11), programming (11, 12), electric guitar (12)
  • Benjy – drums (8)
  • Louis Bell – drums, keyboards, programming (9)
  • Andrew Watt – guitar, keyboards, programming (9)
  • Giampaolo Parisi – drums (11), programming (11, 14), sound effects (14)
  • Marco Parisi – keyboards, piano (11, 12); horn (12), strings (14)
  • Aine McDaid – backing vocals (12), flute (13)
  • Jimmy Barnes – backing vocals (12)
  • Jimmy Carr – backing vocals (12)
  • Josh McDaid – backing vocals (12)
  • Kylie Minogue – backing vocals (12)
  • Maev McDaid – backing vocals (12), harp (13)
  • Pauline McDaid – backing vocals (12)
  • Jack Parisi – programming (12)
  • Michael Peter Olsen – cello (13)
  • Owen Pallett – string arrangement, viola, violin (13)

TeDivide

  • Ed Sheeran – executive production
  • Johnny McDaid – executive production, engineering (2, 4–6, 8, 11–14)
  • Fred – executive production, engineering (4–8, 11, 14)
  • Stuart Hawkes – mastering
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • Joe Rubel – engineering (1, 2, 10, 11), recording (2), string engineering (3, 6)
  • Matt Glasbey – engineering (1, 3, 6, 10, 11)
  • Robert Sellens – engineering (1, 10, 11)
  • Chris Laws – engineering, recording (2)
  • Dan Pursey – engineering, recording, vocal production (2)
  • Graham Archer – engineering (2, 4–8, 10–14), vocal production (2–6, 8, 10–14)
  • Paul LaMalfa – engineering (9)
  • Aine McDaid – recording (13)
  • Kylie Minogue – vocal engineering, additional vocal recording (12)
  • Steve Mac – vocal production (2)
  • Matt Wolach – mixing assistance
  • Kieran Beardmore – mixing assistance (1–3, 5–14)
  • Charlie Holmes – mixing assistance (1–3, 5–14)
  • Camden Clarke – engineering assistance (1, 10, 11)
  • Marta Di Nozzi – engineering assistance (3, 6)
  • Neil Dawes – engineering assistance (3, 6)
  • Will Reynolds – engineering assistance (4–6, 8, 11–13)
  • Hal Ritson – additional engineering (5)
  • Kevin Shirley – additional vocal engineering (12)

Charts

Chart performance for =
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[31] 1
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[32] 1
French Albums (SNEP)[33] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[34] 1
Irish Albums (OCC)[35] 1
Italian Albums (FIMI)[36] 1
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[37] 9
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[38] 4
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[39] 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[40] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[41] 1
Scottish Albums (OCC)[42] 1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[44] 1

Certifications

Certifications for =
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Gold 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for =
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various 29 October 2021

References

  1. ^ a b Hodgkinson, Will (28 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran: Equals review — at last, an album of his I like". The Times. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Curto, Justin (19 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran to Complete the Equation With New Album =". Vulture. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  5. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (19 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran announces new album, =". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ^ Sam (18 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran Teases "Big" Announcement". That Grape Juice. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  7. ^ Shaffer, Claire (19 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran Announces Another Impossible-to-Google Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  8. ^ Brandle, Lars (19 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran Announces New Album '=': 'I See It as My Coming-of-Age Record'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  9. ^ Aswad, Jem (19 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran's New Album, '=,' Due October 29; Hear the Single, 'Visiting Hours'". Variety. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  10. ^ Price, Joe (19 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran Announces Album and Shares New Song "Visiting Hours"". Complex. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Ed Sheeran And Taylor Swift Have Already Recorded 'Everything Has Changed – Taylor's Version'". Capital FM. 27 June 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  12. ^ Savage, Mark (25 June 2021). "Ed Sheeran: Fatherhood made me change my bad habits". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  13. ^ Trust, Gary (23 August 2021). "The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber's 'Stay' leads Hot 100 for third week, Lizzo & Cardi B's 'Rumors' bows in top five". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  14. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (2 September 2021). "Ed Sheeran announces new single 'Shivers': 'I bloody love it'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  15. ^ Trust, Gary (25 October 2021). "Adele's 'Easy on Me' Blasts to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Ed Sheeran lanceert nieuwe single 'Overpass Graffiti', op de ochtend van zijn album release" [Ed Sheeran releases new single 'Overpass Graffiti', on the morning of his album release]. HLN (in Dutch). 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  17. ^ Martensen, Dan (27 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran teases new music video for "Overpass Graffiti"". Wixx 101. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  18. ^ Skinner, Tom (26 October 2021). "Watch Ed Sheeran perform new track 'Overpass Graffiti' on NPR's Tiny Desk". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  19. ^ Curto, Justin (19 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran to complete the equation with new album =". Vulture. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  20. ^ "= by Ed Sheeran reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Equals by Ed Sheeran Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  22. ^ Murray, Robin (29 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran – = (Equals) | Reviews". Clash. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  23. ^ Smyth, David (29 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran = album review: Calculated to keep him at the top". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  24. ^ Petridis, Alexis (29 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran: = review – calculated, craven, corny … or brilliantly crafted?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  25. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (29 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran review, Equals: Reflecting on major life changes makes for a perfectly good pop album". The Independent. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  26. ^ Levine, Nick (29 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran – '=' review: singer indulges his saccharine streak". NME. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  27. ^ Moreland, Quinn (2 November 2021). "Ed Sheeran: =". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  28. ^ Browne, David (29 October 2021). "On 'Equals,' Ed Sheeran Is Happy Now. Is That Good Enough?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  29. ^ McCormick, Neil (29 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran yet again showcases his versatility with genre-defying album '='". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  30. ^ "(48 Hours Only) = Digital Fan Deluxe Album". Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  31. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 8 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ed Sheeran – =" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  33. ^ "En exclusivité, voici les 10 premiers du Top Albums de la semaine ! 💿 Classement complet lundi 😉". SNEP. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  34. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ed Sheeran – =" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  36. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 44 (dal 29.10.2021 al 04.11.2021)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021-11-08" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  38. ^ "Hot Albums [2021/11/03 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 3 November 2021. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  39. ^ "2021 44-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 5 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  40. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  41. ^ "Album 2021 uke 44". VG-lista. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  42. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  43. ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 44". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  44. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  45. ^ "British album certifications – Ed Sheeran – =". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
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