Jump to content

Afterglow (Ed Sheeran song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Afterglow"
Single by Ed Sheeran
Written2019
Released21 December 2020 (2020-12-21)
GenreFolk-pop[1]
Length3:05
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Fred
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Parisi
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Those Kinda Nights"
(2020) 		"Afterglow"
(2020) 		"Bad Habits"
(2021)
Music video
"Afterglow" on YouTube

"Afterglow" is a song by English singer Ed Sheeran. Released on 21 December 2020, the song marked Sheeran's first single release in more than 18 months.[2][3] An accompanying music video features a one-take performance by Sheeran with solo acoustic guitar accompaniment.[4][5]

The song reached number-one in Israel and peaked within the top-ten of the charts in ten other countries, including the United Kingdom (number two on the UK Singles Chart), Australia and Switzerland. It also became Sheeran's 13th top ten on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, the most on the chart for a male solo artist.[6]

Background

[edit]

On 20 December 2020, after having taken an extended hiatus from public life, Sheeran returned to social media to announce his new single: "Hey guys. 'Afterglow' is a song I wrote last year that I wanted to release for you". He further explained that the song is "not the first single from the next album" but just a song he loves.[7]

Cover art

[edit]

The cover art depicts an original piece of action painting created by Sheeran himself.[7][8]

Critical reception

[edit]

The song received generally positive reviews from critics. Billboard's Gil Kaufmann described the song as a "spare acoustic ballad" that features a "haunting chorus".[8] Zoe Haylock of Vulture compared the song to Taylor Swift's latest surprise releases, saying he "took a page out of Taylor Swift's book and surprised fans with a new single" and went on to describe the track as one of his "acoustic bangers".[3] Morgan Hines of USA Today thought the song, accompanied by a "mellow melody", "exudes a feeling of intimacy during an emotional time between loved ones".[9]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[10]

  • Ed Sheeran – producer, guitar, vocals, backing vocals
  • Fred – producer, bass, programmer
  • Marco Parisi – synthesiser
  • Giampaolo Jack Parisi – vocoder
  • Stuart Hawkes – masterer
  • Mark Spike Stent – mixer
  • Matt Wolach – assistant mixer
  • Parisi – producer, sound designer

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Afterglow"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[81] Platinum 70,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[82] Platinum 30,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[83] Gold 20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[84] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[85] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[86] Gold 100,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[87] Gold 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[88] Platinum 70,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[89] Gold 15,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[90] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[91] Gold 5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[92] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[93] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Afterglow"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 21 December 2020
[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ McCormick, Neil (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran's Afterglow is the Christmas song we never even knew we needed". The Telegraph.
  2. ^ Daly, Rhian (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran returns with new single 'Afterglow'". NME. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b Haylock, Zoe (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran Returns to Strum Us Into 2021 With 'Afterglow'". Vulture. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran Drops Surprise Track 'Afterglow'". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  5. ^ Rice, Nicholas (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran Releases New Song 'Afterglow,' His First Since Becoming a Father — Listen". People. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b Yang, Rachel (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran returns with new song 'Afterglow'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (21 December 2020). "It's a Christmas Miracle! Ed Sheeran Drops Surprise Track 'Afterglow'". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Ed Sheeran drops 'Christmas present' song 'Afterglow,' fans cheer: 'Just what we needed'". USA Today. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Try the TIDAL Web Player". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  19. ^ Ed Sheeran — Afterglow. TopHit. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 14. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  22. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 1. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Tracklisten. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Las más sonadas" [The most famous] (in Spanish). SODINPRO. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Ed Sheeran: Afterglow" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 53/2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Media Forest charts". Media Forest. 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  37. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 1" (in Italian). Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  38. ^ "The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Olivia Rodrigo". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 16 July 2021. Note: Select the "Chart history" tab to obtain the corresponding chart peak.
  39. ^ "2020 53-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  40. ^ "#RIMChart Top 20 Most Streamed International + Domestic song Week 1 (01/01/21- 07/01/21)". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  43. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  45. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". VG-lista. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  46. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  47. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  48. ^ Arvunescu, Victor (22 February 2021). "Top Airplay 100 - Jason Derulo aduce un hit viral pe primul loc!" [Top Airplay 100 - Jason Derulo brings a viral hit in the first place!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  49. ^ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2021-02-05." TopHit. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  50. ^ "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 28/01/2021" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 28 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  51. ^ "RIAS International Top Charts Week 53". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on 5 January 2021.
  52. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 23. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  53. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 1. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  54. ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". SloTop50. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  55. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  56. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  57. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  58. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  59. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  60. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  61. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  62. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  63. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  64. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  65. ^ "Ö3-Austria Top40 Single-Jahrescharts 2021". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  66. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2021". Ultratop. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  67. ^ "Rapports annuels 2021". Ultratop. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  68. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  69. ^ "Track Top-100 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  70. ^ "Jahrescharts 2021". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  71. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  72. ^ Griffiths, George (9 January 2022). "Ireland's official biggest songs of 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  73. ^ "Classifica annuale 2021" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  74. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  75. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2021" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  76. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2021". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  77. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2021". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  78. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  79. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  80. ^ "Adult Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  81. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  82. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  83. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2021". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  84. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  85. ^ "Danish single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  86. ^ "French single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  87. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ed Sheeran; 'Afterglow')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  88. ^ "Italian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 4 May 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Afterglow" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  89. ^ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  90. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  91. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  92. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  93. ^ "British single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afterglow_(Ed_Sheeran_song)&oldid=1250582451"