(Quick Disclaimer: I am in no way commenting on Ed’s relationships or his rumored relationship with a certain other artist by the name Nina. I just love his music and thought this could be a cool lyrical poem/short story.)
Give Me Love like her, he whispered in silent prayer.
Drunk on a memory.
Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes.
A Photograph; a moment frozen in time.
Displaying an Afire Love so deep.
A love that could make One, Sing.
This is the start of something beautiful.
This love between The Man and his girl, a girl named Nina.
A love that makes you feel chemicals in your Bloodstream.
Color crimson in your eyes.
A heart beating so fast, your palms start to sweat.
But this wasn’t always so.
With every storm comes a rainbow.
A story of love.
Of hidden truths so scared to uncover.
There is a story behind All Of The Stars in the sky and all the smiles and frowns.
The stories that lie behind the eyes.
He’s falling for her eyes, but they don’t know him yet.
A story so sacred, Even My Dad Does Sometimes, cry.
Let’s Take It Back, to a time when The Man would sing songs like “I’m A Mess” and “You Need Me I Don’t Need You,” songs about heart break, songs that fought to mask the pain.
A cry to the world, a cry that is Thinking Out Loud in whispers.
A cry saying Give Me Love, Kiss Me like you wanna be loved.
People fall in love in mysterious ways.
She left.
But he caught her, before she became a Runaway.
And as her salted tears failed to dry, he wiped his Shirtsleeves under her eyes.
Don’t mess with my love, she said.
Heart in her hands.
U.N.I can build a Lego House in The City near the Tenerife Sea, he said.
Heart at her feet, hopeful.
With a view, a view that says without saying; Wake Me Up.
Inspirational visions at their door step, knocking.
This is their reality.
If things go wrong we can knock it down, the Lego House, we can knock it down, she said.
She was met with silence, not because The Man had any doubts, but because he didn’t.
He knew with absolute certainty, that he was in love.
Fast Forward time.
Photos and memories still capture that love.
Do you see the fire?
I See Fire, a burning eternal flame.
It may flicker, it may dim, but it will always stay lit, ignited.
A Small Bump ready to be born.
My how things have changed.
Wake Me Up Wake Me Up, he said.
Is this real?
A young boy meets a girl, in Grade 8 and they made their own version of The A Team.
Wake Me Up, Give Me Love.
Is this real? Or is this all in my head? He Said, She said.
Maybe we found love right where we are, They say, they sing.
Years Later…
They’re still going strong.
The Man and his Nina.
How many Ed Sheeran song titles did you spot?
**I do not take any credit for any images, videos, music or modified lyrics used.**
Ok so first things first….HAPPY “X” DAY, [other wise read as “Happy Multiply Day” Ed Sheeran Fans…or #Sheeranators if you will…it’ll catch on. And when it does I win money. 😉
**Do your google research Michelle…this term already exists…no money for you…just the self gratification of being a Sheeranator**
I have anxiously been awaiting this day, to hear the entire album.
I was so obsessed with his last album “+.” [I guess Ed is really into Math or somethin’] Songs like “Small Bump” and “Kiss Me” will sneak up on you.
I can’t even tell you how my heart broke repeatedly as I listened to “Give Me Love” on a loop. Shout out to “The Vampire Diaries” for that one, they played it during a dance sequence between Damon/Elena/Stefan and I just fell apart…I was a puddle on the floor, hence when the obsession began.
And “Lego House” still ranks high on my -must listen to- playlist.
So being that I had a total love affair with his first album I was excited to hear how his musical talents have multiplied…haha get it? See what I did there. 😉 #Dork
Any who… (awkward…pause…allowance for time to get over that corny joke)
LISTEN TO ED’S “X” [Deluxe Edition]
Trust me it’s worth it.
“X” is Sheeran’s 2nd album, which can make one worry if he will strike gold again or suffer a dreaded sophomore slump. Our first introduction to Ed’s sophomore album was through “SING” released as a single back in April, with Pharrell Williams along for the ride. And well let’s just say it’s been doing quite well. I challenge you to try and not SING….LOUDER….it’s just not possible. You must ohh ohhh ohhh ohhh ohhh along with him.
Then recently uploaded a concert Live from Dublin, which was a mix of old songs and new. And the Live Versions were breathtaking. New songs he performed included; “Don’t,” “One,” “Take it Back,” “Tenerife Sea,” “SING” and “I See Fire” (track written for “The Hobbit.”) I tell ya, I’ll take live versions over studio versions ANY DAY! Especially with someone like Ed. I’m not gonna lie I’ve watched that concert a good 50-100 times, I replayed the performances of “Take it Back,” “Be My Husband” [Nina Simone Cover *No he doesn’t change the words and no it is not weird or “Gay” sometimes a cover is just a cover because it’s a good song and Ed’s version is unexplainable. Like I literally have no words for how amazing it is.*] and “Give Me Love” every time I watched. He’s very talented its almost unreal. That show was literally just him on stage, with his guitar, and a loop pedal. It was like he was a one man band. And his voice and his personality and interaction with the crowd made you just realize this guy was not only an incredible singer, but an incredible musician and an extraordinary artist. The feeling of watching that was so amazing, that I could only imagine what it must have been like to actually be in that audience while he was up on that stage, a shy few feet away. My gosh, seeing him live is on my concert list.
He had been releasing a song a day all last week, in support of the album’s U.S. release today,
June 23rd. TODAY!
So needless to say I’ve heard quite a few songs…
Don’t * Afire Love * Bloodstream * Thinking Out Loud * The Man * Photograph * were all released on youtube last week and I was even more in love with “X.”
“X” Tracklist (Deluxe Edition)
Too many lyrics to showcase my love for, so go on, have a ball….Check em out HERE
READ for more information and fun side notes about Ed’s new album.
I will be purchasing this via CD…because I make a point to buy the actual cds for people that really count. 😉 Plus I just love CDs! #90skidwontquit
However, now that I’ve finally listened to the entire deluxe edition…thank you YouTube, you beautiful thing! Let me run down my thoughts…
*My Top 3*
(although subject to change, because the more I listen to the album
the more I fall in love with a new song)
Take it Back (the live version is magical)
Thinking Out Loud
The Man
Ed had released the standard edition tracklist on instagram
And from this list I have to say I was most intrigued to listen to “Nina.”
Any song that is named after a woman, is enough for anyone to be intrigued by. Because as if every song he writes isn’t being dissected and torn apart line by line to try and figure out who it is about…well “Nina” pretty much slaps you in the face and tells you… well this is a song…about a girl…and her name is Nina. haha
It’s kinda cool timing for him though because he does a Nina Simone cover of “Be My Husband,” a lot so it could have been an ode to her, BUT he was rumored to be in a relationship with scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt, more well known in the UK, for now. I say rumored relationship because I didn’t follow their relationship and I don’t know much about her. But I do believe they were together and she may or may not have written an entire album about him and now I guess this is his song response to her. And the more you listen to the lyrics the more you know it’s about someone who he had a relationship with and not an ode to Ms. Simone.
It’s interesting how “Don’t” rumored to be about a cheating scandal with ex-girlfriend Ellie Goulding places just before his appropriately named song response to Nina. I’d say “Don’t” and “The Man” are Ed’s “Cry Me a River.” They are aggressively sexy and kinda make you happy you aren’t the girl who the songs are about, but rather the girl who could make him feel all better, haha. Although compared to those bitey songs, “Nina” is actually kind of twistedly sweet; basically asking the girl to leave him for her own good. Ed is known for pouring his heart out, and I think that only helps people connect better with him for it. He’s real, what you see is what you get and he doesn’t mess around. He seems like he’s not putting on a show or putting up a front, he does what he does because he wants to grow as a musician and he wants to make music that matters. He raps in his own way and it’s freakin’ AWESOME. I’m not one to like rap music at all, but Ed’s rapping just makes me giddy and say “Aw shit” at the same time. He’s not trying to be something he’s not, he’s an R&B and Hip Hop fan who just so happens to have a musical soul and who’s also a lyrical genius. #GingerGenius is what I like to call him and no I am NOT googling it, cuz I wanna think it’s MINE!
A lot of people seem to compare “x” to “+.” Some unhappy with the growth he’s made, and the change in his sound. I definitely think it’s normal to compare an artists’ records to each other, I do it with Justin Timberlake all the time. But the thing is a good artist knows how to grow within what they’re good at, along with experimenting and growing and putting new spins on things you already know work. A good artist knows they’re “brand,” and explores their talent in different forums of music. Timberlake is a perfect example of that. There are elements of his new record that date back to his first solo debut album “Justified.” And yet The 20/20 Experience is a whole new ball game for him, musically. It’s an experiment and there are sounds you never heard him use before. But it all comes together and ties in. So I have to say Ed is up there with Justin. Ed has managed to keep what the world loves about him; his honest heartbreaking lyrics, his knack for rapping sick verses around a killer chorus, and just him and his guitar and a loop pedal, while allowing himself to branch out and use new sounds as well and try new things like working with Pharrell Williams on songs like “SING” and “Runaway.” Both of which Ed has been quoted wanting to achieve a “Justified” sound. Um yes, it all just really comes full circle doesn’t. I definitely think a collaboration between Ed Sheeran and Justin Timberlake will be in our future. They would be epic together, and my worlds will collide and I will win Money! haha
So in a nutshell…
The way I judge this album is on how it makes me feel, and it makes me feel similar to how amazing it felt to hear “Give Me Love” for the first time. It felt like I was hearing his heart beat, and that hasn’t changed listening to this album. So I don’t think there’s a sophomore slump in your near future, Ed, none at all.
“X” is now playing on a loop
and Ed is back on my obsession list!
Excellent Job, Mate. 😉
I wasn’t even a little bit worried. Not even for a second.
And lastly… Your 23 and single (as far as I know) and
I’m 23 and single…you see where I’m going with this? 😉
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Michelle Leigh Writes 