Sing (Ed Sheeran song)
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| Single by Ed Sheeran | ||||||||
| from the album × | ||||||||
| B-side | "Friends" | |||||||
| Released | 7 April 2014 | |||||||
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| Recorded | 2013 | |||||||
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| Length | 3:55 | |||||||
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| Writer(s) | ||||||||
| Producer(s) | Pharrell Williams | |||||||
| Ed Sheeran singles chronology | ||||||||
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"Sing" is a song by English singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran. It was written by Sheeran and Pharrell Williams, who also produced it and provided uncredited background vocals. The song was released on 7 April 2014, serving as the lead single from Sheeran's second studio album, × (2014). The song became Sheeran's first UK number-one single and also topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. It also peaked at No. 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Sing" was written by Sheeran and Pharrell Williams, and produced by the latter. Williams also provides uncredited background vocals during the chorus. The song has a length of 3 minutes and 55 seconds. The song, which has pop and R&B influences and was inspired by Justin Timberlake, is a departure from the folk rock sound Sheeran became known for on his previous album, +. Sheeran was inspired to model the song after the pop and R&B stylings of Timberlake, stating "It was pretty close to a direct inspiration. I love Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds, so I took inspiration from those." The lyrics are about "a night out in Vegas."
"Sing" was released in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Germany in May 2014 with a corresponding EP. Aside from these nations, "Sing" was released internationally on 7 April 2014, during a YouTube live chat with Sheeran. "Friends", a track from the EP, entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 121.
The song received critical acclaim upon release; music critics complimented Sheeran's change of sound, and likening the song to the works of Justin Timberlake. Time gave the song a very positive review, saying that it is "more of a departure. It fits the times nicely: there's some of fellow Brit, Sam Smith, in Sheeran's rubbery falsetto, plus some of Robin Thicke's ubiquitous 'Blurred Lines' in the percussion. But Sheeran's really got his heavy-breathing, hyper-flirtatious sights on another, older target: Justin Timberlake's solo debut, 'Like I Love You'," adding that "Countless artists have died on that hill, from former boy banders trying to reinvent themselves in Timberlake's image, to teen idols in protracted growth spurts, to Timberlake himself on parts of The 20/20 Experience. But Sheeran brings legit musicianship, not just branding, to the tune, and his vocal tics and the 'Billie Jean' percussion suggest he might be looking back even further, to Michael Jackson's imperial phase."
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