By Magnolia Wang ’19, Staff Writer

Finishing up my chemistry homework, I checked the clock.  It was 12:14 A.M.  I sunk in my chair and continued to work.  But then it dawned on me: first, it was my sixteenth birthday; and second, Ed Sheeran’s new songs had  just been released.  I jumped out of my chair, too excited to contain myself.  I shoved my homework aside and pried open my laptop.  Within seconds, I was dancing around my room, blasting “Shape of You” at full volume. I only stopped when my grouchy, sleepy mother knocked at my door.

Ed Sheeran’s new hit singles, “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill”, debuted on January 6th, 2017 as part of his new album, ÷, which will be released on March 3rd, 2017.  As a fan of Sheeran’s previous albums, X and +, I had high expectations for his new songs, which Sheeran surpassed with flying colors.  After listening to both songs on repeat, here are my two cents, so “come now and follow my lead.”

“Shape of You” caught me by surprise, mainly because of its nuanced, hip beat.  Starting off with a jumpy xylophone prelude, Sheeran set a lively mood that made me bust out dancing.  Sheeran then introduced himself with an attention grabbing lyric: “The club isn’t the best place to find a lover // So the bar is where I go.”  Sheeran swooned over his newfound love, professing his love for her and her physique.  He smoothly weaved his signature folksy voice into the syncopated dance beats, making the song suitable for both working out and  listening relaxed.  However, Jacob Tepper ‘19 expressed mixed feelings for the song, exclaiming, “I kind of like the song, but I feel that the lyrics are too cliche for an established songwriter like Ed Sheeran.  Sheeran, you can do better than this!”  Similarly, I felt that the repetitive and suggestive lyrics of the song veered off of Sheeran’s down-to-earth style. Even though I liked the dance beats, the song lacked originality and Sheeran’s signature singer-songwriter zeal.  “Shape of You”  was not one of my immediate favorites, but the song did find its way onto my playlists.

“Castle on the Hill,” on the other hand, was the polar opposite.  Reminiscent of “Photograph” by Nickelback, Sheeran looked back on his childhood in Framlingham, Suffolk, an eastern English town, and mentioned how he “can’t wait to go home.”  His unique and heartfelt chorus, “Driving at 90 down those country lanes // Singing to ‘Tiny Dancer’,” added a sense of familiarity and sentiment to the song.  Sheeran complemented the electric guitar in the chorus by singing in a soft rock style.  I especially enjoyed the bittersweet vibes “Castle on the Hill” exudes, as Sheeran mentions how much he misses his family, no matter who they are or what mistakes they’ve made. Giulia Socolof ‘19 agreed, adding, “The lyrics especially evoke this image of an idyllic youth even through all the hardships mentioned in the song.” “Castle on the Hill” is a compelling masterpiece that beautifully showcases Sheeran’s talent for conveying his warm yet adventurous feelings for finding his way home.       

As I went to sleep that night, I couldn’t get “Castle on the Hill” out of my head. But that didn’t bother me. Sheeran’s song inspired me to look back on my childhood and hometown, and reflect on the precious moments I shared with my family and friends. And as I’m starting a new chapter in life as a full-fledged teenager, I will always remember and be grateful for my home.