Who's behind the notes? Discover Ed Sheeran: The Definitive Biography
"Shape of You" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran that was released on January 6, 2017, as one of the lead singles from his third studio album, "÷" (Divide). Here are some interesting facts about the song:
Co-Writers: Ed Sheeran co-wrote "Shape of You" with Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid. Steve Mac is a British music producer and songwriter, while Johnny McDaid is a member of the band Snow Patrol.
Record-Breaking Success: "Shape of You" achieved immense commercial success and broke several records. It became the best-selling digital single of 2017 globally and one of the best-selling digital singles of all time.
Streaming Milestone: The song set a record for the most streams in a single week on Spotify at the time of its release, accumulating over 56.7 million streams in one week.
Chart Dominance: "Shape of You" topped the charts in multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and many more. It held the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks.
Grammy Awards: The song received several nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018, including Best Pop Solo Performance. Ed Sheeran performed the song live at the awards ceremony.
Influence of Caribbean Music: "Shape of You" incorporates elements of Caribbean music, particularly dancehall and reggae. The use of a tropical beat and catchy melodies contributed to the song's broad appeal.
Music Video: The music video for "Shape of You" was released on January 30, 2017, and features a storyline where Ed Sheeran, playing a boxer, falls in love with a woman he meets at a boxing gym. The video has garnered billions of views on YouTube.
Songwriting Inspiration: Ed Sheeran mentioned in interviews that he wrote "Shape of You" with Rihanna in mind, but later decided to keep it for himself. The song's success demonstrated its universal appeal beyond any specific artist.
"Shape of You" remains one of Ed Sheeran's most successful and recognizable songs, contributing significantly to his global popularity.