Ed Sheeran’s enormously popular album “x,” which included timeless singles like “Photograph,” “Thinking Out Loud,” “Don’t,” and “Sing,” was published ten years ago.
The 33-year-old Grammy-winning artist thought back on the album’s tenth anniversary before his headline performance at the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala on May 2.
Sheeran told Billboard, “I think you don’t really realize what’s happening at the time.”
“You listen to one song, then the next, then the next. When I look back on the album, I see that people really like it, which is fine, I suppose. At the time, all I was concerned about was that people liked the songs. It moved me from arenas to stadiums, and I consider it to be a pivotal record for my career.
Unexpectedly, Sheeran disclosed that he needed to warm up to one of the album’s most popular songs. “I recall that it took a very long time to get the production of ‘Photograph’ properly. It seems like a while ago,” he remembers.
We spent so much time on the song that it destroyed it, so at first I wasn’t particularly into it. I can now look back and appreciate the experience.
Despite his early misgivings, Sheeran’s song “Photograph” went on to become one of his biggest singles, garnering him a nomination for an iHeartRadio Music Award in 2016 as well as a BMI Pop Award. Additionally, the song has received over 2 billion Spotify plays.
Ever after releasing “x,” Sheeran hasn’t let up. Autumn Variations, his most recent album, and collaborations on projects like 2019’s No. 6 Collaborations Project and 2019’s ÷, 2021’s =, and 2023’s – were his follow-up albums.
Regarding maintaining the excitement of his career over time, Sheeran said, “It’s important to never do the same thing twice.”
“When it comes to music, I always think, ‘Have I said this before? Has this song ever been in a song before? It matters more about what I’ve previously accomplished and continuing to try new things than it does about what other people are doing.
On June 21st, Sheeran will release “x (10th Anniversary Edition)” in honor of the song’s tenth anniversary. The extended version will include nine bonus tracks—none of which have ever been released on vinyl—in addition to the original 12 songs.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.