Divide (Album Review)

Ed Sheeran is a must listen. Jamie Ellsbury shares her thoughts on a few of Sheeran’s new songs.

Jamie Ellsbury

After going on a hiatus for the year of 2015, Ed Sheeran made his big come-back on Twitter Jan. 1st, when he announced the release of two songs on his new album “÷” or “Divide.”

The first two singles “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill” were followed by the release of his album March 3.

Sheeran has established a name for himself within the music scene with his previous albums, such as + and X. He’s known not only as an outstanding singer and songwriter, but also a guy who is sensitive and down-to-earth.

Sheeran’s new album has the perfect mix of pop and hip-hop. Divide is mainly focused around his guitar and the use of sound loops.

“Shape of You” is upbeat, has extremely catchy lyrics, and makes you want to dance to the heavy beats throughout the song. The lyrics, “I’m in love with the shape of you, push and pull like a magnet do/ Although my heart is falling too, I’m in love with your body” will be stuck in your head for hours after you hear this tune.

“Castle on the Hill” is a song that will make you reminisce about your childhood and where you grew up. Sheeran captures the memories of growing up in this song with lyrics such as: “I’m on my way, driving at 90 down those country lanes, singing to tiny dancer and I miss the way you made me feel, it’s real, over the castle on the hill.”

The lyrics in the song make it relatable for everyone and will have you hanging on every word the singer says.

“Galway Girl” is another upbeat song on the album that will have you swaying your hips. The use of the guitar is prominent in this song along with beats and fun lyrics that you can’t help but yell, like “She played the fiddle in an Irish band, but she fell in love with an English man/ Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand/ Said, “Baby, I just want to dance,” will escape from your lips before you even realize it once this catchy tune comes on.

“Happier” and “Supermarket Flowers” will both make you want to shed a tear or two. “Happier,” pays a tribute to an ex-lover that has moved on from Sheeran to a new lover. In the song, Sheeran talks about how his ex-girlfriend looks happier with her new lover and how if it doesn’t work out he’ll be waiting for another chance. The lyrics make this very clear when he says, “Ain’t nobody hurt you like I hurt you/ Ain’t nobody love you like I do/ Promise that I will not take it personal/ Baby if you’re moving on with someone new/ Cause baby you look happier you do/ My friends told me one day I’ll feel it too/ And until then I’ll smile and hide the truth/ That I know I was happier with you.”

“Supermarket Flowers” honors his grandmother that passed away. Sheeran re-tells the events that took place after the funeral and you can feel the emotion through every lyric he sings. For example, “So I’ll sing hallelujah/ You were an angel in the shape of my mum/ When I fell down you’d be there holding me up, spread your wings as you go/ When God takes you back, he’ll say hallelujah you’re home.”

“Perfect” is the most romantic song on the Divide album by far. Every lyric within this song is known to make you swoon. A few lyrics include “Baby I’m dancing in the dark with you between my arms/ Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song/ When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath, but you heard it/ Darling you look perfect tonight.”

And that’s just the chorus, the rest of the song definitely pulls at your heart strings.

“Dive,” is another song that’s romantic, but in a different way. It’s not the “let’s fall in love” type of song, in the song Sheeran is basically saying don’t try to be with me if you aren’t sure it’s what you want. He makes this clear in the chorus when he says,  “don’t call me baby, unless you mean it/ don’t tell me you need me, if you don’t believe it.”

Overall, the album is a rollercoaster of emotion and anyone listening will either want to cry or dance circles around the room. Maybe both.