The Origin of “Photograph” Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran has surprised fans with the release of a brand new solo track titled “Photograph.” The singer-songwriter debuted the soulful song on streaming platforms without any prior announcement or promotion. In a long paragraph on Instagram, Sheeran opened up about the personal story behind the song’s creation.
He recalled being in a small town in England a few years ago and seeing an old photograph of himself and a past love at a party. Looking at the photo sparked deep feelings and memories for Sheeran of a simpler time. The moment stayed with him and eventually inspired him to write “Photograph” late one night in the studio. Sheeran wanted to capture the nostalgia and meaning found in revisiting something from the past through a photograph. Both the lyrics and musical composition invoke a sense of looking back with longing yet also finding comfort.
The Lyrics and Composition
The lyrics of “Photograph” paint a vivid picture of someone finding an old photograph that transports them back to a special moment in time. Sheeran uses descriptive words and storytelling to put the listener in the scene. Musically, it has a stripped back, acoustic-led style with Sheeran’s raw vocals at the forefront.
In the first verse, Sheeran sets the scene by singing “Look at this photograph, every time I do it makes me laugh.” He then reflects on how simple and carefree life seemed in that photograph compared to present day struggles and pressures. The pre-chorus swells with emotion as Sheeran wistfully thinks of what could have been, singing “We were just young, dumb and full of run.”
The melodic and melancholy chorus has Sheeran repeating the simple yet deeply meaningful lyrics “Look at this photograph, every time I do it makes me laugh, how did our eyes get so red, and what the hell is on Joey’s head.” These lyrics paint the picture vividly yet leave some mysteries unsolved, capturing the feeling of looking back with both fondness and confusion.
In the second verse, Sheeran delves deeper into the details of the photograph, remembering the outfits, who was there, and small unexplained details. This verse brings the scene to life even more for the listener. The bridges allow for a moment of recollection before diving back into the catchy and sentimental chorus. Overall, the lyrics tell a truly moving story in a simple yet profound way.
The Reception
Though released without typical single rollout promotion, the emotional authenticity and craft of “Photograph” have resonated strongly with fans new and old. Within the first 24 hours, it had over 3 million streams on Spotify alone. Listeners have praised Sheeran’s ability to capture universal human emotions and memories through vivid yet understated storytelling.
Critics have also responded positively to the song’s resonance. One publication called it “a glimpse into Sheeran’s heart and his way with words… poignant yet gripping.” Fans have shared how it transports them to their own cherished memories from the past. Many see it as a perfectly timed release given the global situation, providing comforting nostalgia during difficult times.
Sheeran’s raw vulnerability and honesty in conveying very personal experiences through his songwriting skills have long been hallmarks of his appeal. “Photograph” reminds listeners of why so many find his music deeply moving and relatable. By debuting such an intimate, unpolished track without ceremony has only added to its sincerity. Looking back with both smiles and tears through a lens of the past is a universal human experience, and Sheeran taps into that profoundly with “Photograph.”
Lingering Impact and More to Come
Since its surprise release just over a week ago, “Photograph” has maintained a strong presence on streaming platforms and radio with no signs of slowing. Its organic momentum bodes well for the single to have legs commercially. Sheeran has not announced plans for any future releases currently, but fans are eager to see if “Photograph” could be a signal of more new music potentially emerging this year.
The intimate nature and warm reception of “Photograph” during shelter-in-place orders may also provide Sheeran flexibility regarding rollout plans going forward. While large-scale touring remains uncertain for 2020, smaller performances of new material could still be a possibility depending on circumstances.
Wherever “Photograph” ultimately fits into Sheeran’s wider plans, its lingering emotional impact on listeners is a testament to the songwriter’s keen ability to stir universal feelings through very personal artistic expression.Fans are appreciative to have been gifted with a glimpse inside Ed Sheeran’s heart and memory through such an authentic new release.
Looking Back at Past Musical Journeys
The release of “Photograph” comes amid what has been a period of introspection for Ed Sheeran. After completing a massively successful Divide world tour in 2019, Sheeran took an extended break from music to marry long-time love Cherry Seaborn and spend time with family. The soul-searching that comes with major life changes seems to have inspired artistic reflections on memories and past musical eras.
Sheeran’s earliest EPs and albums like and x featured intimate folk-pop storytelling much like “Photograph.” As his commercial success exploded on the back of multi-platinum singles like “Shape of You,” Sheeran’s pop leanings grew more prominent. Divide represented a climax of anthemic hits and stadium-filling productions. But Sheeran has never abandoned his singer-songwriter roots, and “Photograph” indicates those origins remain very close to his heart.
The track finds Sheeran stripped back to basics – just his voice and guitar – conjuring the vulnerable rawness of his early work. Lyrically too, it pores over intimate personal details rather than broader themes. This signals Sheeran may be looking to his past for artistic inspiration as he navigates new chapters in his life offstage. Fans have long speculated what a full folk-leaning project from Sheeran could sound like with his current abilities. “Photograph” whets the appetite for that possibility.
Sheeran is no stranger to unexpected musical detours, having surprised with everything from collaborations with major artists to Christmas singles. His reign as the world’s best-selling recording artist gives him freedom to experiment. “Photograph” suggests Sheeran is making space to revisit musical eras beyond his normal pop format, reconnecting with his origins at a time of growth. Only time will tell what seeds this soul-baring new release may sow for Sheeran’s artistry going forward.
For now, fans are simply soaking in the gift of new Sheeran music and another window into the corners of his heart and memory that have inspired some of his most impactful art. The intimacy and honesty of “Photograph” is a reminder of why Sheeran remains one of the world’s most cherished singer-songwriters.
In concluding,
“Photograph” has undoubtedly struck a profound chord with listeners worldwide since its surprise release. Ed Sheeran’s unceremony approach to debuting such a heartfelt creative work helped spotlight its purity and authentic songwriting. While long-term implications remain unknown, the track’s early success bodes well as a harbinger of more music potentially still to come.
Most of all, “Photograph” acts as another example of why Ed Sheeran is able to blend universality with specificity so powerfully in his songwriting. Its ability to spark reflection on personal reminisces through vivid yet understated storytelling underscores Sheeran’s rare gift. In opening another window into his heart and past, Sheeran has deepened his bond with fans and likely inspired countless cherished photo discoveries of listeners’ own.
Even without promotion, the sheer relatability and emotion of “Photograph” has cemented its place as a standout new release from one of pop’s most meaningful voices.
