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Thinking Out Loud is a song by Ed Sheeran on his second studio album, X. It features production from frequent collaborator Jake Gosling. The song was released as an "instant grat" digital download to the iTunes Store on 18 June 2014, serving as a promotional single from his second studio album, X. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 26 and has since peaked at number 10. "Thinking Out Loud" impacted Australian radio on 14 August 2014, and is scheduled for release as the third single off X.

Background and release[]

"Thinking Out Loud" was the last song written for the album and it is also Sheeran's favourite. Written about Sheeran's then-current girlfriend after the recording sessions with Rick Rubin were over, it is a "soul" song, and Sheeran "pinned as the 'walking down the aisle' song". He described it as "the only happy song on the album", and he wrote it in his kitchen.

Critical Reception[]

In a Billboard track-by-track review, writer Jason Lipshutz stated: The standard track list of "x" ends with a sleek update of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," with Sheeran declaring, "Darling, I will be loving you till we're 70!" His voice pushes this bold stab at romance past its sappiest moments, and ends the album on a likeable note." [1]

Chart Performance[]

"Thinking Out Loud" has topped the chart in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom while reaching the top ten in several other countries including the United States, Canada, Italy, Belgium and Austria. On 2 November 2014, the Official Charts Company announced that "Thinking Out Loud" topped the UK Singles Chart in its 19th week in the UK Top 40, therefore breaking the record for the longest ascent to number one. The single held pole position in the chart for a single week, being replaced by Cheryl's "I Don't Care". The song returned to the top of the UK Singles Chart on 7 December 2014, five weeks after it first reached number one. On its return to number one, it also became the first song in UK chart history to peak at number one due to streaming. It has claimed the record for the most streams in a single week, overtaking Mr. Probz's single, "Waves", with over 1,638,000 streams. In the week of its return to the top spot, the song had been streamed 1,672,000 times. In the US, it became Sheeran's highest charting single to date, reaching number 6 after the performance on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2014.

Live Performances[]

Sheeran performed the song on 26 October 2014, in the third live results show of series 11 of The X Factor. He also performed it on November 9, 2014 at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Sheeran also performed the song as a special guest at The Voice's live finale on 16 December 2014. Furthermore, Sheeran performed the track on the Christmas Special of The Jonathan Ross Show on December 20, 2014.

Lyrics[]

When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks

Darlin' I will
Be lovin' you
Till we're seventy
Baby my heart
Could still fall as hard
At twenty three

I'm thinkin' bout how
People fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just a touch of a hand
Me I fall in love with you every single day
I just wanna tell you I am

So honey now
Take me into your lovin' arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are

When my hairs all but gone and my memory fades
And the crowds dont remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way (mmm)
I know you will still love me the same

'Cause honey your soul
Can never grow old
It's evergreen
Baby your smile's forever in my mind in memory

I'm thinkin' bout how
People fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe it's all part of a plan
I'll continue making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand

That baby now (oooooh)
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are (ohh ohh)

(al la la la la la la la la)

Baby now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars (oh darlin')
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are
We found love right where we are
And we found love right where we are

Music Video[]

On October 7, 2014, a music video was released for the song. It features Sheeran and his ballroom partner Brittany Cherry dancing. After only sixteen hours, the video hit 2,000,000 views on YouTube, and currently has over 1B views.

Remixes[]


Charts[]

Chart (2014-15)     Peak
position    
Australia (ARIA) 1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 2
Denmark (Tracklisten) 1
France (SNEP) 4
Ireland (IRMA) 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 1
Scotland (Official Charts Company) 1
South Africa (EMA) 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 1
US Billboard Hot 100 2
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard) 26
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 1
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 1
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard) 7
US Latin Airplay (Billboard) 44
US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard) 29
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 1
US Rhythmic (Billboard) 14

References[]

  1. billboard.com - X Album Track-by-Track Review
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