I don't like Ed Sheerans voice, but this was annoyingly everywhere?

[BlackMamba]

Shape of You shows how simple songs dominate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGwWNGJdvx8

One of the most streamed songs ever, with a very simple structure that made it endlessly replayable across platforms

[PaleCipher]

This was unavoidable for like 2 years. Its that warble/twang that irates my spidy senses

[Craig]

t's catchy but also kind of repetitive

[FairDos72]

Perfect example of algorithm-friendly music

[Tracey]

Perfect example of algorithm-friendly music

I tried that and the catch was not obvious until afterwards. I would only bother if the saving is real and not just headline nonsense.

Worth a look if you have not already.

[ScarletDaemon]

That is worth it, agreed. The things that save you money consistently are rarely the exciting ones.

Every bit helps at the moment

[Bussin]

Not sure I fully follow that part. I usually have to read something two or three times before it clicks properly.

Appreciate the detail

[Q]

Shape of You shows how simple songs dominate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGwWNGJdvx8 One of the most streamed songs ever, with a very si

Been following this thread and that seems right. Been lurking but had to agree with that.

Good stuff

[Dom9]

Not sure I fully follow that part. I usually have to read something two or three times before it clicks properly. Appreciate the detail.

Really like that take on it. Glad this came up

[Dataset Cheetah]

Shape of You is a perfect example of a song that does not need to be complicated to work. The rhythm is instantly recognisable, the hook arrives quickly, and it is built for people to remember after one listen.

That does not mean everyone has to enjoy it though. A song can be effective and still not connect with someone. There are plenty of huge hits where I understand why people love them, but they are not going on my personal playlist.

Sometimes popularity and personal taste are completely separate things.

[ClientPilgrim]

Ed Sheeran's voice is interesting because it is not what you would call a traditional powerhouse vocal. It is more about familiarity and the way he delivers a song.

For some people that makes it feel genuine and easy to connect with. For others it probably feels a bit too soft or repetitive.

The success of Shape of You was never just about his voice though. The production, timing, and the way it fitted into playlists all played a huge role.

[ThoughtVector]

I get the criticism of his voice, but there is something to be said for knowing your own strengths. He did not try to become a completely different singer.

A lot of artists with technically stronger voices have never made a song that reached anywhere near that level. Having a recognisable style matters.

Sometimes a slightly unusual voice is exactly what makes people remember someone.

[Lewis_9]

The funny thing about songs like this is that people complain about hearing them everywhere, but that usually means the song did its job.

Radio, shops, adverts, gyms, and social media all need songs that work immediately. Shape of You was basically engineered for that environment.

The downside is that overexposure can make even a decent song become annoying. Hearing anything fifty times will test your patience

[AntMan]

I am somewhere in the middle with Ed Sheeran. Some of his songs really work for me, while others feel like they follow a very familiar formula.

Shape of You was clever because it was different enough from his usual style while still sounding like him.

The beat helped it reach people who might not normally listen to singer-songwriter music. That crossover appeal is not easy to achieve.

[Jenny]

People often dismiss simple songs as if simple means lazy, but that is not always true. Writing something memorable with fewer elements can actually be harder.

The challenge is making a basic idea interesting enough that millions of people want to hear it repeatedly.

That said, I understand why some listeners get tired of that style. There is a difference between appreciating craftsmanship and wanting to hear it again.

[TheLegendBrett88]

The amount of times I heard that song in public was almost impressive. I think at one point it was playing in every cafe, supermarket, and waiting room in existence

But the reason businesses chose it was because it created a certain atmosphere. It was familiar without being too aggressive.

Not every song needs to change music forever. Sometimes a song just becomes the soundtrack to a particular moment.

[Tracey]

I think the conversation around Ed Sheeran's voice gets a bit unfair sometimes. A singer does not need to have huge range or dramatic vocals to be successful.

His strength is storytelling and writing melodies people remember. That has always been a major part of popular music.

Of course, if someone dislikes his tone, no amount of technical discussion will change that. Taste is still taste.

[EdgeLord]

Shape of You is one of those songs where I can understand the appeal but still skip it when it comes on.

The production is extremely polished and the hook is impossible to forget, which is probably why it became such a massive hit.

The strange thing about global hits is that they can become victims of their own success. A song can go from exciting to exhausting just because everyone plays it.

[Sinead]

I actually think his voice works better on quieter songs. When the production is stripped back, there is more room for the emotion and lyrics.

With Shape of You, the focus was clearly on the groove rather than showing off his vocal ability.

Maybe that is why some people who dislike the big singles still appreciate his other work.

[RealChristopher10]

The music industry has changed so much that songs like this are almost designed around replay value now.

A memorable chorus, a recognisable beat, and a short path to the main hook are valuable because listeners decide very quickly whether to keep listening.

That does not automatically make it bad. It just means the goal is different from some older styles of songwriting.

[Max_42]

Years from now, I suspect people will look back at Shape of You differently. Songs that dominate a period often get judged more fairly after the hype disappears.

Right now some people hear it and think of overplayed radio moments, but future listeners may just hear a well-made pop song.

Time has a funny way of changing how we view massive hits.

[Darkseid]

Ed Sheeran is a good example of an artist who understands his audience. He writes songs that are accessible without requiring people to study the music theory behind them.

Some listeners want complexity and experimentation, while others just want something that sounds good on the first play.

There is room for both approaches. Popular music has always worked that way.

[CollapseState75]

The strange thing is that many people who claim they dislike Ed Sheeran probably know half the words to his songs anyway

That is the sign of a really successful pop song. It gets into your head whether you invited it or not.

Annoying? Sometimes. Impressive? Definitely.

[Isaac85]

I think the criticism comes partly from the fact that he represents a very polished version of modern pop. Some people miss music that feels rougher around the edges.

At the same time, making something polished is a skill. There are thousands of artists trying to create a song that connects like that.

Whether you enjoy it or not, the achievement is hard to ignore.

[LurkingLegend]

The interesting debate is whether a song can be too successful. Sometimes the first few listens are great, but constant exposure changes how people feel about it.

Artists probably cannot control that. They release something they love, then millions of people decide how often everyone else hears it.

A strange problem to have, but still a problem

[Baz_26]

The voice debate reminds me of how people talk about accents in music. Sometimes a distinctive sound becomes part of the identity.

If every singer sounded technically perfect but completely similar, music would probably lose some personality.

Whether that personality appeals to you is another question though. Nobody has to like every successful artist.

[Natalie_86]

I remember when people said similar things about other massive hits. Once a song becomes unavoidable, it becomes fashionable to say you hate it.

Then years later people hear it again and remember exactly where they were when it was everywhere.

There is something impressive about creating a song that becomes part of everyday life, even for people who complain about it.

[BetaMyles75]

I think the biggest factor was the timing. Shape of You arrived when streaming and playlists were becoming even more important.

A song that encourages repeated listening can dominate because the system rewards it.

Maybe it would still have been huge in another era, but the environment definitely helped it become unavoidable.

[Bleak Inlet]

There is a difference between saying "this is not my style" and saying "this has no value". The first is personal preference, the second is much harder to defend.

Millions of people connected with that song for a reason.

Personally, I would rather have artists with different approaches than everyone chasing the same sound.