Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” released

Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran

Writer(s): Ed Sheeran, Amy Wadge, Julian Williams (see lyrics here) Released: September 24, 2014 First Charted: October 25, 2014 Peak: 2 US, 11 DG, 11 RR, 119 AC, 16 A40, 26 AA, 11 UK, 2 CN, 15 AU, 13 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 12.0 US, 3.0 UK, 19.5 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 4.0 radio, 3518.7 video, 2274.38 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Thinking Out Loud” was the third single from Sheeran’s second studio album, X (or Multiply). The song took 19 weeks to climb to #1 in the UK WK and went on to become the first single to spend a full year in the UK top 40. WK In the U.S., it peaked at #2 for eight weeks behind “Uptown Funk!” It became the first song to be streamed over 500 million times on Spotify. WK Sheeran wrote the song with Amy Wadge, a Wales-based singer/songwriter whom Sheeran met when he was seventeen years old. When she visited him in February 2014, he was nearly finished with his album. Sheeran heard her playing guitar and the tune caught his attention. He wrote the song in 20 minutes and then recorded it on his phone. The next day he recorded it in the studio. WK Sheeran later explained he wrote the song about his then-girlfriend Athina Andrelos and about “everlasting love” at “a really, really happy point.” WK It became a popular first-dance wedding number, topping Spotify’s 2017 list of the most popular wedding songs in America. SF The romantic ballad had blue-eyed soul influences. Sheeran composed the melody on guitar which he considered in the style of Irish musician Van Morrison. WK He told Q magazine, “Everyone always channels Michael Jackson and the Beatles and Bob Dylan…I feel like Van Morrison is a key figure in the music that I make.” SF Some noted the song had similarities to Marvin Gaye’s 1973 song “Let’s Get It On.” Billboard’s Jason Lipshutz even called it a “sleek update” of the classic. WK The heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote and co-produced “Let’s Get It On,” sued Sheeran for plagiarizing the song. SF The lawsuit was dismissed because the complaint wasn’t served before the deadline of January 20, 2017. SF Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: Last updated 7/24/2023.

Linkin Park “In the End” charted

In the End Linkin Park

Writer(s): Brad Delson, Chester Bennington, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon (see lyrics here) Released: October 9, 2001 First Charted: August 25, 2001 Peak: 2 US, 16 RR, 15 A40, 3 AR, 15 MR, 8 UK, 2 CN, 4 AU, 5 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 1.2 UK, 5.66 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.7 radio, 1400.0 video, 1615.11 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Linkin Park formed in Agoura Hills, California in 1996. Their debut, 2000’s Hybrid Theory, has sold more than 27 million worldwide and become a foundational album in the nu metal scene. Four singles were released from the album with “In the End,” the last one, being the most successful. It is one of the group’s three songs to reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #2. It was the first of ten top-40 hits for the group. “In the End” has become Linkin Park’s signatur song and the first nu-metal song to pass one billion streams on Spotify. WK Critics have complimented the piano riff and rapping from Mike Shinoda. In 2015, the song topped Kerrang! magazine’s list of rock songs. WK The song was about Chester Bennington, the group’s lead singer, and his childhood struggles with being picked on. SF Shinoda said, “There’s a weird battle with hopelessness…that the song is really about…What’s so odd…is its almost talking about these things and saying ‘I don’t have any answers.’” SF Bennington initially opposed its inclusion on Hybrid Theory. WK He said later he realized choosing singles wasn’t his strong suit “so I leave that to other people who are actually talented at somehow picking songs people are going to like the most.” SF By contrast, Shinoda thought the song showcased Linkin Park’s range of skills because “it contrasted with the more aggressive tunes in their catalog.” SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Linkin Park SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/25/2023.

Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” topped the album rock chart

Free Fallin’ Tom Petty

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