Ed Sheeran sets the UK charts abuzz
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The big bang for 2017 has been set by Ed Sheeran. He has set the bar high was he has not only released two song simultaneously but also set a record by charting both songs at No’s 1 and 2 of the UK singles chart.  ‘Shape Of You’ and ‘Castle On The Hill’ debuted on the singles chart at No’s 1 and 2 respectively. Thus Sheeran became the first solo musician to make that mark. His second record was streaming 13.4 million for the first week for ‘Shape Of You’ and 11.07 million streams for ‘Castle On The Hill’ (previous record holder Drake’s ‘One Dance’ had 8.9 million in the first week). The pop/ tropical house track ‘Shape Of You’ turned out to be the bigger appealing release as it secured a combined 227,000 to land straight at the No: 1 spot. The song also took his tally of No: 1’s on home ground to three. Sheeran has co-written ‘Shape Of You’ with Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid. Ed’s last UK No: 1 song was Thinking Out Loud’ in 2014.The song is pretty huge internationally too as it has already topped the chart in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Ed’s last UK No: 1 song was Thinking Out Loud’ in 2014.Ed Sheeran’s other single ‘Castle On The Hill’ which refers to his hometown Framlingham in Suffolk is a folk pop by genre. It is a biographical song taking us back to the early days as a struggling teen. The track took a combined 194,000 copies to debut at the No: 2 spot on the singles chart. Ed has co-written ‘Castle On The Hill with Benjamin Levin.
Meanwhile both songs released by Sheeran will be featured on his next album ‘÷’ (pronounced divide) which is due to come out on 3rd March. Pre-orders for the 12 track album opened on 13th January. Ed Sheeran is also heading for a carpool karaoke with the popular entertainer James Corden.
Jax Jones dance song ‘You Don’t Know Me’ climbed from 33 to land on the top 10 at No: 9. The song features the vocals of Raye. Jax Jones has now released four songs of his own, but ‘You Don’t Know Me’ has brought him solo recognition. Earlier he produced Duke Dumont’s No: 1 from 2014 ‘I Got U’.
Pop singer James Arthur has been slapped with a driving ban after he failed to pay a driving ticket. The former X-Factor winner was given a speeding ticket in June of 2016 but he did not pay. The driving ban will be for six months plus a £2000 fine and court fee of £225 by the magistrate of Willesden. Arthur had a big hit song called ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ last year.
Statue of the late singer Cilla Black has been unveiled on January 16 outside the Cavern Club in Liverpool, where she worked and from where her career took off.
| UK TOP 10TW LW 1 – Shape Of You – Ed Sheeran |