“'Bad Habits' seems to be a regular pop song on the surface, but holds so much more meaning for Sheeran and the progression of his career.”
After two long years, Ed Sheeran has finally returned with his new single, “Bad Habits,” a highly addictive song with a catchy guitar riff that is mixed with a techno dance track. Immediately, “Bad Habits” has a very different sound to anything Sheeran has released before. Sheeran’s vocal approach is notably different, almost unrecognizable, as he softly, yet melodically sings on. The music video for “Bad Habits” is masterfully structured to highlight Sheeran’s artistic transformation. It depicts him and his comrades indulging in a night of debauchery, seemingly thriving in the chaos and only pausing their hectic activities when the sun comes up. However, the ending of the music video shows Sheeran returning to his ‘original’ self, his original persona returned and any trace of chaos removed, on the roof of a building strumming his trusty guitar. The image is one his fans know and love, one Sheeran cemented as his brand as he rose from street busker to an award-winning artist, and one his fans seem to miss.
In some ways, this scene in “Bad Habits” is an homage to his roots and ushers in a new era for Sheeran. His growth as an artist comes not only from his extensive portfolio as a singer-songwriter, but from new developments in his personal life. Sheeran welcomed his first child to the world last year, a pinnacle moment in his life that is sure to have sparked some enlightenment. In an interview with Zane Lowe, Sheeran discusses his struggle with his rapid rise to fame, venturing into new sounds, and finding joy in music again. He acknowledges how many of his fans want him to return to his previous sound, but believes in keeping the conversation interesting, continuing to reinvent himself as an artist, and making music that makes him happy. “Bad Habits” seems to be a regular pop song on the surface, but holds so much more meaning for Sheeran and the progression of his career.
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