By NICHOLAS NEGRON
Opinion Editor
On Friday, Oct. 24 I drove to Boston with one of my best friends to see Ginger Jesus himself in concert. Ed Sheeran performed for a crowd of over 52,000 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. This was his largest concert to date in America, as he mentioned multiple times during the show. The English recording artist had previously performed at the same stadium in 2013 while opening up for Taylor Swift on her Red Tour.
Ed Sheeran was born in West Yorkshire, England in 1991. From an early age he sang at his local church choir, and learned guitar. By high school he had already begun writing music. Sheeran was eventually discovered by Jaime Foxx after playing an open mic night. Foxx offered Sheeran his recording studio and a place to stay while recording in Hollywood.
Eventually the singer garnered internet popularity through YouTube. After the release of his second EP, “No. 5 Collaborations Project,” Sheeran did several shows in London, including at Barfly in Camden Town. Having studied abroad in London, I became excited after finding this out as Barfly was a place I frequented. After around four gigs in London, he was soon signed to Asylum/Atlantic Records.
Flash forward to 2014. Sheeran’s second album, “X,” became the biggest album of the year in the UK, certified platinum five times. Sheeran’s star power has fostered from an indie artist to a household name. As I have followed the recording artist’s career, it has been interesting to witness this transition.
Sheeran went from opening at a stadium, to selling out a show at an arena, to selling out a show at a stadium. This was done in a matter of three years. It is virtually unheard of. The first time I saw Sheeran live was at a Taylor Swift concert at MetLife Stadium in 2013. He performed music from his debut album, “+.” Sheeran fully satisfied his opening act duties, warming up the crowd for Swift.
The singer prides himself on performing solo. He plays the guitar and uses a loop pedal during his shows. I saw him again later that year, for a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden. Over the summer of 2013, Sheeran went from opening act to selling out The Garden three nights in a row. The crowd at this show was so intense; Sheeran could not be heard at certain hysterical moments. I fully admit to contributing to the hearing loss of every parent in The Garden.
The Gillette Stadium concert was nothing short of spectacular. One of my other favorite artists, Christina Perri, opened the show with hit songs such as “Jar of Hearts,” “Human” and my personal favorite, “A Thousand Years.” Fans raised their phones high, lighting up the night sky, as Perri played the haunting yet sweet tune on piano. Perri has a song with Sheeran called “Be my Forever.” As both singers are known for their sad and melancholy music, the song is a pleasant surprise for fans. Later in the show, Perri and Sheeran poked fun at their sad music before performing the future hit. Passenger sang their hit song “Let Her Go” to a standing ovation.
The audience at the show was uniquely mixed. Parents and couples on date night, teenagers and children alike were all present. Sheeran has broken the stereotypical “tween pop star” mold. This is because he never started off as one. His music has never been catered to a certain demographic. He gained millions of young fans from opening up for Taylor Swift. However, his music deals with mature themes including heartbreak, alcoholism, miscarriages and even Alzheimer’s disease. He did choose to remove all swear words from his latest album, recognizing his younger fans.
The show was fantastic. It was by far, my favorite Sheeran concert yet. The singer performed hits such as “Lego House,” “Sing” and “The A Team” to thousands of fans singing along, followed by thunderous applause. He also sang lesser known, but equally as cherished songs. These included “Tenerife Sea,” “Nina” and my favorite Sheeran tune, “Drunk.” The recording artist wrote a song for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” “I See Fire.” His performance was incredible. The stage screens glowed as if on fire. At one point, video of Smaug, the dragon from The Hobbit, appeared behind Sheeran, spouting fire. I was a puddle of sweat and tears, jumping wildly.
Sheeran is also known for his covers. He sang/rapped renditions of “Superstition,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “In Da Club” and “Know Yourself.” He has been featured on various rap tracks with artists such as Lupe Fiasco and Hoodie Allen.
“Thinking Out Loud” seems to be every couple’s new personal song. It has been widely used as the first tune played at weddings over the past year. Sheeran treated the audience with a special guest, as this was his largest show in America yet. Chris Martin from Coldplay performed “Thinking Out Loud” with Sheeran. Both then went on to sing the Coldplay hit, “Yellow.” This surprise was met to screams similar to that of the world’s largest roller coaster drop.
The experience of seeing Ginger Jesus in concert for the third time can be simply described as electrifying. Within the past few years, Ed Sheeran has sold out stadiums and arenas around the world. He has been nominated for six Grammy awards. He has sold millions of records. It seems like Sheeran’s career can only grow, as more become acquainted with the carrot top savior.
