Taylor Swift just released her latest album The Tortured Poets Department, and her highly-anticipated “track 5” is a farewell to her love life in the United Kingdom, “So Long, London.”
The song is believed to be about her English ex Joe Alwyn, or exes if we include Matty Healy of The 1975. It’s a somber ballad detailing the collapse of their romance, underlined by a pulsating beat with writing help from Aaron Dessner of The National fame.
Taylor Swift is known for designating the fifth track on her LPs for the most emotional or personal songs. Fans have speculated for years about this so-called theory, and although the trend may have started as a coincidence, Swift has played into it with her more recent albums. The first record where she acknowledged the theory was her 2019 full-length Lover.
“So Long, London” has piqued our interest for a different reason, however. The melody presented in the chorus of this song is awfully similar to that of “So Long Soldier” by Baltimore pop punk band All Time Low, which was released twelve years prior in 2012 on their album Don’t Panic.
The similarities between the two melodies typically wouldn’t be enough to warrant raised eyebrows. But it’s not just the melody. Both choruses begin with the words “so long,” and that coupled with the melody is what seems so damning.
Are we claiming Taylor Swift ripped off All Time Low? No. But it sure does seem a little too close for comfort. Coincidentally, “So Long Soldier” also mentions London. The first verse details how frontman Alex Gaskarth emigrated from the UK to the United States: “Back in ’95 / A little boy from just outside of London / Took a fated trip across the ocean.”
It is worth mentioning that the two tunes in question are written in separate albeit both major keys, but even the tempo is close. A quick 160 beats-per-minute in “So Long, London” rivals an even brisker yet nearby 190 beats-per-minute in “So Long Soldier.”
What do you think? If I were on Swift’s legal team, I might go ahead and start penning a defense…
Since our last post about the most underrated songs by Ed Sheeran in 2017, he has released a collaborative compilation album, two full-length LPs, and numerous stand-alone singles. With the most recent release of his record – (Subtract), we thought it may finally be time to fill you in on the 15 new underrated Ed Sheeran songs. This list will only consist of songs released after ÷ (Divide). If you would like to see our previous list of 15 underrated songs, click here! Keep in mind, this is not a list of his best songs, just songs that are good but sadly overlooked.
Honorable Mentions
These songs would have made the list proper, but I either ran out of room or they thankfully seem to have gained a good amount of traction!
15. “Way to Break My Heart (feat. Skrillex)” from No.6 Collaborations Project (2019)
The third least popular song on No.6 according to Spotify…
Despite No.6 Collaborations Project being mostly, um, hot garbage, there are a few jewels speckled throughout. You might see the name Skrillex attached to this song and immediately assume the worst. (You’re telling me the guy who made “The A Team” teamed up with the guy who made “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”?) But in reality, the production elements that Sonny brings to the table on “Way to Break My Heart” are rather understated compared to some of his prior handiwork and could be considered moderately tasteful. While I don’t think I’d be shouting my praises of this song from the rooftops, I would still encourage listeners to give it one more spin. Somewhere in the back of my head, I can’t shake my suspicion that this song would’ve suited a different artist much more than it suits Ed. Nevertheless, despite that speculation in tandem with the lyrics feeling a tad underwritten, I still find myself mildly enjoying “Way to Break My Heart.”
14. “F64” (2023)
Not a single made for radio…
I’m not sure where to even begin describing this song and actually do it justice. A stand-alone single, “F64” is a sorrowful tribute to Ed’s late friend Jamal Edwards, the founder of London-based SBTV. SBTV was instrumental in providing a platform for underground artists to share their music, and Ed happened to be one of those artists. One could argue this is Ed’s first rap-centric tune in years outside of No.6; despite 2021’s “2step” having a bit of rhythmic flow in its pre-chorus, “F64” will more pointedly remind fans of past songs like “The Man” and “Eraser” with its rapid fire verses and heartfelt delivery. The live music video portrays the lengths Ed went in order to pay homage to Jamal and shows how emotional of a song this truly is.
13. “I Don’t Want Your Money (feat. H.E.R.)” from No.6 Collaborations Project (2019)
The second least popular song on No.6 according to Spotify…
In the verses of “I Don’t Want Your Money,” Ed exposes just how rough things can get on a personal level while living out what many would call the dream. Despite his astronomical rise to fame, he discusses the bumps in his relationships as well as his financial struggles. In 2014, Ed masterfully displayed similar notions on the × (Multiply) songs “Nina” and “The Man,” the hardship of always being on the road, touring from country to country and never being able to spend time with the ones you love. As he states on “The Man,” “Success is nothing if you have no one left there to share it with” and “But when I broke the industry / That’s when I broke your heart.” Although not as heavy or painstaking as those two aforementioned songs, he alludes to similar feelings on “I Don’t Want Your Money.” “There ain’t no diamonds, silver, or gold / That can replace a man’s love in a home” or “I couldn’t be more present, but I was in a mess / I remember being on tour, staying up on the phone.” It’s a catchy tune that reveals some hard truths underneath all the glittering gold. … Oh, and H.E.R.’s appearance is fantastic, as usual!
12. “Be Right Now” from = (2021)
The least popular song on = (Standard Edition) according to Spotify…
Album closer “Be Right Now” opens with one of my personal favorite verses on = (Equals), singing “Every teardrop, every wrong turn / Made the moment we found.” The instrumentation of this tune is intriguing, characterized by an uptempo beat and hazy piano refrain laden over wispy strings and an almost anxiety-inducing pulsing bassline. The second verse introduces a plucky guitar melody that admittedly could’ve been much more impactful, but a new synth “wall of sound” picks up some of the slack. The musicality reaches a climax during the bridge before giving way to a stripped-back final chorus. This last refrain truly encapsulates the lyrical message—all “the hurry and the noise” surrounds you for so long but Ed’s abruptly solitary vocals force you to just … be. Be right now, exist in the moment with no distractions, no outside sounds.
11. “Balance” from – (Deluxe Edition) [2023]
A bonus track only available physically on LP and a CD included with the purchase of the – (Deluxe Edition) vinyl…
With 23 tracks total (14 standard and 9 bonus) on –, it’s no wonder some great tunes have become buried and forgotten. Even more of an uphill battle, “Balance” is one of the four bonus tracks exclusive to the deluxe vinyl record which luckily came with a CD that includes those bonus tracks. (Unfortunately, “Boat (Reprise)” is still only available on flexi-disc at this time.) “Balance” features this laidback kind of vocal delivery, somewhat akin to “Dusty” from the standard version of –. Some unpronounced strings are ushered in during the chorus, as well as a skittering percussion beat. It’s a strange amalgamation that shouldn’t truly work in the recipe book, but damn, does it taste good! The lyrics leave a lot to be pondered upon; there are so many different directions we could go with the potential meaning of this song. But sometimes I like that unknowingness, the ability to apply your own interpretation to the material presented.
10. “Call On Me” with Vianney (2022)
A forgotten hidden gem…
“Call On Me” was a stand-alone single that eventually found a home on the French deluxe tour edition re-release of = in 2022. Made with French singer/songwriter Vianney, this tune offers a unique flavor in Ed’s catalogue. Ed has dipped more than just his toes in the realms of modern dancehall, Latin dance, Afrobeat, and reggaeton music, collaborating with artists like J Balvin, Fireboy DML, Burna Boy, Paulo Londra, and Camila Cabello on multiple occasions. But an acoustic French pop song? Consider me tickled pink!
9. “Stoned” from – (Deluxe Edition) [2023]
The fourth least popular song on – (Deluxe Edition) according to Spotify…
“Stoned” reminds me a lot of “Save Myself” from ÷, a song which carved out a spot on our previous list of underrated Ed Sheeran tunes. (I mean, he even sings “Save me” in the pre-chorus here.) This a bleak cut of introspection into how Ed perceives himself, his current habits, his motives, and his personal success in comparison to his peers. “All my friends have settled and grown / And then there’s me here dancing alone.” I suppose it’s a testament to how even being on top of the world can’t shield you from those negative voices in the back of your mind. The first verse expands on this a bit with the lines “Crowds will devour, I don’t need breathing space / Consumed by hopelessness and all my worries.” Furthermore, Ed reveals how he tries to cover up his pain by getting high, writing “I’ll keep bleeding and I’ll be stoned” in the chorus. Piano-based and quietly capacious, the instrumentation of “Stoned” bolsters the exposure and vulnerability Ed is putting on display here. With – still being rather fresh, I hope this track can continue to climb the ranks in popularity.
8. “I Will Remember You” from = (Tour Edition) [2022]
The third least popular song on = (Tour Edition) according to Spotify…
Ed has always done a fabulous job at approaching grief in his music. The excited hope of “Small Bump” turning into a heart-wrenching farewell, the reminiscence on an enduring romance in “Afire Love,” the raw specificity of the pain in simple activities on “Supermarket Flowers.” The man has mastered painting the highs and lows we experience throughout the process of bereavement. Happy memories remembered, but a vacant hole remains. “I Will Remember You,” a bonus track on =, seems to get overshadowed by its standard version predecessor “Visiting Hours.” While “Visiting Hours” is a great tune, “I Will Remember You” hasn’t remotely neared the same level of acclaim. This song offers that dichotomy of highs and lows; the instrumental beneath the vocals sounds relatively upbeat and the lyrics reflect on the fond, beloved aspects of the deceased, but there’s still that familiar ache of grief. That longing, that feeling of wanting someone right back beside you and yet understanding it will never be possible.
7. “End of Youth” from – (2023)
It’s a song written entirely by Ed, and it is just so damn good…
Written solely by Ed, “End of Youth” is a brutally honest display of the toll sadness and grief can have on one’s juvenescence. Do we lose our sense of youth when we face a depressive state? Is a piece of our own innocence taken to the graves of those for whom we mourn? Ed even briefly divulges his suicidal ideation over the years: “All my ups led to falls that led to trying to end my life.” On a brighter note, it’s rather delightful to see that Ed, age 32, still considers himself in a state of youth despite being a “geriatric pop star” by Taylor Swift’s recent definition. “End of Youth” is one of Ed’s strongest solo showings in quite some time and certainly shines on an album that already weighs as heavily as –. My favorite line would have to be “Can’t get a handle on my grief when every memory turns to tears.”
6. “Stop the Rain” from = (2021)
The third least popular song on = (Standard Edition) according to Spotify…
On paper, this is the sort of song I would feel some kind of vague apathy towards from an artist like Ed Sheeran. But in actuality, “Stop the Rain” is a diamond in the rough. Lively, danceable, and fervent, “Stop the Rain” features Ed’s more impassioned vocals on = and a bass-heavy chorus bound to get you moving. Plus, the lyrics impart some semblance of emotional depth, discussing the challenges of keeping your head up when others aim to bring you down. Ed reiterates an idea he’s routinely espoused over the years throughout his discography: it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to not be okay.
5. “Lonely Lovers” with D-Block Europe from Lap 5 (2022)
Well, I mean, did you even know this one existed?
Ed is featured on “Lonely Lovers” by hip-hop group D-Block Europe, delivering a solid verse and a fantastic chorus. Don’t be misled by the title—this song is yet another tune about grief and losing the ones you love, but more specifically friends. With poignant lyrics layered over a solemn guitar melody and smooth beat, “Lonely Lovers” is a painfully undiscovered gem. I personally wish Ed had promoted this tune more. And don’t fret, there’s plenty of Ed featured on this song if you’re not enthused by D-Block for some reason.
4. “Penguins” from = (Tour Edition) [2022]
The second least popular song on = (Tour Edition) according to Spotify…
This song was released on the deluxe tour version of = in 2022 as a bonus track. There’s a particular cadence in Ed’s voice on “Penguins” that echoes his older material: a bit clunky at times with some interesting lyrical choices (“We are penguins on the ice / We’re not meant to fly but God knows we can try”) yet endearing and quite charming nonetheless. The instrumentation is rather sparse in comparison to most songs present on =, once again reminiscent of his previous work. But when I mention the song “Penguins” to my colleagues, they look at me with confused expressions. And rightfully so—it sounds ridiculous! But hear me out, “Penguins” is a fantastic deep cut well worth your time.
3. “Sycamore” from – (2023)
The second least popular song on – (Standard Edition) according to Spotify…
“Sycamore” might very well end up being one of those songs critics will point to in order to illuminate how – is just a “folklore clone,” considering all the input from Aaron Dessner, the similar instrumentation and reflective state of melancholy. But I think “Sycamore” and most all the other tunes on – can stand on their own as authentically Ed Sheeran songs. This tune cuts deep, reminiscing on how the trials and tribulations we face throughout life only render our relationships even more “glorious.” In the opening verse, Ed sings “Worried about my lover and I’m worried about our child / And part of me was always in denial, it’s gonna take a little while.” His wife’s cancer diagnosis is something he actively processes throughout this album. How do you cope with the very real possibility of losing your lover and the mother of your children? As he states, “What a puzzlе is this to be in love / To be planting your roots thеn dig them up.”
2. “Borderline” from – (2023)
This beauty deserves way more than just 6M streams on Spotify…
A piano-driven ballad, “Borderline” features Ed’s falsetto vocals in the chorus, and although this isn’t his most impressive performance, it’s still admirable nonetheless. Lyrically, this tune is an emotional gut punch. Some lines sound like they could’ve fit in comfortably on an album like A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie, such as “And the blackbirds, they fly / Like a frown on the skyline” or “Sadness always finds an in / Sneaks its way past, infecting everything.” Ed captures something I find difficult to describe in the production and mixing on this track: it simultaneously feels spacious and atmospheric yet so closed-in and claustrophobic, so vast yet intimate. So lonely, wandering adrift in emptiness… I feel as though that perfectly conveys the message and overall vibe of “Borderline.”
1. “Fear” from – (Deluxe Edition) [2023]
A bonus track only available physically on LP and a CD included with the purchase of the – (Deluxe Edition) vinyl…
“Fear” takes our top spot on Ed’s more recent underrated songs. It’s the perfect blend of everything you’ve come to know and love about Ed Sheeran. There’s a catchy chorus, a rap sequence, a fun post-chorus melody, a delectable mix of instruments, Ed’s great chest voice and falsetto, and some relatable lyricism. It’s a breezy tune that doesn’t take itself too seriously and yet still manages to feel momentous and undoubtedly genuine. One listen and you’ll have that chorus embedded into your brain, “Fear is a joy-killer / So f*ck what they say.” And of course you’ll try to keep up with his spitting verses and inevitably fumble over your words the first few attempts. With how exuberant the chorus and post-chorus can feel, it’s worth taking in the depth of the lyrics at hand. “You’re only human, they bleed just like you do” and “If they have a thought, don’t mean that it’s right / Because they said [it] out loud” will assuredly resonate with listeners in our current internet-consumed era. “Fear” is an absolute hidden gem and I pray it’s more widely released for all to hear!
I truly didn’t anticipate that all three of our most underrated songs would be from –, but what can I say? The record is one of Ed’s best, and with 23 tracks, of course some tunes will be stifled! Let us know what you think of our list down in the comments. What would your list look like?
Any pop music fan knows that Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, two of the biggest stars in the industry, share a close friendship. They’ve collaborated many times throughout the years and seem to hold an unbreakable bond with one another. But despite their singular stardom, their combined dominance may be more calculated than you might think. Here are eleven things that 100% prove Ed and Taylor have way more in common than what meets the eye. Like, suspiciously way more. Are they plotting to take over the entire music industry? Wake up, sheeple.
1. This vocal run that shows up on both “The A Team” and “seven”
Ed’s song “The A Team” was originally released in 2011 as a single for his album + (Plus) and remains one of his most popular songs. Near the end of the tune, Ed begins riffing some heartfelt vocal runs to complement the emotion. But in Taylor’s song “seven,” which came out nine years later in 2020, she emulates a very similar sounding vocal run. Take a listen…
2. Ed and Taylor both have songs titled “Afterglow”
While many artists have songs with this title, it seems oddly suspicious that Taylor and Ed would simultaneously be among them. Taylor’s 2019 album Lover features the passionate deep cut “Afterglow,” which quickly became a fan favorite. A little more than a year later, Ed released his first solo single in over three years, and what was it titled? That’s right. “Afterglow.” Curious.
3. Ed and Taylor both have songs titled “The Man”
Although the subject matter discussed on their respective songs varies greatly, Ed and Taylor have also both released tunes named “The Man.” Ed’s song came out in 2014 on his magnum opus × (Multiply) and details his personal struggles in a relationship due to his celebrity status and touring lifestyle. Taylor’s song was unleashed as a single in 2019 for her full-length Lover and explores the double standards between men and women in the music industry. But isn’t it a bit odd that they have both released songs called “The Man”? We think so.
4. Ed has a song titled “One” and Taylor has a song titled “the 1”
Okay, so these titles aren’t as strikingly similar as the past two, but still. “One” served as the opening track on Ed Sheeran’s 2014 record × (Multiply), and “the 1” was also included as the opening track on Taylor Swift’s 2020 album folklore. A little sus…
5. Taylor references “Shape of You” by Ed on her song “Dress”
Obviously, Ed Sheeran didn’t invent the phrase “shape of you,” but it is the title of his biggest hit and one of the most popular songs of the 2010s. Released in January of 2017, “Shape of You” immediately dominated radio rotations and Spotify playlists to promote his next record ÷ (Divide). But later that same year, Taylor Swift released her album reputation, a noticeable shift for her public image and a turning point in her career. “Dress,” a sultry hidden gem on the record, presents the lyric “There is an indentation in the shape of you.” But this line doesn’t appear just once. It shows up in the opening verse of the song and the closing tag of the song.
6. Taylor references “Shape of You” by Ed again on the song “Renegade”
But wait, there’s more. Taylor uses the phrase yet again in the song “Renegade,” a collaboration with Big Red Machine (the superduo of Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner) in 2021, four years after “Dress” and “Shape of You.” “The shape of you was jagged and weak,” she sings, and just like in “Dress,” the line is included in the opening verse of the tune. Interesting…
7. Ed was an ambassador for the streetwear brand HOAX for many years and Taylor has a song titled “hoax”
Ed was a big fan of the UK skate and streetwear clothing company HOAX for quite some time before becoming an official brand ambassador in 2017. He was very invested in repping the local brand from his home county in the UK and almost exclusively wore HOAX throughout the ÷ (Divide) era during public appearances. Lo and behold, in 2020, Taylor drops a song titled “hoax” as the standard edition album closer on folklore. Coincidence? We think not.
8. Justin Vernon & Bon Iver
Taking a look at × (Multiply), Ed Sheeran’s 2014 long-player, he references Bon Iver twice. First on the track “Nina” where he sings, “Under the covers where we used to lay / And ‘re:Stacks’ is what the speakers played,” and later on the tune “The Man” with the line “Recently, I tend to zone out up in my headphones to ‘Holocene.'” But Ed has never released a collaboration of some sort with Bon Iver. Taylor actually beat him to it. On her 2020 sister albums folklore and evermore, Taylor worked extensively with frontman Justin Vernon and featured Bon Iver on two songs, one from each full-length, “exile” and “evermore.” Justin also contributed backing vocals and songwriting on a number of tracks. In 2021, the musicians recrudesced with the tunes “Renegade,” a single, and “Birch” for the Big Red Machine album How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? But we’re asking a different question: When will Ed Sheeran and Bon Iver finally collab?
9. Aaron Dessner & The National
Another person who artists are chomping at the bit to get a slice of. Like with Justin Vernon, Taylor worked largely with Aaron Dessner on folklore and evermore, and The National was featured on the latter album’s song “coney island.” Aaron and Taylor also completed some of the bonus tracks on her latest chart-topper Midnights. Of course, Aaron is also part of Big Red Machine. In 2021, Ed Sheeran finally took the opportunity to work with Aaron for his upcoming album – (Subtract). Aaron co-wrote ten out of eighteen tracks and has instrumental performer credits on many more.
On March 2, 2023, Ed took to Instagram to write in a caption: “So in 2021, I got a message from @taylorswift to link me up with @aarondessner. She thought he and I would make something great together. I have to be honest, I was a bit reticent to work with him that soon after folklore and evermore because I felt that was Taylor’s thing and they had both been done so perfectly. But we met for dinner, chatted about life and music, and he promised to send me some instrumentals for me to write over whenever inspiration hit. As soon as I got them, I loved the whole overall vibe of it and knew that one day I would write to them. … It’s just been the most incredible process, and an album I’m so bloody proud of. Thanks to Aaron and Jon for the insane amount of hard work and dedication you put into this project, and bringing out a side of me I had put on mute for so long. And of course, thanks to Swizzle, as always, you rock x”
Aaron posted on Instagram that same day with the caption: “I was introduced to @teddysphotos through @taylorswift when I helped produce their song “Run” for Taylor’s Version of Red last year. … Some time later [Ed and I] met up in New York City for dinner and talked at length about music and life. It felt so relaxed and as if we already knew each other. … I couldn’t be more proud of this record and the vulnerability and honesty Ed showed in making these songs with me. … Thanks so much to Ed for trusting me to help him on his journey as an artist.”
And would you look at that. Taylor will appear on the song “The Alcott” for The National’s new album The First Two Pages of Frankenstein, due in late April. Strange…
10. The amount of collabs between the two of them (and the depth they go into)
“Everything Has Changed” was the first time Ed and Taylor collaborated on a tune, released in 2012 on Taylor’s acclaimed album Red. Ed then featured on Taylor’s track “End Game” in 2017 for reputation, and Taylor hopped on a re-released version of Ed’s song “The Joker and the Queen” in 2021 for = (Equals). That same year, Taylor blessed fans with an unreleased bonus track from the vault for Red (Taylor’s Version) titled “Run,” which of course featured Ed. Ed’s verse on “End Game” contains a number of references to his own song lyrics, and the single artwork for “The Joker and the Queen” displays a queen-of-hearts with heavy resemblance to Taylor. Make no mistake, these are highly intentional choices.
11. The first verse of Ed’s song “Tides”
“Tides” is the opening song from Ed Sheeran’s 2021 record = (Equals), and how does he start it off? That’s right, referencing his collaboration with Taylor Swift. “I have grown up, I am a father now / Everything has changed, but I am still the same somehow.” And he had to have known he would be re-recording the song with her that same year! How devious.
There you have it, folks. Cold, hard evidence that Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift have colluded much more than we could have imagined to take over the music industry.
… Although all the “evidence” we’ve laid out here is true and factual, we are of course playing things up for April Fools. Hope you enjoyed!
The third least popular song on No.6 according to Spotify…
Not a single made for radio…
12. “Be Right Now” from = (2021)
The least popular song on = (Standard Edition) according to Spotify…
A bonus track only available physically on LP and a CD included with the purchase of the – (Deluxe Edition) vinyl…
A forgotten hidden gem…
9. “Stoned” from – (Deluxe Edition) [2023]
The third least popular song on = (Tour Edition) according to Spotify…
It’s a song written entirely by Ed, and it is just so damn good…
6. “Stop the Rain” from = (2021)
Well, I mean, did you even know this one existed?
3. “Sycamore” from – (2023)
Alt Columnist 