Afterglow (Ed Sheeran song)

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"Afterglow"
Ed Sheeran - Afterglow.png
Single by Ed Sheeran
Written2019
Released21 December 2020 (2020-12-21)
GenreFolk-pop[1]
Length3:05
LabelAsylum UK
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Fred
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Parisi
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Own It"
(2019) 		"Afterglow"
(2020) 		"Bad Habits"
(2021)
Music video
"Afterglow" on YouTube

"Afterglow" is a song by English singer Ed Sheeran. Released on 21 December 2020, the song marks Sheeran's first single release in more than 18 months.[2][3] An accompanying music video features a one-take performance by Sheeran with solo acoustic guitar accompaniment.[4][5]

The song reached number-one in Israel and peaked within the top-ten of the charts in ten other countries, including the United Kingdom (number two on the UK Singles Chart), Australia and Switzerland. It also became Sheeran's 13th top ten on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, the most on the chart for a male solo artist.[6]

Background[]

On 20 December 2020, after having taken an extended hiatus from the public life, Sheeran returned to social media to announce his new single: "Hey guys. Afterglow is a song I wrote last year that I wanted to release for you". He further explained that the song is "not the first single from the next album" but just a song he loves.[7] The song is thought to be about his trip to Antarctica with his wife, Cherry Seaborn.[8]

Cover art[]

The cover art depicts an original piece of action painting created by Sheeran himself.[7][9]

Critical reception[]

The song received generally positive reviews from critics. Billboard's Gil Kaufmann described the song as a "spare acoustic ballad" that features a "haunting chorus".[9] Zoe Haylock of Vulture compared the song to Taylor Swift's latest surprise releases, saying he "took a page out of Taylor Swift's book and surprised fans with a new single" and went on to describe the track as one of his "acoustic bangers".[3] Morgan Hines of USA Today thought the song, accompanied by a "mellow melody", "exudes a feeling of intimacy during an emotional time between loved ones".[10]

Personnel[]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[11]

  • Ed Sheeran – producer, guitar, vocals, backing vocals
  • Fred – producer, bass, programmer
  • Marco Parisi – synthesiser
  • Giampaolo Jack Parisi – vocoder
  • Stuart Hawkes – masterer
  • Mark Spike Stent – mixer
  • Matt Wolach – assistant mixer
  • Parisi – producer, sound designer

Charts[]

Chart performance for "Afterglow"
Chart (2020–2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 7
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[15] 8
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 10
Canada AC (Billboard)[17] 1
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 16
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[19] 7
CIS (Tophit)[20] 27
Croatia (HRT)[21] 1
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[22] 5
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[23] 15
Denmark (Tracklisten)[24] 27
Dominican Republic (SODINPRO)[25] 42
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[26] 19
France (SNEP)[27] 129
Germany (Official German Charts)[28] 10
Global 200 (Billboard)[29] 13
Greece (IFPI)[30] 49
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[31] 35
Hungary (Single Top 40)[32] 39
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[33] 29
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[34] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[35] 2
Israel (Media Forest)[36] 1
Italy (FIMI)[37] 16
Lebanon (OLT20)[38] 3
Lithuania (AGATA)[39] 18
Malaysia (RIM)[40] 14
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[41] 22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 12
Norway (VG-lista)[45] 9
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[46] 44
Portugal (AFP)[47] 59
Romania (Airplay 100)[48] 66
Russia Airplay (Tophit)[49] 28
Singapore (RIAS)[50] 8
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[51] 1
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[52] 19
Slovenia (SloTop50)[53] 6
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] 77
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[55] 13
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[56] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[57] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[58] 29
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[59] 11
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[60] 7
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[61] 38
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[62] 16

Certifications[]

Certifications for "Afterglow"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[63] Platinum 70,000double-dagger
Austria (IFPI Austria)[64] Platinum 30,000double-dagger
Belgium (BEA)[65] Gold 20,000double-dagger
Canada (Music Canada)[66] Gold 40,000double-dagger
Italy (FIMI)[67] Platinum 70,000double-dagger
New Zealand (RMNZ)[68] Gold 15,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[69] Gold 400,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for "Afterglow"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 21 December 2020
Asylum UK [11]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ed Sheeran's Afterglow is the Christmas song we never even knew we needed".
  2. ^ Daly, Rhian (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran returns with new single 'Afterglow'". NME. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Haylock, Zoe (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran Returns to Strum Us Into 2021 With 'Afterglow'". Vulture. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran Drops Surprise Track 'Afterglow'". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  5. ^ Rice, Nicholas (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran Releases New Song 'Afterglow,' His First Since Becoming a Father — Listen". People. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Yang, Rachel (21 December 2020). "Ed Sheeran returns with new song 'Afterglow'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Ed Sheeran Afterglow Lyrics Explained As He Returns To Music". Capital FM. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Kaufman, Gil (21 December 2020). "It's a Christmas Miracle! Ed Sheeran Drops Surprise Track 'Afterglow'". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Ed Sheeran drops 'Christmas present' song 'Afterglow,' fans cheer: 'Just what we needed'". USA Today. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "Try the TIDAL Web Player". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  12. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  20. ^ Ed Sheeran — Afterglow. Tophit. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  22. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202114 into search. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  23. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 20211 into search. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Danishcharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Tracklisten. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Las más sonadas" [The most famous] (in Spanish). SODINPRO. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Ed Sheeran: Afterglow" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Lescharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 53/2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Media Forest charts". Media Forest. 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  37. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 1" (in Italian). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  38. ^ "The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Olivia Rodrigo". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 16 July 2021. Note: Select the "Chart history" tab to obtain the corresponding chart peak.
  39. ^ "2020 53-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  40. ^ "#RIMChart Top 20 Most Streamed International + Domestic song Week 1 (01/01/21- 07/01/21)". Instagram. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  43. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Charts.nz – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  45. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". VG-lista. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  46. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  47. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  48. ^ Arvunescu, Victor (22 February 2021). "Top Airplay 100 - Jason Derulo aduce un hit viral pe primul loc!" [Top Airplay 100 - Jason Derulo brings a viral hit in the first place!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  49. ^ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2021-02-05." Tophit. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  50. ^ "RIAS International Top Charts Week 53". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on 5 January 2021.
  51. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202123 into search. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  52. ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 20211 into search. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  53. ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". SloTop50. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  54. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  55. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  56. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  57. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  58. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  59. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  60. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  61. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  62. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  63. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  64. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  65. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2021". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  66. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  67. ^ "Italian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 4 May 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Afterglow" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  68. ^ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  69. ^ "British single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Afterglow". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
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