Pharrell Williams

Lore & Background

Pharrell Williams co-wrote and produced "Sing" for Ed Sheeran's second studio album × (2014), also providing uncredited background vocals during the chorus. The song was released as the lead single on 7 April 2014 by Asylum Records UK. Williams' production drew inspiration from Justin Timberlake's albums *Justified* and *FutureSex/LoveSounds*, with Sheeran stating, "It was pretty close to a direct inspiration." The collaboration resulted in Sheeran's first number-one single in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. A remix featuring French rapper Nekfeu was released on 11 August 2014. The music video, directed by Emil Nava, won Best Male Video at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, an award received by both Sheeran and Williams.

In Their Own Story

In the studio, Pharrell Williams worked with Ed Sheeran to craft a sound that moved away from the folk rock of Sheeran's debut album +. The song's lyrics describe "a night out in Vegas," and its chorus riff and falsetto were drawn from "Miss You" by The Rolling Stones. Williams' production incorporated elements that critics compared to Sam Smith's falsetto and Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" percussion, while maintaining enough of Sheeran's identity to avoid becoming "horrible pastiche," as *The Guardian* noted. The track runs 3 minutes and 55 seconds.

Reader's Guide

Pharrell Williams' role on "Sing" was as producer and co-writer, bringing his signature pop and R&B production style to Sheeran's songwriting. He provided uncredited backing vocals during the chorus, adding depth to the track's vocal arrangement. The collaboration was a one-off for Sheeran's album ×, with no other tracks on that album featuring Williams' production. The song's success helped establish Sheeran as a versatile artist capable of moving beyond acoustic folk into mainstream pop territory.

Did You Know?

• Pharrell Williams provided uncredited background vocals during the chorus of 'Sing'.
• The chorus riff and falsetto in 'Sing' are from 'Miss You' by The Rolling Stones.
• Sheeran and Williams won the Best Male Video award at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards for the 'Sing' music video.
• A remix of 'Sing' featuring French rapper Nekfeu was released on 11 August 2014.
• The music video features a puppet caricature of Sheeran that was closely modelled on him, down to his clothes and tattoos.

Production Partnership and Sonic Evolution

Pharrell Williams played a pivotal role in shaping the sonic identity of Ed Sheeran's second studio album, specifically through his production work on the lead single "Sing." Collaborating closely with Sheeran, Williams not only produced the track but also contributed uncredited backing vocals during the chorus, helping to steer the artist away from his established folk rock sound. The song was explicitly modeled after the pop and R&B stylings of Justin Timberlake, drawing inspiration from albums like *Justified* and *FutureSex/LoveSounds*. This collaboration marked a significant departure for Sheeran, incorporating elements reminiscent of Sam Smith's falsetto and Robin Thicke's percussion while maintaining enough of Sheeran's unique voice to avoid sounding like a mere pastiche. The resulting track blends pop sensibilities with R&B influences, creating a confident croon that features deep melismas and boisterous chants, effectively convincing critics that the transition was both successful and timely.

Global Chart Dominance and Commercial Success

"Sing" achieved remarkable commercial success across multiple continents, serving as Ed Sheeran's first number-one single in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. In the UK alone, the track sold 670,000 copies physically and accumulated 66 million streams, totaling over 1.3 million units. Its international reach was equally impressive; it debuted at number one on the Australian ARIA Charts and climbed to the top spot in New Zealand shortly after entering their charts. In North America, while it peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it represented Sheeran's highest-charting single in the country at that time. The song also secured a top-five position in Canada and reached number two in Italy. By July 2016, the track had surpassed two million sales in the United States, cementing its status as a massive global hit that significantly expanded Sheeran's audience beyond his previous fanbase.

Critical Acclaim and Artistic Reception

Upon its release, "Sing" garnered widespread critical acclaim for its bold stylistic shift. Reviewers from major publications like *Time*, *The Guardian*, and *The Hollywood Reporter* praised the song's ability to blend Sheeran's fragile vocal history with a new, confident energy. Critics noted the influence of Pharrell Williams was evident but balanced well enough to prevent the track from feeling like a derivative imitation. *Time* highlighted the rubbery falsetto and percussion that echoed contemporary hits while pointing out the clear homage to Justin Timberlake's early solo work. The chorus riff, which borrows from The Rolling Stones' "Miss You," was also noted as a clever integration of classic rock into modern pop. Overall, the consensus was that Sheeran had successfully morphed his sound, utilizing rapid-fire rhymes and melodic depth to create a track that felt both fresh and familiar.

Visual Narrative and Award Recognition

The music video for "Sing," directed by Emil Nava, offered a surreal visual counterpart to the song's upbeat tempo. Released exclusively on Facebook before moving to YouTube and Vevo, the video features a puppet caricature of Sheeran navigating a wild night out in Vegas. The narrative follows the puppet getting drunk, stealing a microphone from an actor playing a character from *Big Trouble in Little China*, singing karaoke, visiting a strip club, and eventually picking up both Sheeran and Pharrell Williams in a truck. The puppet was meticulously crafted to resemble Sheeran down to his tattoos and clothing, though he admitted to not knowing how to operate it yet. This creative visual effort paid off when Sheeran and Williams won the award for Best Male Video at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, further solidifying the song's cultural impact beyond just audio sales.