Ed Sheeran bags sixth consecutive number one album with Subtract following year ... trends now
Ed Sheeran topped the UK music charts with his latest album, the critically acclaimed Subtract, on Friday following a backdrop of challenging life events.
The singer-songwriter's sixth studio album, went straight to no. 1, extending his 'flawless run of chart-topping albums', the Official Charts Company said.
Subtract was written during a difficult year which saw his wife Cherry Seaborn diagnosed with a tumour while pregnant, the death of his close friend Jamal Edwards and a copyright battle over his 2017 hit Shape Of You.
The record is the fastest-selling album of 2023 so far, shifting 76,000 chart units in its opening week, with nearly three-quarters made up of physical copies, it was also the best-selling vinyl album of the week.
Ed has said he used the album to channel the intense emotions which emerged from this difficult time, describing the songwriting process as his 'therapy'.
Congratulations: Ed Sheeran topped the UK music charts with his latest album, the critically acclaimed Subtract, on Friday following a backdrop of challenging life events
After it topped the charts, the Official Charts Company added: 'Subtract also sees Ed edge ahead of The 1975 in the list of acts to have reached the summit with all of their studio albums, now boasting six to the latter's five.'
During an intimate show with Apple Music Live at the Eventim Apollo in London on Wednesday, the singer dedicated two songs to the his late friend Jamal as he discussed his grief and revealed: 'I'm still not over it, I don't want to be.'
Ed was left heart-broken, battling depression after his friend's shock death explaining how he wished everyone would stand still 'like when the Queen died.'
As he addressed the audience ahead of Eyes Closed and Life Goes On, Ed began: 'The last time I was in this venue was with my friend Jamal, to see a comedy show, and I've not been here since.
'The first time I ever played this song, I cried when I introduced it, I cried at the start, I cried at the end and... I'm going to cry now.'
Breaking down in tears he wipe his face with a towel and continued: 'I found this very cathartic to put out.
'I always say these songs are mine until I put them out there, and then they belong to you guys.
'I felt like when the Jamal passed away that I wanted the world to just stop, like it did when the Queen died.'
No. 1: The singer-songwriter's sixth studio album, went straight to no. 1, extending his 'flawless run of chart-topping albums', the Official Charts Company said
He continued: 'I just didn't feel ready and I still don't really feel ready. Every one expects you to feel sad for a week or two and then everything carries on. But I'm still not over it, and I don't want to be.'
The album's lyrics give an insight into the depression and grief he has experienced in the last two years after the loss of his close friend Jamal, his wife Cherry's health woes and a plagiarism court case.
In a recent interview Ed said the collection of new songs was a 'trapdoor into his soul' with many of the lyrics using
