Wikipedia

The A Team (Ed Sheeran song)

"The A Team" is the debut single by English singer Ed Sheeran. It was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 10 June 2011, serving as the lead single from his debut album, (2011). "The A Team" is a folk ballad about a sex worker addicted to crack cocaine, a Class A drug. It was written after Sheeran visited a homeless shelter and heard some of the stories of the lives people had been living. He wrote the song following a last-minute performance at an event for the homeless. The chorus of "The A Team" was also used by Sheeran in the track "Little Lady", which features Mikill Pane. "Little Lady" is available on the EP No. 5 Collaborations Project.

"The A Team"
Single by Ed Sheeran
from the album
Released10 June 2011
GenreFolk[1]
Length
  • 4:18 (album version)
  • 3:42 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jake Gosling
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"If I Could"
(2011) 		"The A Team"
(2011) 		"Young Guns"
(2011)
Music video
"The A Team" on YouTube

It became a top 10 hit in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart, with sales of 57,607 copies.[2] The song was serviced to US radio formats in late 2012 and became a sleeper hit there, gradually rising up the Billboard Hot 100 to peak at number 16, becoming Sheeran's first single on that chart. On 5 December, the song received a Grammy Award nomination for Song of the Year, Sheeran's first Grammy Award nomination. At the 2012 Brit Awards, it was nominated for Best British Single.[3]

Background and release

edit

Sheeran said the song came from "an experience I had when I did a gig at a homeless shelter". He explained, "I was 18 at the time and kind of quite naive. So, I was a bit taken aback by some of the stories that I heard. [...] I wanted to write it so it sounded kind of upbeat, so you wouldn't really know what it's about, because it's quite a dark subject." In a 2011 video interview with Absolute Radio, Sheeran stated that it was based on the experiences of a particular woman at the shelter, named Angel, hence the 'Angels to fly' line in the song.[4] Talking to Billboard, he explained the title: "A drug like crack cocaine is called a 'Class A drug'. That's in the same category as heroin. Instead of making it clear and just saying what the problem was, I'd say, 'She's in the 'Class A' team.'"[5] The single was released 1 May 2011, in the UK through Atlantic Records. In US, "The A Team" was serviced to adult album alternative (also triple-A, AAA, or adult alternative) stations on 27 February 2012.

Composition

edit

According to the sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing, "The A Team" is set in common time with a tempo of 170 beats per minute. Written in the key of A major; Sheeran's vocals range from the note of A2 to A4. Instrumentation is provided by guitar, piano and vocals.[6] "The A Team" is a folk song.[1] Gary Trust from Billboard compared the song to "folk/rock hits like Suzanne Vega's 'Luka' (about child abuse), 10,000 Maniacs' 'Like the Weather' (depression) and Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' (alcoholism)", songs that "shade their heavy topics under a melodic canopy".[5] Ryan Reed from the publication, considered as a jazz-folk song.[7]

Critical reception

edit

"The A Team" received critical acclaim. TheMark Moore of Contactmusic.com awarded the single 7/10, calling it a "beautiful melodic track that is made by its dark lyrical content..."[8] Critics also praised Sheeran's vocals. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy awarded the song 5 stars out of 5, writing that Sheeran's "man-and-his-guitar concept is about as cliché as they come, but it's his intelligent lyrics and softer than cream cheese vocals that set him apart from the pack." He further praised the song, commenting that "Sheeran's frank honesty and lump-in-the-throat-like emotion are weighted by a folky melody and off-kilter acoustics."[9]

Chart performance

edit

The track made its debut on the UK Singles Chart at number three on 19 June 2011[10] – entering as the second highest new entry behind Calvin Harris and Kelis' "Bounce", which debuted at number two and then it spent four non-consecutive weeks at the number three position.[10] "The A Team" also saw chart success elsewhere, peaking at number two on the Scottish Singles. "The A Team" became the best selling debut single and the overall eighth best-selling single of 2011 in the UK, shifting 801,000 copies.[11] As of September 2017, the song has sold 1,119,000 copies, with 46 million streams, making a total of 1,587,000 combined units.[12]

The single debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number thirty-two, 23 October 2011. It peaked at number two for two weeks[13] and has been certified 10-times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales and streams of 700,000 units.[14] On the New Zealand Singles Chart the song entered at number thirty-eight, 21 November 2011. It peaked at number three and has been certified platinum by Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for sales of 15,000 copies.[15] The song also peaked at number three and Irish Singles Chart.

After being serviced to radio formats in US, the song made its first American chart entry on Billboard's component Adult Pop Songs at number thirty-eight.[16] It also debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since peaked at number 16, becoming Sheeran's first top 20 hit on the chart. It also peaked at 29 on the Canadian Hot 100. As of February 2015, "The A Team" has sold 2.3 million copies in the United States.[17]

Music video

edit

The music video for the song was shot and edited by Ruskin Kyle (Rivers Rush Video Production Company).[18] Sheeran refers to when he first created the demo for the song during an interview with 96.1 KISS,[19] "Whenever I wrote songs in the past, I never recorded them down because I didn't have a recorder but I had a Mac computer and made a video version of it." The original demos for "The A Team" were originally all recorded in this manner but not released to the public. When asked about his inspiration behind the Grammy nominated hit, Sheeran shared, "The A Team is written about a woman that I met in a homeless shelter."

The video was made at and around Angel tube station in Islington, London, and was uploaded to YouTube on 22 April 2010.[20] It depicts the story of a young woman addicted to drugs, portrayed by Selina MacDonald, who's seen trying to earn money selling The Big Issue magazine on the streets of London, actually selling one to Sheeran himself. The girl's struggles, both financial and existential, result in her prostituting herself to get money to buy crack. In the end, the girl dies alone in her room from her drug use, the outcome being the preface of the video, where a tearful grieving woman can be seen beside her corpse. An acoustic, unplugged version of the song was also uploaded onto the official Ed Sheeran YouTube page on 10 May 2011.

Live performances

edit

Ed Sheeran performed the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on 30 March 2012 and on the talk show Conan on 8 May 2012. Sheeran performed an acoustic version of the song live at the Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of Queen Elizabeth II on 4 June 2012.[21] Sheeran performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show along with "Grade 8" on 4 October 2012 and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! along with "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" on 19 December 2012. Sheeran also performed "The A Team" as a duet with Elton John at the 2013 Grammy Awards on 10 February 2013.

Cover versions

edit

In July 2011, Birdy covered the song at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.[22][23] Luca Hänni, winner of the ninth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar performed the song in the Top 16 show on 25 February 2012. Kendall Schmidt from Big Time Rush posted a cover of the song on YouTube in June.[24] On 17 June 2012, during One Direction's Up All Night Tour, member Niall Horan covered the song at Anaheim's The Theatre at Honda Center.[25] The X Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan has also used the music from the song, rewriting the lyrics from the perspective of the man who uses the services of the girl of the song, with version entitled "The B Team". X Factor Indonesia contestant "Mikha Angelo" covered the song in the third gala show. Also, the Jonas Brothers covered the song on their tour during Latin America.[26] In 2013 the French movie "Les Gamins" used a cover version by St John's International School choir for its OST[27][28][29] On 19 January 2013, singer Masha, covered the song on her YouTube channel, as of November 2013 Masha's cover has received nearly 50,000 views.[30] In January 2013, YouTube stars, Andy Lange and Chester See, made a cover on Lange's channel. The video currently has over 140,000 views.[31]

Track listing

edit
Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."The A Team"4:18
2."The A Team" (Shy FX's Ackee and Saltfish Remix)4:28
3."The A Team" (KOAN Sound Remix)4:39
4."The A Team" (True Tiger Remix)3:39
5."The A Team" (Acoustic)4:01
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."The A Team"4:18
2."The A Team" (KOAN Sound Remix)4:39
7-inch vinyl
No.TitleLength
1."The A Team"4:18
2."The A Team" (Shy FX's Ackee and Saltfish Remix)4:28

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Certifications for "The A Team"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[14] 10× Platinum 700,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[87] Gold 15,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[88] 9× Platinum 720,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[89] 2× Platinum 180,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[90] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[91] Platinum 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[92] Platinum 15,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[93] 2× Platinum 20,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[94] Platinum 60,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[78] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[95] Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[96] 5× Platinum 3,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[97] 7× Platinum 7,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom 10 June 2011[98] Digital download
13 June 2011[99] CD single
United States 27 August 2012 Contemporary hit radio

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Hyden, Steven; Koski, Genevieve (2 November 2012). "This Was Pop discovers the softer side of the rock-songs chart". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  2. ^ Ed Sheeran's debut single 'The A Team' at number three BBC News, Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  3. ^ Hogan, Michael (21 February 2012). "Brit Awards 2012: as it happened". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Ed Sheeran at Latitude 2011". YouTube.
  5. ^ a b Trust, Gary (17 April 2012). "Chart Beat Meet & Greet: Ed Sheeran (Exclusive Video)". Billboard.com.
  6. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com (EMI Music Publishing). 26 July 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Chart Beat Meet & Greet: Ed Sheeran (Exclusive Video) – Chart Beat". Billboard.com. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team". Contactmusic.com. 22 June 2011.
  9. ^ Copsey, Robert (14 June 2011). "Ed Sheeran: 'The A Team'". Digital Spy.
  10. ^ a b Ed Sheeran – 'The A Team' – UK Official Charts Company Information Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  11. ^ "The Top 20 biggest selling singles of 2011 revealed!". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  12. ^ Copsey, Rob (19 September 2017). "he UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". The Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ Steffen Hung. "Ed Sheeran – The A Team". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  14. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  15. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  16. ^ Billboard (30 April 2012). "Chart Highlights: Katy Perry's 'Part of Me' Tops Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard.com.
  17. ^ Official Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Mar. 7 2015 Countdown. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 25 February 2015. Event occurs at 2:00. Retrieved 25 February 2015 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Rivers Rush – a video production company – Ruskin Kyle". Riversrush.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  19. ^ "KISS Music Theater – Ed Sheeran – Interview with Tall Cathy". 961KISS. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  20. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  21. ^ Neil McCormick (4 June 2012). "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  22. ^ "BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge – Birdy)". BBC. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  23. ^ "Birdy – 'The A Team' (Ed Sheeran Cover)". OfficialBirdy/YouTube. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  24. ^ "Kendall Schmidt – COVER – "A-Team" /Ed Sheeran". YouTube.
  25. ^ "VIDEO: NIALL HORAN SINGS ED SHEERAN'S THE A TEAM (WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HARRY STYLES)". Sugar Magazine;Hachette Filipacchi Médias. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  26. ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  27. ^ "musicMe : musique gratuite, telechargement mp3, video-clips HD". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  28. ^ "Musique de Film : Les Gamins BO – 11. The A-Team". YouTube. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  29. ^ "iTunes – Musique – Les Gamins (Bande originale du film) par Various Artists". iTunes. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  30. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team (Cover by Masha)". YouTube. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  31. ^ "The A Team – Chester See & Andy Lange". YouTube.
  32. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  33. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  34. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  35. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  36. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  37. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  38. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  39. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  40. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2011 in the date selector. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  41. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 02. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  42. ^ "Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  43. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  44. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  45. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  46. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History". RÚV. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  47. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The A Team". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  48. ^ "Media Forest Week 33, 2011". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  49. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  50. ^ "Luxembourg Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  51. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  52. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 2012" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  53. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  54. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  55. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team". VG-lista. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  56. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  57. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201130 into search. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  58. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  59. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  60. ^ "Ed Sheeran – The A Team". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  61. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  62. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  63. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  64. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  65. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  66. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  67. ^ "Top 100 Singles 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  68. ^ "Single Top 100 Van 2011" (PDF) (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  69. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – single 2011" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  70. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  71. ^ "Top 100 Singles 2012". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  72. ^ "Classement des 200 premiers Singles Fusionnés par GfK année 2012" (PDF). SNEP. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  73. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  74. ^ "Best of 2012 – Japan Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  75. ^ "Single Top 100 Van 2012" (PDF) (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  76. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – single 2012" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  77. ^ "End of Year Charts 2012". The Official NZ Music Charts. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  78. ^ a b "Årslista Singlar – År 2012" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  79. ^ "End of Year 2012" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  80. ^ "Adult Pop Songs: 2012 Year-end". Billboard.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  81. ^ "Best of 2013 – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  82. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  83. ^ "Adult Pop Songs: 2013 Year-end". Billboard.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  84. ^ "Rock Songs: 2013 Year-end". Billboard.com. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  85. ^ "2019 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart". ARIA. January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  86. ^ Copsey, Rob (11 December 2019). "The UK's Official Top 100 biggest songs of the decade". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  87. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  88. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A Team". Music Canada. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  89. ^ "Danish single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A Team". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  90. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ed Sheeran; 'The A Team')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  91. ^ "Italian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  92. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A Team". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  93. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A Team" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  94. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A Team". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  95. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The A Team')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  96. ^ "British single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A Team". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  97. ^ "American single certifications – Ed Sheeran – The A-Team". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  98. ^ "The A Team by Ed Sheeran iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  99. ^ "The A Team – Ed Sheeran www.amazon.co.uk/". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_A_Team_(Ed_Sheeran_song)&oldid=1258645659"