Ed Sheeran has been in the music industry long enough to understand that his creations will not resonate with everyone. This reality is particularly evident with his latest release, “Azizam,” a lively dance track that debuted on Friday, April 4. Despite his extensive fan base, Sheeran acknowledges that criticism is part of the artistic journey, and he remains focused on his craft rather than negative feedback.
After receiving a scathing review from a prominent TikTok influencer known as The Swiftologist, who provides commentary on music and pop culture, Sheeran humorously responded before moving forward with his plans. The critic, whose real name is Zachary, slammed “Azizam” in a video, claiming that the new song is essentially “the same f–k-ng thing” as a number of Sheeran’s earlier hits, suggesting a lack of originality in his recent work.
Zachary specifically pointed to Sheeran’s previous singles, including “Shivers,” “Bad Habits,” and “Shape of You,” stating, “They are all the same song [as ‘Azizam’], and they’re all so f—ing annoying.” He expressed frustration over what he perceives as a stagnation in Sheeran’s musical evolution since 2016, claiming, “I feel like I’m going crazy…I’ll never get these two minutes of my life back.” This critique reflects a growing concern among some listeners about the singer-songwriter’s artistic direction.
In his video review, Zachary did not hold back his criticism of Sheeran’s songwriting approach. He remarked, “The songs are good in the way that, I don’t know, heroin is good for people. It’s addictive in a way that is not supposed to be good for the human brain.” He accused Sheeran of crafting songs with the deliberate intent of achieving commercial success, which he described as “soulless.” This type of critique highlights the ongoing debate about authenticity in mainstream music and the balance between creating hits and maintaining artistic integrity.
How did Sheeran handle the backlash? With characteristic humor, he simply replied with a “lol” in the comments section, showcasing his laid-back attitude towards criticism. This response reflects Sheeran’s understanding of the diverse opinions surrounding his work and his ability to not take negative feedback too seriously.
Zachary responded to Sheeran’s light-hearted comment with an apology, stating, “King I’m so sorry. But we need to come up with something else.” This exchange illustrates the dynamic nature of social media interactions, where artists and critics alike engage in dialogues that can be amusing and insightful.
This is not the first instance of Sheeran facing criticism for his songwriting style, and it undoubtedly won’t be the last, especially with the announcement of at least five additional albums in the pipeline. In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Sheeran revealed that his upcoming album, Play – featuring “Azizam” as its lead single – will be succeeded by other LPs titled Pause, Rewind, Fast-Forward, and Stop.
This new series of albums follows the mathematical theme of his first five releases, which includes + (2011), x (2014), ÷ (2017), = (2021), and – (2023). While critics like Zachary may not appreciate Sheeran’s music, there remains a vast audience that enjoys his work; all five aforementioned albums achieved top 5 placements on the Billboard 200, and nine songs from these albums have reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Discover The Swiftologist’s review of “Azizam” and check out Sheeran’s comment below.
