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Ed Sheeran: Writing Out Loud
Ed Sheeran is a true global musical talent—and fans will cherish this in-depth look at the meaning behind his songs.
Ed Sheeran is at the very top of the pop-music world, creating #1 hits not only for himself but for artists such as Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and his good pal Taylor Swift, to name a few. For the legions who love the beatboxing guitarist from Halifax, this book is a must-have. It goes behind the scenes to find the stories behind the creation of Sheeran’s award-winning music. As well as analyzing every song on Sheeran’s groundbreaking albums and his biggest successes with other singers, music journalist Caroline Sullivan reflects on Sheeran’s life, talent, and inspiration, providing refreshing insights into his massive worldwide success.
Ed Sheeran is at the very top of the pop-music world, creating #1 hits not only for himself but for artists such as Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and his good pal Taylor Swift, to name a few. For the legions who love the beatboxing guitarist from Halifax, this book is a must-have. It goes behind the scenes to find the stories behind the creation of Sheeran’s award-winning music. As well as analyzing every song on Sheeran’s groundbreaking albums and his biggest successes with other singers, music journalist Caroline Sullivan reflects on Sheeran’s life, talent, and inspiration, providing refreshing insights into his massive worldwide success.
- GenresMusicNonfiction
160 pages, Hardcover
Published September 4, 2018
About the author
Caroline Sullivan
24 books20 followersI'm not the Caroline Sullivan who writes poetry - I'm the other one, who's published six books: Bye Bye Baby: My Tragic Love Affair with the Bay City Rollers; Madonna: Ambition. Music. Style.; Ed Sheeran: Writing Out Loud; Adele: The Other Side; Dua Lipa: The Unauthorized Biography (bit of a dull title, apologies) and the Sunday Times bestseller Taylor: Era by Era.
Hmm. Goodreads apparently thinks that I haven't set up an account, and it's commanding me to do so.
I've been trying to write a little plug recommending the book I'm currently reading, Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, but it keeps saying that I haven't got an account. Sigh.
Hmm. Goodreads apparently thinks that I haven't set up an account, and it's commanding me to do so.
I've been trying to write a little plug recommending the book I'm currently reading, Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, but it keeps saying that I haven't got an account. Sigh.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 6, 2019
Ed Sheeran is one of the most talented singer/songwriters in the music business today. His albums sell in the millions. He writes all of his songs and plays many instruments in addition to his guitar. He has also written songs for other performers including Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, One Direction and others. He has received much acclaim and many awards. Yet despite his enormous fame he remains quiet, humble, and modest. He attributes much of his success to his upbringing in a loving, encouraging, and supportive family.
In Writing Out Loud, music journalist Caroline Sullivan provides unique insight into Sheeran’s music and lyrics. She writes about the story behind each of the songs from his three recent albums. In doing so, the reader learns the inspiration for each song as well as the actual musical composition of them.
It’s a fascinating look at the music industry and one enormously talented individual.
In Writing Out Loud, music journalist Caroline Sullivan provides unique insight into Sheeran’s music and lyrics. She writes about the story behind each of the songs from his three recent albums. In doing so, the reader learns the inspiration for each song as well as the actual musical composition of them.
It’s a fascinating look at the music industry and one enormously talented individual.
December 31, 2019
El libro hace un recorrido por los tres primeros álbumes de Ed (excluyendo las recopilaciones de colaboraciones). La verdad es que, en términos generales es muy interesante conocer qué eventos o personas inspiraron las canciones o en qué circunstancias se escribieron. También proporciona datos numéricos del éxito de Ed y guau. Es una muy buena lectura para los fans.
Sin embargo, le he visto algunas pegas. La principal que a veces la autora da su propia opinión sobre las canciones y, como no acaba de coincidir con la mía, me ha sobrado bastante. Además, creo que nadie la necesita, queremos saber cómo crea Ed, no lo que opina la autora.
Por otro lado, a veces la información sobre las canciones era un poco desigual. Obviamente, hay más miga que sacar de las canciones más populares, pero es que hay varias canciones en las que la única información que se da es descripción musical, qué base se ha usado, qué instrumento, etc. Y bueno, a los que no somos expertos en música, los que disfrutamos de oírla pero no sabemos mucho sobre compases y escalas, no nos interesa esa parte. Nos interesa “la historia detrás de las canciones”, como promete el título.
Sin embargo, le he visto algunas pegas. La principal que a veces la autora da su propia opinión sobre las canciones y, como no acaba de coincidir con la mía, me ha sobrado bastante. Además, creo que nadie la necesita, queremos saber cómo crea Ed, no lo que opina la autora.
Por otro lado, a veces la información sobre las canciones era un poco desigual. Obviamente, hay más miga que sacar de las canciones más populares, pero es que hay varias canciones en las que la única información que se da es descripción musical, qué base se ha usado, qué instrumento, etc. Y bueno, a los que no somos expertos en música, los que disfrutamos de oírla pero no sabemos mucho sobre compases y escalas, no nos interesa esa parte. Nos interesa “la historia detrás de las canciones”, como promete el título.
November 22, 2018
Interesting but sometimes it's a judgemental....
January 21, 2023
Es un libro creado para fans, en el que se detalla la historia que hay detrás de cada una de las canciones de los 3 primeros discos de Ed y con el que consigues pasar un muy buen rato.
En algunas ocasiones me dio la impresión de que la autora ponía su opinión por encima de la información, pero es normal ya que no deja de estar escribiendo sobre un cantaautor, sobre el que seguro tiene mucho que decir.
En general, una lectura que me ha gustado muchísimo y en caso de que salgan libros similares sobre los álbumes siguientes, sin dudas, me haré con ellos
En algunas ocasiones me dio la impresión de que la autora ponía su opinión por encima de la información, pero es normal ya que no deja de estar escribiendo sobre un cantaautor, sobre el que seguro tiene mucho que decir.
En general, una lectura que me ha gustado muchísimo y en caso de que salgan libros similares sobre los álbumes siguientes, sin dudas, me haré con ellos
Read
March 24, 2018I don't normally read biographical type books so I'm not going to give a star rating like usual.
Did enjoy this and learnt a bit.
Wasn't entertaining in the usual way and reason I read books but it was still good.
Did enjoy this and learnt a bit.
Wasn't entertaining in the usual way and reason I read books but it was still good.
August 30, 2019
Love the details! Cover his three official albums: +, x, and ÷. Stories of every song from obscure to most famous are explained. The details aren't cookie cutter. They are snippets of reasons why, the current emotions, and collaborators involved.
The pictures are gorgeous. There of live performances, collaborators, and referred to artists whether Ed worked with them or not.
Great insight to Ed Sheeran and his growth in talent and savviness.
The pictures are gorgeous. There of live performances, collaborators, and referred to artists whether Ed worked with them or not.
Great insight to Ed Sheeran and his growth in talent and savviness.
May 13, 2019
Puede llegar a ser pesado cuando menciona nombres, bandas y géneros que desconoces. Estoy leyendo a Ed Sheeran a mi que más me da x grupo de los 60!! Por lo demás Ed es un genio. Sabe expresar los sentimientos como ningún otro y lo demuestra con cada una de sus letras.
April 2, 2020
Er zijn wel maar 160 pagina's en niet 208...
July 10, 2023
I love Ed Sheeran
February 29, 2024
Was abit lost since I don't know his entire discography but interesting read and predict a Sheeran fan would love it.
November 28, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. I love Ed Sheeran and his music so much, and this book was an insightful but respectful look into his career and the meaning behind his songs. I did wonder if he was really as notorious for keeping track of chart numbers as the author made him to be, though. Otherwise, it was a great read!
May 10, 2026
My 2-star review of Ed Sheeran: Writing Out Loud is that it feels like a carefully managed, surface-level portrait of the artist that prioritises polish and image over genuine depth or insight. While it is readable and occasionally interesting, it ultimately left me feeling like I had not really learned anything meaningful about Ed Sheeran beyond what is already publicly known.
The book follows Ed Sheeran’s journey from his early life in Suffolk through to his rise as one of the biggest global pop artists of his generation. It touches on his childhood influences, early struggles in the music industry, years of independent touring, and eventual breakthrough into mainstream success. There is also discussion of his songwriting process, his collaborations, and the development of his major albums and touring career. On the surface, it presents a story of persistence, talent, and gradual success built through hard work and consistency.
However, the way the story is told often feels controlled and selectively framed. Rather than offering deep reflection or vulnerability, the narrative tends to stay within safe boundaries, highlighting achievements and key milestones without fully engaging with the more complicated or less polished aspects of fame. Even when personal challenges are mentioned, they are often softened or quickly moved past, which makes the overall narrative feel somewhat curated rather than fully honest.
The key people in the book include Ed Sheeran himself, who remains the central figure throughout; early collaborators and friends from his independent touring days who supported his rise; industry figures who helped shape his career trajectory; and occasional mentions of family influences who played a role in his grounding and early musical development. While these figures are present, they are not always explored in depth, often serving more as reference points in his journey rather than fully developed characters in the narrative.
Thematically, the book touches on persistence, creativity, fame, and the music industry’s structure, particularly the idea that long-term success comes from consistent work rather than overnight breakthroughs. It also briefly explores the emotional side of songwriting and the pressures of maintaining relevance in a highly competitive industry. However, these themes are not examined in a particularly deep or challenging way, and they often feel secondary to the broader goal of presenting a cohesive success story.
The reason I gave it 2 stars is that it feels too controlled and too safe to be genuinely engaging. There were moments where I wanted more honesty, more reflection, and more willingness to explore failure, doubt, or contradiction. Instead, the book often reads like a highlight reel of career moments, which makes it easy to read but difficult to connect with on a deeper level. As a result, it never really felt emotionally or intellectually compelling.
The book follows Ed Sheeran’s journey from his early life in Suffolk through to his rise as one of the biggest global pop artists of his generation. It touches on his childhood influences, early struggles in the music industry, years of independent touring, and eventual breakthrough into mainstream success. There is also discussion of his songwriting process, his collaborations, and the development of his major albums and touring career. On the surface, it presents a story of persistence, talent, and gradual success built through hard work and consistency.
However, the way the story is told often feels controlled and selectively framed. Rather than offering deep reflection or vulnerability, the narrative tends to stay within safe boundaries, highlighting achievements and key milestones without fully engaging with the more complicated or less polished aspects of fame. Even when personal challenges are mentioned, they are often softened or quickly moved past, which makes the overall narrative feel somewhat curated rather than fully honest.
The key people in the book include Ed Sheeran himself, who remains the central figure throughout; early collaborators and friends from his independent touring days who supported his rise; industry figures who helped shape his career trajectory; and occasional mentions of family influences who played a role in his grounding and early musical development. While these figures are present, they are not always explored in depth, often serving more as reference points in his journey rather than fully developed characters in the narrative.
Thematically, the book touches on persistence, creativity, fame, and the music industry’s structure, particularly the idea that long-term success comes from consistent work rather than overnight breakthroughs. It also briefly explores the emotional side of songwriting and the pressures of maintaining relevance in a highly competitive industry. However, these themes are not examined in a particularly deep or challenging way, and they often feel secondary to the broader goal of presenting a cohesive success story.
The reason I gave it 2 stars is that it feels too controlled and too safe to be genuinely engaging. There were moments where I wanted more honesty, more reflection, and more willingness to explore failure, doubt, or contradiction. Instead, the book often reads like a highlight reel of career moments, which makes it easy to read but difficult to connect with on a deeper level. As a result, it never really felt emotionally or intellectually compelling.
August 4, 2019
¡Muy interesante si eres fan de Ed Sheeran! Lo recomiendo para los seguidores de este cantante, ya que conoces un poco más de el signicado de las canciones que tanto te gustan. Edit: Me acabo de acordar de que no puse que la autora daba su opinión sobre las canciones, eso me sobró bastante, pero por lo demás genial
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews