In the run-up to Christmas, one question is on every pop nerd’s lips: “Which song will snatch the top spot on the Christmas charts?” Ed Sheeran has put his bid in early, overwhelming fans with the magic and sadness of his new single, “Under The Tree;” a sentimental piano ballad of loneliness and heartbreak during the ‘happiest’ time of the year. Released on November 26th, the tune has already amassed 3.7M views on YouTube to date.
And the hype is only destined to grow as the big day approaches — the single being tied to Netflix’s new animated British festive film, “That Christmas” (created by Richard Curtis, writer and director of Christmas chick flick “Love Actually”), which hits the streaming service in early December.
Ed’s new track might ring some familiar bells for Music Man readers. Its concept resurrects the theme of Mud’s own 1974 Christmas #1, “Lonely This Christmas,” painting it in a whole new, tender light for a new generation of pop fans.
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And while the plot behind “That Christmas” follows the tale of a boy waiting for his dad to escape a snowstorm in time for Christmas, Ed’s tune, “Under The Tree,” broadens the scope of what festive loneliness might look like, penning his bittersweet lyrics to catch the film’s plot with overtones of romantic break-ups, being friendless, and losing family members over the festive period.
It’s a clever trick that’s bound to boost Ed’s chances of securing the Christmas #1 this year. But as Ed relates his tune to all manner of Christmas worries, his music video shares some poignant scenes of experiencing your first Christmas alone.
The video comes split in two side-by-side scenes; one showing Ed alone in cold and dreary blue-tone shots, matched by a near-identical scene from the year before playing out in rosy golds; the big difference being the presence of his girlfriend. As Ed retraces the steps of their last Christmas together to gain some happiness or the drive to let go for good, even the Christmas tree he decorates looks sparser, the beach more miserable, his living room more like a prison cell, until his girlfriend finally returns.
If Ed does hit the top spot on December 25th, it won’t be the first time! In 2021, he and Elton John teamed up with the notorious 5-time-Christmas-number-one scoring LadBaby for the foodbank-charity single, “Sausage Rolls For Everyone.” And four years before that, Ed’s global #1 hit “Perfect” claimed 2017’s Christmas #1, despite being released that August.
Ed Sheeran has truly captured the bittersweet essence of the holiday season with “Under The Tree.” As anticipation builds and his single climbs the charts, fans old and new are invited to experience its emotional depth. To explore more about Ed’s moving work and the film it accompanies, click on the links below.