When Ed Sheeran picked up his acoustic guitar while seated comfortably on the sofa at The Tonight Show, viewers knew that the interview was about to turn into something very special. Preparing to play his new song ‘Old Phone’ for the second time ever, Ed shared how the track was inspired by going through an old device during the time of his 2016 lawsuit over copyright infringement. What followed was a song filled with nostalgia that will touch Music Man readers’ hearts.
The audience fell into complete silence as Ed began to sing, the song reflecting on text conversations with family members he has lost touch with and friends that have sadly passed away. Viewers were astounded by how such a simple performance became so moving, with one commenting, “The fact that Ed can be on a talk show, pick up his guitar and just belt out a brand new song at album quality always blows my mind,” on the online video which has received over 600K views in just two weeks.
When I first heard Ed’s new song, I was amazed by how he had transformed such a specific personal moment in his life into a song filled with a sense of nostalgia that felt so easy to connect to as a listener. As I listened, I found myself wondering about the conversations that may lie unfinished on my own old devices, and reminiscing on relationships that are now lost to the past. It is truly remarkable how Ed’s song has been able to tap into a seemingly universal sense of nostalgia.
Shortly after Ed performed on The Tonight Show, he released the official music video for ‘Old Phone’ on his YouTube channel. In the video, he included footage from a recent pub gig, alongside footage submitted by fans. He had invited fans to send in footage from their phones that brought them a sense of nostalgia in order to get into the gig. Music Man fans who watch will be unable to deny that the final product perfectly captures the sense of longing that lies at the heart of the song.
With Ed’s recent announcement that he has a new album on the way entitled ‘Play’, the release of ‘Old Phone’ has sparked intrigue as to what the sound of the new album will be. Will it lean into the sense of melancholy and nostalgia that the new single holds? Or will it lean into a more playful feeling in keeping with the album’s title? Luckily, with only months to go until the album’s release, Ed Sheeran fans will not have to wonder for long.
Ed Sheeran once again proves his unique ability to transform personal experiences into universally resonant art with “Old Phone”. His heartfelt performance on The Tonight Show leaves a lasting impression, highlighting the power of music to evoke deep nostalgia. To explore more about Ed’s journeys and stories through his music, check out the links below.