Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You performance (Sheeran 2017 00:00-04:41).
In this live performance posted on YouTube, Sheeran uses the loop pedal to record himself singing and playing chords on the keyboard to establish a backing track that will repeat throughout the song. Viewers can also see how he turns the loop pedal on and off with his foot at different parts of the song to control when the pre-recorded sounds play. Sheeran uses the loop pedal to establish the song’s backing track and groove using only his vocals, the guitar, and the keyboard; this allows him to perform the entirety of the song live. The loop pedal allows Sheeran to create and play a repetitive backing track, this works well specifically for the popular music style because the cords and melodies traditionally stay the same in pop. Conversely, a loop pedal would be more difficult to utilize in jazz, where the melody gets more complex. This video provides visual aid in seeing how the loop pedal is used, and how Sheeran layers the vocals and instrumentation. Here Sheeran is seen making the performance more technical and giving his audience not just something to hear but something to see and the production that goes into the song, something not typically seen in live pop music performances (Sheeran, 2017).
The complexities of Sheeran’s “Shape of You” do not stop at the loop pedal; there are techniques behind the lyric and instrumentation choices. As mentioned in the popular media Billboard article, “Shape of You ” climbed Billboard’s charts despite not originally being meant for Sheeran. Ed Sheeran and songwriter Johnny McDaid had played around with specific words and sounds to convey a certain message through the song. Adding the famous lyrics “I’m in love with the shape of you” came later, after developing what was simply an instrumental interlude. The songwriting team notes adding these lyrics to avoid objectifying word choices and most likely catering to a radio audience. Furthermore, a key part of this song and the songwriting process was the build-up of the song, specifically its buildup of textured sounds and the addition and layering of bass and clapping sounds. There’s a crescendo in the repeated lyrics of “come on be my baby” and the melody, when suddenly all of the instrumentation cuts out, and it concludes with the lyrics “I’m in love with the shape of you,” which gives it a finished, concluding feeling. This allows the song to be perceived as completed by the audience and is typically well-received by pop audiences as their ears are satisfied (Jennings, 2017).
Popular music magazine Front of House documented Ed Sheeran’s 2017 Divide tour, specifically his performance in Oakland, California, where Sheeran used a custom loop pedal. The loop pedal allows Sheeran to perform completely solo and create a dynamic performance where he can layer his own vocals and entertain an arena-sized stadium. This technology allows Sheeran to perform on his own but to also personalize each performance, with no two shows being the same due to the live process of a loop pedal. At the Oakland show, Sheeran used a Chewie II for his loop pedal, a custom creation based on the original Chewie Monsta model. The loop pedal on stage is a remote for the rest of the system that is stored underneath the stage. From stage Sheeran can control the loops (play, pause, or record new ones), as well as decide which track he is recording over. This system can simultaneously run eight tracks, ultimately creating a cohesive backing track and melody for Sheeran to sing on. The loop pedal does not save or store the sounds; however, after a track is played and he presses clear, the track is gone, ultimately allowing Sheeran to create a unique performance every night. The creative control a loop pedal provides allows for differentiation in the way popular music is performed. Pop is typically very rehearsed and synced with perfected dance routines and visualizations, the loop pedal steers pop music away from this and encourages improvisation. With Sheeran’s live recording of “Shape of You,” and as discussed by Front of House, he is able to take in feedback from his audience and deliver what he believes they may be more interested in. The loop pedal gives him more creative freedom but also helps him please his audiences based on what he perceives them to like and dislike throughout a show (Braca, 2017).