Vijay says he has left his riches and joined politics, urges people to vote for his party TVK: ‘I will never lie’TVK chief, actor-politician Vijay, addressed thousands of supporters after filing his nomination. Mar 30, 2026, 18:32:47 IST By Santanu Das Share via Copy link TVK chief
A return to Formula 1 will be difficult for former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner because he has "broken quite a lot of glass", says ex-Mercedes rival Toto Wolff. Horner was sacked in July after 20 years in his role following declining form and internal disputes
Toyota has started testing the next-generation Fortuner in Thailand. The SUV was recently spotted on public roads wearing heavy camouflage. 2026 Toyota Fortuner: Toyota has started testing the next-generation Fortuner in Thailand. The SUV was recently spotted on public roads wearing heavy
To speak with his mother inside Iran, Yaser Fattahi waits in self-exile in Iraq for brief calls arranged by a cousin back home who travels close to the border between the neighboring countries where he can pick up a signal to connect them. Fattahi fled to neighboring Iraq in December
The war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz - through which around 20% of the world's oil and natural gas flows - has seen fuel costs rise sharply in the past month. With the disruption expected to have a lasting impact on prices
Ed Sheeran's Play: Can the pop star reclaim his crown?
Ed Sheeran's Play: Can the pop star reclaim his crown?
Ed Sheeran comes to his eighth album on the back foot.
His last two records, the subdued and introspective Subtract and Autumn Variations, were commercial misfires, selling less than half a million copies each. (His biggest, 2017's Divide, sold 8.4 million in the UK alone).
Those records dealt with weighty topics - the death of his friend Jamal Edwards, and his wife Cherry's diagnosis and recovery from cancer. The songs were cathartic, not designed for chart domination - but for the first time in a long time, Sheeran was left with something to prove.
He gets straight into it on his new record, on an opening track encumbered with the blindingly literal title, "Opening".
"When your career's in a risky place / Everything seems like a big mistake / I'm still looking for [something] to say / Deluding myself that they still relate"
It's a stark admission from one of the most successful artists of his generation. And it raises a genuine question: What does Ed Sheeran sing about when audiences have rejected his most personal songs?
His new album, Play, is in constant pursuit of the answer.
In a press release, he calls it "a direct response" to "the darkest period of my life".
Coming out of all that, I just wanted to create joy and technicolour, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring.
Over the course of 13 songs, he sings about escape and release, love and devotion - subtly, but confidently, adding Asian and Middle Eastern flavours to his palette.
The sleeve notes credit players of the sitar and the tabla, the Kashmiri santoor and the South Indian kanjira.
You hear the influence most prominently on Symmetry, the story of a late-night tryst, whose propulsive rhythm is adorned by Gujurati drums and the sharp metallic twang of the Banzouki.
On Sapphire - the album's best song - he enlists Indian superstar Arjit Singh for a duet, trading vocals in a mixture of English, Hindi and Punjabi over a lilting beat.
Sheeran is no cultural tourist, though, taking great pains to get the details right. For Sapphire, he travelled 11 hours to Arijit Singh's hometown of Jiaganj to learn the Punjabi-language parts.
This February, he gave a six-city tour of India, playing football with children in Shillong, taking sitar lessons in Mumbai and, in a moment that went viral, getting an impromptu concert shut down by police in Bengaluru.
What's frustrating is that the album doesn't reflect these experiences strongly enough.
The Bollywood strings and Asian rhythms are simply assimilated into his brand of frictionless pop. There's nothing on Play that feels as wedded to eastern musical traditions as George Harrison's Within You Without You - or even Shakira's Whenever Wherever.
Take the album's lead single, Azizam. It's named after the Farsi word for "my darling" and features an ear-tingling riff on the santur - a hammered dulcimer of Iranian origin.
Strip away those embellishments, though, and it remains a stubbornly lightweight pop song, based around the same four chords Western music has utilised since Elvis wiggled his hips.
That's not to say it's ineffective or disingenuous. Sheeran is simply spreading his bets, making music for the biggest possible number of streaming playlists. And it won't have escaped his attention that Sapphire has become the first song by a Western artist to top India's streaming chart since 2021.
But the sense of squandered opportunity is only heightened when you get to Don't Look Down - which marries a Bansuri flute motif to a thrumming trance beat.
With a lyric about surviving unspeakable loss, it's one of the most raw and adventurous songs in Sheeran's discography.
Imagine if he'd used that as a template for the entire album.
Instead, a good 50% of the tracks retreat to safer ground - slowly strummed songs of devotion, packed with valentine card sentiments.
"You think you don't have beauty in abundance, but you do," he sings on Camera, recycling the message that One Direction delivered with greater conviction in What Makes You Beautiful.
He's better on In Other Words, a pretty ballad that revels in the tiny details of domestic bliss: "Give me how you check the locks before we sleep... And how without your breakfast tea you're incomplete". It's recorded up close, the hammers audibly striking the piano strings, lending the song a convincing intimacy.
By contrast, A Little More finds Sheeran baring his teeth. Over an ironically jaunty R&B groove he destroys a friend who's exploited their relationship, calling them a "prick" whose hollow apologies belong "in a bin".
It's one of the only moments his nice guy persona comes undone. And, again, it leaves you wondering what else was left unsaid.
On Opening, he alludes to the press intrusion that forces him to wear a disguise when he takes his daughter to the playground; and he briefly addresses the two court cases he faced for plagiarism ("I won both").
Where's that guy for the rest of the album? And why is he still singing about wanting to dance with you at this party?
On Symmetry he even resurrects Shape Of You's analogy of two bodies pulling together like magnets.
Is that a fun call-back, or lazy writing? And what's with the magnets anyway? Maybe it's me, but magnets seem about as sexy as a damp flannel.
But look, Sheeran's way with a tune is inarguable. And while his lyrics can be clumsy, their unguarded simplicity bypasses criticism.
For people inclined to his music (and 200 million album sales suggests that's a big demographic) Play is a compact, enjoyable record that plays to his strengths.
For everyone else, it offers a tantalising glimpse of what Sheeran could achieve if he didn't have his sights permanently trained on streaming algorithms.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Here’s how Ed Sheeran found out about Taylor Swift’s engagement U.S. strikes eighth alleged drug-carrying boat Deepika Padukone’s Chef Shares Her Favourite ‘Miracle Noodles’ Ramen Recipe Is Pranic Healing A Holistic Approach To Cancer Care And Emotional Recovery Trump officials sue Georgia county to force release of 2020 voting records Jaxon Smith-Njigba shatters Seahawks single-season receiving yards record How many runs does Suryakumar need to break Virat and Rohit's T20I records Mumbai Mayor masala gets spicier as Eknath Shinde cooks a distinct recipe Singer Raye says lost songbooks found ahead of album two Iga Swiatek comes back to beat Elena Rybakina and extend bid for a 4th title in a row
Max Verstappen said his current unhappiness has left all options on the table, including retirement once the current Formula 1 season ends. A winner of 71 career F1 races, which trails only Lewis Hamilton (105) and Michael Schumacher (91) all-time
1 days ago
The government has approved 29 applications under the electronics component manufacturing scheme entailing cumulative investment of ₹7,104 crore, a senior IT ministry official said on Monday (March 30, 2026). The Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) Secretary, S Krishnan
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Amazon Gaming Fest ends tomorrow! 10 price drop deals on gaming laptops you can't missAt Amazon Gaming Fest you can enjoy discounts up to 35% on the most popular gaming laptop series
1 days ago
Valanka Alemao exerted sustained pressure to include Churchill Brothers in ISL: AIFF Published on: Mar 30, 2026 5:48 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Valanka Alemao exerted sustained pressure to include Churchill Brothers in ISL: AIFF Key Takeaways Summary is AI-generated The All India Football
1 days ago
A week since the explosive debut of Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, excitement has unsurprisingly curdled into a coordinated wave of frustration, with fans flooding Netflix’s social media comment sections demanding clarity on the anime’s release schedule
1 days ago
The price of a PlayStation is going up by another $100, the second time in less than a year that Sony has upped the price tag on its popular gaming console. Citing “continued pressures in the global economic landscape,” the Japanese company said that as of next Thursday, the PS5 will cost $649
1 days ago
Dermatologist explains 6 causes of dark circles and how to figure out what’s causing yours; it’s not just lack of sleepDark circles are popularly blamed only on fatigue and lack of sleep. However, some causes may be much deeper, shares Dr Jain. Updated on: Mar 30
1 days ago
Launching a sharp attack on Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (March 30, 2026) alleged that the Prime Minister remained silent on the Sabarimala issue during his Kerala visit, indicating that “the BJP-LDF works together.” Addressing a Congress election meeting in Adoor in
1 days ago
Capricorn April 2026 Monthly Horoscope: Unlock your Monthly Horoscope with expert predictions on career, finance, health, love, family, and life. See what the stars hold this month! Capricorn April 2026 Monthly Horoscope: As April unfolds with powerful celestial shifts
1 days ago
The move aims to boost domestic production, strengthen India’s global supply chain position, and accelerate growth in the country’s rapidly expanding digital economy. New Delhi: The government on Monday approved 29 new applications under its electronics component manufacturing scheme
1 days ago
A landlord owns a property (comprising land and an independent house on that land) in Chennai as 100% owner now. He plans to retain 25% ownership and settle 75% of the said property to his wife and two children. Once the settlement happens, the said landlord
1 days ago
A recent case also highlighted that while tenants have rights, these cannot override safety concerns if a building becomes dangerous. New Delhi: Tenants often face situations where landlords delay or completely ignore essential repair work. Indian law, however
1 days ago
Do you get the urge to poop while running? Gastroenterologist explains ‘runner's poop’ and shares ways to avoid itGetting the urge to have a bowel movement while running is not a rare experience, but can be quite embarrassing. Dr Salhab shares practical ways to avoid it. Published on: Mar 30
1 days ago
J-K weather update: It is March, the weather of spring, but it looks like the "Chillai Kalan," the harshest winter days of Kashmir. According to the Meteorological Department, intermittent light to moderate rain and snowfall, accompanied by gusty winds
1 days ago
Southeast Asian nations are urging China to fulfill energy security pledges by resuming fertilizer and fuel exports, but Beijing remains focused on its own economy. Analysts doubt China will significantly ease export bans, prioritizing domestic needs over regional stability despite its stated
1 days ago
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that Nitish Kumar resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council under pressure from the BJP, claiming the decision was not independent. Kumar stepped down to meet constitutional requirements after his election to the Rajya Sabha
1 days ago
Hyundai Venue Safety Rating: The Hyundai Venue has secured a 5-star safety rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests, marking a strong milestone for the compact SUV. Hyundai Venue Bharat NCAP Rating: The Hyundai Venue has secured a 5-star safety rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests
1 days ago
Voters in West Bengal face uncertainty regarding appeals against electoral roll exclusions. While online appeals are enabled, a clear offline process is missing. This creates anxiety for those without digital access. Judicial tribunals are set up, but timelines remain unclear
1 days ago
The spokesperson of Iran’s Foreign Minister on Monday said that Pakistan’s forums on the West Asia conflict were its own and that Tehran was not involved in them. “Regional calls to end war are welcome, but remember who started it!” the statement said
1 days ago
Bookings began on March 26 and received a quick response from both government employees and general buyers, showing growing interest in affordable housing options in Delhi. New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has seen strong demand for its latest housing schemes in Narela
1 days ago
In the late 1930s, in a small corner of Thayyur, Thrissur, a couple had their third girl child, and no one ever predicted that she would later become one of the first Indian women and Malayali to meet the father of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer. This is the story of T.K Radha
1 days ago
IIT Madras Admission 2026: MTech, MSc and MA programs application process begins, apply link here Updated on: Mar 30, 2026 3:52 PM IST By HT Education Desk Prefer HTon Google Quick Read Share via Copy link Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has opened the application process for MTech
1 days ago
Weeks after being elected to the Rajya Sabha, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, resigned from his membership of the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC), on Monday. The resignation was submitted to Council Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh at the Chief Minister’s official residence
1 days ago
Ketu transit in Magha Nakshatra 2026: An astrologer breaks down its impact on your zodiac signAccording to an astrologer, the last times this transit occurred (2007–08 and 1988–89), the world saw shifts in leadership and identity. Read on to know more. Updated on: Mar 30
1 days ago
Mining group Vedanta has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the proposed takeover of the now insolvent Jaypee group’s assets by billionaire Gautam Adani’s Adani group, Moneycontrol reported on Monday. The case is expected to come up for hearing in the next couple of weeks
1 days ago
Woman records man staring at her, making vulgar gesture on train: 'Very disturbing and creepy'The woman claimed that the incident occurred on March 15 while she was travelling alone from Changanacherry to Ernakulam South on the Vanchinad Express. Published on: Mar 30
1 days ago
Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing has been nominated for the presidency as parliament convened on Monday, following a general election from which the biggest opposition parties were excluded. Min Aung Hlaing is certain to be chosen, as he was nominated in parliament alongside two loyalists
1 days ago
![New Delhi [India], March 30 (ANI): With the war between the Israel-US and Iran having entered the second month and concerns over energy supply and cost rising](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/india-is-slowly-bandwagoning-with-iran.webp?width=120&height=70)
