Ed Sheeran, Visiting Hours | Track Review 🎵

Ed Sheeran shines on “Visiting Hours” the second single from = (Equals) written in remembrance of late music exec, Michael Gudinski. 

“I

wish that Heaven had visiting hours / So I could just show up and bring the news,” 🏆 Grammy-winning pop singer/songwriter 🎙 Ed Sheeran sings on 🎵 “Visiting Hours”. “Visiting Hours” arrives as the second single from his forthcoming album, 💿 = (Equals). = (Equals) is the true follow up to his 2017 album, 💿 ÷ Divide, though he released 💿 No.6 Collaborations Project in 2019. Thematically, “Visiting Hours” pays ode to Australian music executive, Michael Gudinski, who died in 2021.  Sheeran debuted this moving single at his funeral.

“I wish that heaven had visiting hours / So I could just swing by and ask your advice.” “Visiting Hours” runs just north of three-and-a-half minutes in duration, a respectable length. A gorgeous instrumental intro sets the tone for this pop ballad. Ed Sheeran delivers radiant, expressive, and emotional vocals; he even manages to dip into some falsetto. I like the production with its mix of acoustic and electric guitars and piano.  Furthermore, I love how “Visiting Hours” expands scope on the second verse with layered vocals and increased dynamics. Notably, the chorus changes after each verse. An awesome touch is the use of brass following the second chorus, prior to the third verse. Also, I like how the pad accompanies the third verse, contrasting the more dynamic second verse.  

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Final Thoughts 💭

It goes without saying that “Visiting Hours” > “Bad Habits”, the promo single from = (Equals).  The reason “Visiting Hours” is superb is the inspiration behind it – remembering someone special who is no longer here.  Sheeran gives his all here, providing a fitting tribute and an electrifying addition to a highly anticipated album.

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🎙 Ed Sheeran • 💿 = (Equals) • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 10.29.21

[📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

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