Pharrell Williams

The producer who helped Ed Sheeran find his pop and R&B voice.

Web Summit/Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile · via Wikipedia: Pharrell Williams · CC BY 2.0

Pharrell Williams produced and provided backing vocals on Ed Sheeran's 2014 single "Sing," which became Sheeran's first UK number-one single. The song marked a significant departure from Sheeran's earlier folk rock sound, incorporating pop and R&B influences inspired by Justin Timberlake. Williams' production helped the track achieve international success, topping charts in Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, while peaking at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Quick Facts

Other names

Pharrell
Skateboard P
Sk8brd
Auto Goon
Magnum, the Verb Lord
Station Wagon P
Yellow Lightning

Birth name

Pharrell Lanscilo Williams

Born

5 April 1973

Birthplace

Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.

Education

Northwestern University (dropped out)

Occupation

Musician
singer
songwriter
rapper
record producer
fashion designer

Years active

1992–present

Spouse

Helen Lasichanh (2013)

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Pharrell Williams co-wrote and produced "Sing" for Ed Sheeran's second studio album × (2014), also providing uncredited background vocals during the chorus. The song was released as the lead single on 7 April 2014 by Asylum Records UK. Williams' production drew inspiration from Justin Timberlake's albums Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds, with Sheeran stating, "It was pretty close to a direct inspiration." The collaboration resulted in Sheeran's first number-one single in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. A remix featuring French rapper Nekfeu was released on 11 August 2014. The music video, directed by Emil Nava, won Best Male Video at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, an award received by both Sheeran and Williams.

Reader's Guide

Pharrell Williams' role on "Sing" was as producer and co-writer, bringing his signature pop and R&B production style to Sheeran's songwriting. He provided uncredited backing vocals during the chorus, adding depth to the track's vocal arrangement. The collaboration was a one-off for Sheeran's album ×, with no other tracks on that album featuring Williams' production. The song's success helped establish Sheeran as a versatile artist capable of moving beyond acoustic folk into mainstream pop territory.

Production Partnership and Sonic Evolution

Pharrell Williams played a pivotal role in shaping the sonic identity of Ed Sheeran's second studio album, specifically through his production work on the lead single "Sing." Collaborating closely with Sheeran, Williams not only produced the track but also contributed uncredited backing vocals during the chorus, helping to steer the artist away from his established folk rock sound. The song was explicitly modeled after the pop and R&B stylings of Justin Timberlake, drawing inspiration from albums like Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds. This collaboration marked a significant departure for Sheeran, incorporating elements reminiscent of Sam Smith's falsetto and Robin Thicke's percussion while maintaining enough of Sheeran's unique voice to avoid sounding like a mere pastiche. The resulting track blends pop sensibilities with R&B influences, creating a confident croon that features deep melismas and boisterous chants, effectively convincing critics that the transition was both successful and timely.

Global Chart Dominance and Commercial Success

"Sing" achieved remarkable commercial success across multiple continents, serving as Ed Sheeran's first number-one single in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. In the UK alone, the track sold 670,000 copies physically and accumulated 66 million streams, totaling over 1.3 million units. Its international reach was equally impressive; it debuted at number one on the Australian ARIA Charts and climbed to the top spot in New Zealand shortly after entering their charts. In North America, while it peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it represented Sheeran's highest-charting single in the country at that time. The song also secured a top-five position in Canada and reached number two in Italy. By July 2016, the track had surpassed two million sales in the United States, cementing its status as a massive global hit that significantly expanded Sheeran's audience beyond his previous fanbase.

Critical Acclaim and Artistic Reception

Upon its release, "Sing" garnered widespread critical acclaim for its bold stylistic shift. Reviewers from major publications like Time, The Guardian, and The Hollywood Reporter praised the song's ability to blend Sheeran's fragile vocal history with a new, confident energy. Critics noted the influence of Pharrell Williams was evident but balanced well enough to prevent the track from feeling like a derivative imitation. Time highlighted the rubbery falsetto and percussion that echoed contemporary hits while pointing out the clear homage to Justin Timberlake's early solo work. The chorus riff, which borrows from The Rolling Stones' "Miss You," was also noted as a clever integration of classic rock into modern pop. Overall, the consensus was that Sheeran had successfully morphed his sound, utilizing rapid-fire rhymes and melodic depth to create a track that felt both fresh and familiar.

Visual Narrative and Award Recognition

The music video for "Sing," directed by Emil Nava, offered a surreal visual counterpart to the song's upbeat tempo. Released exclusively on Facebook before moving to YouTube and Vevo, the video features a puppet caricature of Sheeran navigating a wild night out in Vegas. The narrative follows the puppet getting drunk, stealing a microphone from an actor playing a character from Big Trouble in Little China, singing karaoke, visiting a strip club, and eventually picking up both Sheeran and Pharrell Williams in a truck. The puppet was meticulously crafted to resemble Sheeran down to his tattoos and clothing, though he admitted to not knowing how to operate it yet. This creative visual effort paid off when Sheeran and Williams won the award for Best Male Video at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, further solidifying the song's cultural impact beyond just audio sales.