Top 10 Ed Sheeran Collaborations

As her first single for almost two years, and her first record since a well-publicised legal battle with her former label Roc Nation, “Your Song” served as Rita Ora’s re-arrival into the charts in 2017. Sheeran gives backing vocals on the track and he co-wrote it, for what Ora later-described as one of the easiest projects she’s worked on. Reports say the pair took just a couple of hours to record “Your Song”, before heading to the pub for a burger. Ora’s character in the music video isn’t quite so chilled out though, bearing a complete disregard for standard boardroom etiquette.

Released just weeks before Ed’s debut album “Plus”, this record was one of the last when Sheeran could work under the radar, relatively speaking. The soon-to-be superstar had teamed up with Wiley previously, for a track from his fifth EP “No. 5 Collaborations Project”, but “If I Could” is their best joint effort. Wiley raps through the bulk of the record, while Ed lends instantly recognisable vocals for the hook. The Sheeran lyrics lament a need for change, but the song signals the start of a winning formula and the launch of a trademark sound.

The lead single from Devlin’s second album, “Watchtower” feeds off classic Bob Dylan lyrics and the iconic Jimi Hendrix riff to create an awesome piece of original music. Sheeran kicks things off with the world famous ‘joker/thief’ refrain before Devlin doubles down and does what he does best. The rapper also takes a leading role in Colin Hardy’s cinematic music video, which sees Ed act as getaway driver despite being critically injured. Increased sweating, a pale complexion and a gaping wound in your stomach; it’s going to take more than a polo to put that right.

Just in case you hadn’t caught on yet, Ed Sheeran’s a massive rap fan. So, he’s in his element with our next track. Teaming up with the US indie rapper Hoodie Allen, Sheeran’s way with words is all over “All About It”, a fun look at life in the limelight. Ed and Hoodie’s cheeky lyrics are brilliantly backed up by a bonkers video too, in which the double act double up as makeshift superheroes. There’s also a lot of running on treadmills, eating of burritos, and smashing of melons. Not to mention some dodgy dancing.

As the world waited for the release of Ed’s third studio album “Divide” in 2017, hype levels were crazy high. The singer played both lead singles from his latest project at the Brit Awards, but kept a major part of the show under wraps. Joined on stage for “Shape of You” by grime artist Stormzy, this was a collaboration which very few saw coming. But they smashed it. While the original cut of the record soared highest up the official charts, bagging 14 non-consecutive weeks as UK number one, the official Stormzy remix topped the Vodafone Big Top 40 in February ‘17.

A record which showcases some classic Sheeran style tropes, “Old School Love” came about when Lupe Fiasco challenged Ed to write choruses to match his beats. Ed wrote seven, and this ‘As long as you’re here’ hook was one of them. He lends a laid back, melodic sound for the backing vocals, while Lupe fills the frame by wistfully rueing increased violence and its impact on society. While it wasn’t one of Ed’s best performing ventures in terms of records sold, its nostalgic message meant the song was a hip-hop crossover hit.

Recorded for Rudimental’s “We the Generation” second album, “Lay it All on Me” sees Ed play off the band’s electronic sound. The track came about when both acts toured America together, with Rudimental opening for the singer. Having already worked with Sheeran on “Bloodstream”, the fourth single from Ed’s second album, the band played an early version of this track to him while travelling between states. Suffice to say, Ed liked it, and “Lay it All on Me” was laid down at the studio the next time everyone was in London.

He may be one of the biggest solo acts on the planet, but even Bieber wants Ed Sheeran in his corner. No vocal credits this time, but Sheeran is one of three writers on Justin’s millions-selling super-hit “Love Yourself”. The song was originally penned for Ed’s “Divide” album, but didn’t make the cut and would’ve been scrapped had JB not taken it up. The Bieb scored a number one in 15 countries with the record though, and scooped two Grammy nominations. Not bad for a cast off. And it’s not the only time we’ve seen a Sheeran/Bieber collaboration. Justin also sang on Major Lazer’s “Cold Water”, which Ed also wrote.

Today’s runner-up divided critical opinion when it was released, but it remains a firm favourite with Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran fans. And there’s quite a lot of them. A song reportedly written in Swift’s backyard, it was famously performed at the 2013 final of “Britain’s Got Talent”, and has one of the most memorable video accompaniments of all today’s top ten. The adorable clip tells the story of a friendship between two kids at school, with both barring exceptional likenesses to Swift and Sheeran themselves. We’re not sure we quite buy Ed and Taylor as school-run parents, but ten out of ten for cuteness.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Say You Love Me” (2014)
Jessie Ware

“Hush Little Baby” (2012)
Wretch 32 feat. Ed Sheeran

“Tattoo” (2015)
Hilary Duff

We finish with yet another number one, this time for one of the world’s most successful ever boy bands. “Little Things” isn’t the only One Direction song Ed’s worked on, and he’s teamed up with some of the boys for their solo stuff too, but this record marks the pinnacle of their partnership so far. Sheeran shares the writing credit with Fiona Bevan, a Suffolk singer-songwriter who Ed wrote with when he was 17. The pop-folk ballad signalled a small step away from the typical 1D sound, but fans loved it and the track topped charts worldwide.