Celestial (Ed Sheeran song) explained

Celestial
Cover:Ed Sheeran - Celestial.png
Type:single
Artist:Ed Sheeran
Genre:Pop
Length:3:29
Label:
Producer:
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Steve Mac
Prev Title:Lonely Lovers
Prev Year:2022
Next Title:Call on Me
Next Year:2022

"Celestial" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, released as a single on 29 September 2022. It was released in collaboration with The Pokémon Company and appears in the end credits of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, released on 18 November 2022.[1] Sheeran co-wrote the song alongside Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid, and produced it with Mac. The song was released alongside its music video, which includes Sheeran interacting with a variety of Pokémon.

A remix of the song by Toby Fox also appears in the credits of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC of Scarlet and Violet.[2]

Background

Ed Sheeran is a self-proclaimed Pokémon fan,[3] [4] and had collaborated with the Pokémon Company before. From 22 to 30 November 2021, Pokémon Go featured an in-game performance by Sheeran.[5] In August 2022, Sheeran welcomed participants of the 2022 Pokémon World Championships in a video message.[6] [7]

On 22 September 2022, Sheeran wrote on his Instagram: "I met the people from Pokémon when I was travelling in Japan, and we joked about me writing a song for them", which led to the collaboration.[8] In a separate statement, Sheeran wrote that he liked Pokémon since primary school, and called it "such an honour to add a song into a Pokémon game and shoot a nostalgic video too".[9]

Composition

"Celestial" is a pop song in the key of D major, with a tempo of 123 BPM. It is based around a chord progression of G–Bm–D–A (IV–vi–I–V). This progression can also be seen in the song's video, written in a notebook Sheeran keeps.[10]

Music video

The music video was also released on 29 September 2022, and was directed by Yuichi Kodama.[11] It depicts Sheeran interacting with a variety of sketch-style Pokémon, including a Snorlax that saves Sheeran from a car accident and a Lapras that takes him across a river. The appearances of the Pokémon were drawn by art director Yu Nagaba. According to an NME article, Nagaba emulated the way Sheeran drew Pokémon when he was younger.[1]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2022–2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Belarus Airplay (TopHit)119
Croatia (HRT)[12] 3
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[13] 7
Greece International (IFPI)[14] 88
Italy (FIMI)[15] 88
Japan Digital Singles (Oricon)[16] 22
Latvia Airplay (LAIPA)[17] 9
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[18] 7
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[19] 19
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[20] 3
Romania Airplay (TopHit)[21] 14
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[22] 1
South Korea Download (Circle)[23] 71

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
CIS Airplay (TopHit)[24] 44
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[25] 10
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[26] 19
Romania Airplay (TopHit)[27] 15

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[28] 108
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 45
Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[30] 63
CIS Airplay (TopHit)[31] 126
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[32] 161
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[33] 67
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 51
Romania Airplay (TopHit)[35] 83

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
Various29 September 2022
Italy30 September 2022Radio airplayWarner[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ed Sheeran's new Pokémon-inspired song to feature in 'Pokémon Scarlet' and 'Violet'. NME. Skinner. Tom. 30 September 2022. 1 October 2022. 19 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221019054523/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/ed-sheeran-to-release-new-single-celestial-in-collaboration-with-pokemon-3316421. live.
  2. Web site: 2023-12-14 . Pokemon DLC features an Ed Sheeran song remixed by Undertale dev Toby Fox . 2023-12-16 . VGC . en-GB . 16 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216025138/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/pokemon-dlc-features-an-ed-sheeran-song-remixed-by-undertale-dev-toby-fox/ . live .
  3. teddysphotos . Ci0C_3SozvF . Instagram post by Sheeran . 22 September 2022.
  4. Brian . Hiatt . Ed Sheeran Confesses: Tears, Trauma, and Those Bad Habits . . 21 March 2023 . I am a nerd. I love Lord of the Rings. I love Pokemon. . 22 March 2023 . 22 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322113352/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ed-sheeran-new-album-subtract-tour-cover-story-interview-1234694319/ . live .
  5. Web site: Kevin . Knezevic . Pokemon Go teams with Ed Sheeran for an in-game performance and event . . 24 November 2021 . 2 February 2023 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202210716/https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/pokemon-go-teams-with-ed-sheeran-for-an-in-game-performance/ . live .
  6. Web site: Casey . Baseel . Ed Sheeran (and his friend Squirtle) welcome fans to the Pokémon World Championships . SoraNews24 . 19 August 2022 . 2 February 2023 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202210721/https://soranews24.com/2022/08/19/ed-sheeran-and-his-friend-squirtle-welcome-fans-to-the-pokemon-world-championships%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/ . live .
  7. Web site: Michael . McWhertor . Ed Sheeran has intense Pokémon hallucinations in his new video, 'Celestial' . . 29 September 2022 . 1 October 2022 . 11 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221011113125/https://www.polygon.com/23378648/ed-sheeran-pokemon-scarlet-violet-music-video-celestial . live .
  8. Web site: Ruby . Innes . Fanboy Ed Sheeran Is Dropping A Pokémon Song . . 23 September 2022 . 2 February 2023 . 2 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202210721/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2022/09/ed-sheeran-pokemon-song-celestial/ . live .
  9. Daniel . Kreps . Ed Sheeran Loves Pokémon So Much He Wrote a Song About It . . 29 September 2022 . 1 October 2022 . 8 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221008021619/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ed-sheeran-pokemon-song-celestial-1234602327/ . live .
  10. In the YouTube video of "Celestial", close-ups of the notebook can be seen at 1:17 and 2:50.
  11. Web site: Ed Sheeran Collaborates with His Childhood Favorite Pokémon for New Song 'Celestial'. American Songwriter. Benitez-Eves. Tina. 29 September 2022. 1 October 2022. 2 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221002220314/https://americansongwriter.com/ed-sheeran-collaborates-with-his-childhood-favorite-pokemon-for-new-song-celestial/. live.
  12. Web site: HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1055 - Issue Date: November 28th 2022. 30 November 2022. 29 November 2022. en. Hrvatska Radiotelevizija. 4 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221204075451/https://api.hrt.hr/media/41/4d/arc-100-2022-11-28-20221129123135.pdf. live.
  13. Web site: Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Jan 12, 2023. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  14. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012064411/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html. 12 October 2022. 12 October 2022. IFPI Greece.
  15. Web site: Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 46. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. 19 November 2022. 14 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191014042723/https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/3/2022/46. live.
  16. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Digital Singles: 2022-10-10. Oricon. ja. 5 October 2022. 7 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221007040326/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2022-10-10/p/3/. live.
  17. Web site: Latvijas radio stacijās spēlētākās dziesmas TOP. lv. LAIPA. May 28, 2023. March 6, 2023. 28 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230528202811/https://www.parmuziku.lv/muzikas-zinas/latvija/latvijas-radio-stacijas-speletakas-dziesmas-top-19-nedela-9759. live.
  18. Web site: The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Ed Sheeran Chart History. The Official Lebanese Top 20. January 30, 2023. 22 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220822074314/http://olt20.com/Ed_Sheeran#fragment-2. live.
  19. Web site: Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Jan 26, 2023. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  20. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 10 October 2022. 8 October 2022. 7 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221007225803/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5421. live.
  21. Web site: Top Radio Hits Romania Weekly Chart: Jan 19, 2023. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  22. Web site: Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 17/12/2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221217221803/https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare . 2022-12-17 . it . . 17 December 2022 . 28 July 2024.
  23. Web site: Download Chart – Week 41 of 2022. Circle Chart. ko. 13 October 2022. 13 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221013042111/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=41&hitYear=2022&termGbn=week&yearTime=3. live.
  24. Web site: Top Radio Hits Global Monthly Chart: December 2022. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  25. Web site: Top Radio Hits Estonia Monthly Chart: January 2023. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  26. Web site: Top Radio Hits Lithuania Monthly Chart: January 2023. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  27. Web site: Top Radio Hits Romania Monthly Chart: January 2023. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  28. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2022. Ultratop. nl. 13 January 2023. 13 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230113140018/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2022. live.
  29. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022. Dutch Top 40. nl. 3 January 2023. 3 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230103204413/https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2022. live.
  30. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2023. Ultratop. nl. 7 January 2024. 7 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240107151100/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2023. live.
  31. Web site: Top Radio Hits Global Annual Chart 2023. July 28, 2024.
  32. Web site: Top Radio Hits Estonia Annual Chart 2023. July 28, 2024.
  33. Web site: Top Radio Hits Lithuania Annual Chart 2023. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  34. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2023. Dutch Top 40. nl. 1 January 2024. 31 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231231221518/https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2023.
  35. Web site: Top Radio Hits Romania Annual Chart 2023. TopHit. July 28, 2024.
  36. Web site: Ed Sheeran 'Celestial' (Radio Date: 30/09/2022). radiodate.it. it. Mompellio. Gabriel. 1 October 2022. 5 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221005083038/https://radiodate.it/radio-date/ed-sheeran-celestial-234166-30-09-2022-radiodate/. live.

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