A slow burn hit for Ed Sheeran has earned the star a place in the new Guinness World Records 2016 book for setting a record for the Longest climb to No.1 on the UK singles chart.
The British singer-songwriter’s 2014 ballad “Thinking Out Loud” took a record-breaking 19 weeks to reach the top of the UK’s Official Singles Chart.
The song - the third single from Sheeran’s second album, x (“multiply”) - originally debuted at No. 26 on the chart on 5 July 2014 before eventually peaked at No.1 on 8 November 2014. The track impressively spent all 19 weeks inside the Top 30 and made it to the top after the singer-songwriter performed it live on the TV talent show The X Factor in the UK.
The corresponding video for “Thinking Out Loud” (in which Sheeran dances with his ballroom partner, Brittany Cherry) was released in October 2014 and has since been viewed over 686,000,000 times on YouTube.
Sheeran’s ascent to fame progressed in 2012 following his hugely successful debut album, which led him to win two Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.
The singer has since collaborated with other musical record breakers such as Taylor Swift, who he opened for on her “Red Tour” a well as singing with her on the hit single “Everything Has Changed”, and has also co-written songs for boyband One Direction.
Sheeran’s Guinness World Records title is just further evidence of the singer’s enduring and increasing popularity in the music world.
The 2016 Guinness World Records book and Gamer’s Edition are available to buy on September 10th – click here to find out more or pre-order a copy.
