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Ed Sheeran releases new single Afterglow as a Christmas present for fans
Can Sheeran's surprise new single make a last minute grab for the 2020 Christmas Number 1?
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Ed Sheeran has surprise-released a brand-new single, titled Afterglow.
Announced by Sheeran on Instagram less than 24 hours before its release last night (Dec 20), The Afterglow - out now - is a one-off release described as "a Christmas present" that won't feature on his next album.
Writing on Instagram, Sheeran said: "Hey guys. Afterglow is a song I wrote last year that I wanted to release for you. It’s not the first single from the next album, it’s just a song I love, and hope you love too. Enjoy ! Have a safe and happy festive break and New Year’s. Back to dad land for me now, ciao x".
The release of Afterglow this week makes it a contender for this year's Official Christmas Number 1, which is announced this Friday (Dec 25).
MORE: The Official 2020 Christmas Number 1 contenders
LadBaby's new single Don't Stop Me Eatin' is currently leading the race for the festive top spot, while Jess Glynne's This Christmas, Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You and Wham's Last Christmas are all in the running.
The Official Christmas Number 1 race runs between December 18 - 24, with the Official Christmas Chart revealed on Christmas Day on BBC Radio 1.
Afterglow is Sheeran's first new music since last summer's No.6 Collaborations Project, which became his fourth Number 1 album and features three chart-topping singles: I Don't Care with Justin Bieber, Take Me Back To London ft. Stormzy, and Beautiful People ft. Khalid. View Ed Sheeran's Official UK Chart history in full here.
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Tom Mix
Not particularly a fan of his but at least it's an original piece of music.
thierry henon
Mariah, Wham or Jess Glynne are much better than the overrated Ed!! can't believe he is already back!! thought he was gone for a long while...shame
thierry henon
I thought he put his career on "hiatus"!! but he is already back!!
Alfred Lock
Now that just leaves slimline Adele...quite frankly past caring about Rihanna's long winded drag for anything new.
D.
D .
LET'S MAKE IT NO 1 !!!!...better this than LadBaby's .....@@@@
thierry henon
Mariah, Wham or Jess Glynne are much better than the overrated Ed!! can't believe he is already back!! thought he was gone for a long while...shame!