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Sheeran's everyman quality is the secret to his success

Ed Sheeran will perform at Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast next year
Ed Sheeran will perform at Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast next year Ed Sheeran will perform at Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast next year

What is it about Ed Sheeran that makes him a global star? Reporter Conor Neeson, who counts himself a fan, believes it's all down to his everyman quality.

LET'S face it, rewind seven years ago before the release of Ed Sheeran’s seven-times platinum first album and nothing about him screamed global superstar. So has he managed to become so big?

Firstly, he is multigenerational; his inoffensiveness is something that can be both a blessing and a curse. It puts many people off him, but it also means he can have a much wider demographic.

In part it is also his appearance that allows a lot of his success. Sheeran has never compromised on his style, wearing jeans, checked shirts and hoodies for his whole career in the limelight.

Stories which come out about him busking on the streets of several cities and sleeping on friends sofas, give him an aura of reality which not many other stars have.

He has developed a personality which appeals to a mass audience; his soft spoken yet playful persona which has been cultivated over time gives the impression of someone who could be your friend.

Musically he has had his critics, he may not be the best singer or the best guitarist, but when in comes to songs that just get people can relate to, there’s few that can compete with his song writing.

Overall, it is perhaps Sheeran’s ability to remain real in a society of full of unrelatable celebrities which is his biggest success.

From his personality to his appearance he is just like one of us …….but with a bigger bank balance.