The renowned British singer-songwriter stated during his Hard Rock Live event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday night that he gave up the big hit “Love Yourself” because those closest to him did not think it was a wonderful song.
“This is a song when I was writing ‘Divide’.” I was creating a lot of songs on a lot of various subjects, and I wrote this song, and honestly, I played it to folks and they said, ‘Meh,'” Sheeran chuckled as he addressed the crowd.
Ed Sheeran revealed the hilarious reason why he gave away “Love Yourself.”
Those closest to him felt the song was “meh,” but Justin Bieber heard it and loved it.
Sheeran, 33, then explained he played it for one person — Justin Bieber — who decided he wanted it for his repertoire.
“I went, ‘Cool, have it,’ and then it got very big,” he said, laughing.
Bieber’s “Love Yourself” topped the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End chart in 2016, making him the youngest artist to have a No. 1 single on the chart in the publication’s history.
After the song took off, Sheeran’s friends asked why he let Bieber have the tune.
Bieber’s “Love Yourself” topped the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End chart in 2016, making him the youngest artist to have a No. 1 single on the chart in the publication’s history.
Ironically enough, the success of the song prompted the “Afterglow” singer’s friends to ask why he would give it away in the first place given how successful it became.
“‘You told me it wasn’t good,’” Sheeran, 33, recalled saying, laughing with the crowd as he reminisced.
The British crooner will also be performing at Hard Rock Beach Club Saturday ahead of the F1 qualifying race.
“‘You told me it wasn’t good,’” Sheeran recalled saying, laughing with the crowd as he reminisced.
Although it ultimately became the “Baby” singer’s hit, Sheeran’s songwriting credits allow him to “always play it,” so he performed it for the Hard Rock audience.
Sheeran will also perform Saturday as part of Hard Rock Beach Club’s Formula 1 lineup ahead of the qualifying session race. Other performers include Don Omar, Kaskade and Cedric Gervais.
The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix takes place Sunday, with Marc Anthony singing the National Anthem.
