"Overpass Graffiti" is a song by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, released through Asylum and Atlantic Records on 29 October 2021, as the third single from his fifth studio album, = (2021). It was written and produced by Sheeran, Johnny McDaid and Fred.
On 19 August 2021, Sheeran announced his fifth studio album, =, in which the song is listed on the tracklist.[1] He later performed the song for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series on 26 October 2021.[2] On 29 October 2021, "Overpass Graffiti" was released alongside the album as the third single.[3][4]
Compositionedit
"Overpass Graffiti" is in its fast tempo which is written in the key of C major and it is composed in common time (4 4 time).[5]
Lyric videoedit
A lyric video for the song was uploaded to YouTube on 29 October 2021 along with the other lyric videos of the songs that appeared on the tracklisting of =.[6]
Music videoedit
The music video of the song was released on 29 October 2021 on Sheeran's YouTube account the same day as its parent album's release, which was directed by Jason Koenig who previously directed the official music videos for "Shape of You", "Galway Girl", "Perfect", "South of the Border" and "Put It All on Me".[7]
In the music video, Sheeran, playing himself, is accidentally left behind by his tour bus during a late-night stop in an unspecified area of the Southwestern United States. He ends up going on wild adventures and meeting different people along the way. This ranges from going camping with a group of teens, going wild in a glow-in-the-dark party, riding with a biker gang, and riding in an old station wagon with a family as they chase down his tour bus.
The music video features retired professional sumo wrestler Yamamotoyama Ryūta (credited as "Yama"), who appears towards the end of the clip inviting Sheeran for a ride on the bus. The video also features a cameo from Emilio Rivera.[8] Finally, the snippet of the Japanese cover of Sheeran's smash-hit "Shape of You" by Japanese singer MARINA plays during the end credits, as the bus (now with Sheeran on it) drives away. In a very brief scene in the glow-in-the-dark party, the female boxer, Jennie Pegouskie, from the "Shape of You" music video (in which Yamamotoyama also starred), appears in a boxing stance with Sheeran.
Stereogum described the song as "new wave-esque".[9] In an album review, The New York Times said of the song, "At least the best song on the album is also the one that seems destined to be his next you'll-hear-it-till-you're-sick-of-it smash: “Overpass Graffiti”, a moody, synth-streaked '80s throwback that sounds like a more melancholy update of Rod Stewart's "Young Turks."[10] In an article about the song, Genius described it as "an '80ssynth-pop-inspired song about struggling to let go after a breakup."[11]
^Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (19 August 2021). "Ed Sheeran announces new album, =". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
^Skinner, Tom (26 October 2021). "Watch Ed Sheeran perform new track 'Overpass Graffiti' on NPR's Tiny Desk". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran lanceert nieuwe single 'Overpass Graffiti', op de ochtend van zijn album release" [Ed Sheeran releases new single 'Overpass Graffiti', on the morning of his album release]. HLN (in Dutch). 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
^Martensen, Dan (27 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran teases new music video for "Overpass Graffiti"". Wixx 101. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
^"Overpass Graffiti". musicnotes. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran - Overpass Graffiti [Official Lyric Video]". YouTube. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
^Trust, Gary (25 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran Takes Road Trip in 'Overpass Graffiti' Video". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran Shares Overpass Graffiti Video". Stereo Board. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
^"Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
^"Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
^"Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202212 into search. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202144 into search. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
^"Elton John i Dua Lipa drugi tjedan zaredom predvode Airplay Radio Chart". HRT. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
^"Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti". Tracklisten. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Ed Sheeran: Overpass Graffiti" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^"End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2022". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
^"Austrian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
^"Canadian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^"Danish single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
^"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ed Sheeran; 'Overpass Graffiti')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
^"Italian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 18 July 2022. Select "2022" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Overpass Graffiti" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
^"OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 November 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Overpass Graffiti in the search box.
^"British single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
^"Overpass Graffiti - Ed Sheeran". Deezer. Retrieved 2 November 2021.