Ed Sheeran has written plenty of hit songs for himself over the years, while also penning tracks for everyone from Boyzone to One Direction, Liam Payne, Little Mix, Olly Murs and Shawn Mendes. But in a new interview with radio show Most Requested Live on Sunday (June 27), he revealed that he’s gone back to the well to pen a second song for K-pop icons BTS.
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“I’ve actually worked with BTS on their last record, and I’ve just written a song for their new record. And they’re like super, super cool guys as well,” he said of the as yet untitled follow-up to his first collab with them, “Make It Right,” from 2019’s Map of the Soul: Persona. At press time, no additional information was available on the song.
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And while the BTS news was exciting, it was another comment Sheeran made during the interview that drew the most commentary. “I love Olivia Rodrigo,” Sheeran told host Michael Bennett. “I don’t know if she would like this comparison, but I’ve been saying for years the world needs a new Avril Lavigne. You know, like a girl who rocks out and writes the song, and she’s 17, and she’s, like, fantastic. I love that whole thing that’s going on.”
Sheeran, 30, also gave props to Billie Eilish during the chat. He was clearly trying to put the spotlight on some younger artists he admires, but Twitter had a few things to say about the fact that both Rodrigo and Lavigne write their own songs and that Avril, not for nothing, is still a recording artist releasing new music.
“Olivia rodrigo is olivia rodrigo. There’s only one avril lavigne and she’s releasing a new pop punk album this summer,” wrote one.
Check out Sheeran’s interview (the BTS/Rodrigo bits begin at 7:05 mark) and the Twitter responses to his Rodrigo comment below.
Literally Avril still exists and still does music.. like i mean how would you feel if someone said "we need a new ed sheeran" ?
— sammy ▽ (@noticesammy) June 27, 2021
can we normalize stop making someone the "new ___" and let them be their own artist instead of comparing everything they do with someone who came before them https://t.co/6SfajqTV4a
— squid || fan account 🐙 (@greedymotivez) June 27, 2021
I will repeat what I said before. I’m not canceling Ed Sheeran. I listen to some of his songs and I know he is a fan of Avril but there’s no need of comparing to womens. Every artist has to grow up by their work and the world doesn’t need a new Avril Lavigne +
— Avril Lavigne Spain (@iAvrilSpain) June 27, 2021
not ed sheeran comparing olivia rodrigo to avril lavigne when there is literally no room for comparison
— abby (@lowkeyabby) June 28, 2021
ED Sheeran why would say it like that the world needs a new Avril Lavigne😭😭😭 she isn't dead or something plus olivia rodrigo is olivia rodrigo. There’s only one avril lavigne and she’s releasing a new pop punk album this summer
— JUST A FAN (@ALEX12323634841) June 28, 2021
Why do men always compare women
— My Name Is James (@_JamesGtfo) June 27, 2021
olivia rodrigo is olivia rodrigo. There’s only one avril lavigne and she’s releasing a new pop punk album this summer pic.twitter.com/mOY77Vta7C
— sk8er (@headabovewter) June 27, 2021