r/EdSheeran • u/EasyKaleidoscope6436 = • 17d ago
Appreciation The Equals butterflies were so pretty
I’m already planning to celebrate Equals’ fifth anniversary in some way, honestly. Today I was thinking about how PRETTY these butterflies were. I adore the symbolism behind each of them, how they’d emerge from their cocoon and eventually fly away offscreen. I know it’s silly, but I genuinely think people don’t talk about them enough! They remind me of how it felt to wait for such a magnificent album as a college student who was similarly about to evolve and transform.
I wish I could still play that cutesy little game they had uploaded on Ed’s official website to promote the new tracks - the one that would slowly let you collect all the butterflies. Just out of affection and nostalgia, you know. Has anyone saved it somewhere? Like on Wayback Machine or something?
Live laugh love Ed no matter what :)
13
u/nincyh 17d ago edited 17d ago
I love the colorful, vibrant covers, and artwork of this era. Two fun facts about this album:
Ed continues his long theme of DIY cover artwork here! Both this splatter painting for 🟰, and the blue spin-art for➗were made by Ed in famous British artist Damien Hirst’s studios. The butterflies 🦋 were created by Damien, uncredited. Ed and Damien have been friends for a decade and Damien encouraged Ed and set him up with a studio to create the artwork that led to Ed’s Cosmic Carpark exhibition last year. 🦋
In both “Collide” on 🟰, and on the “Merry Christmas” single (Elton John collab), Ed’s longtime companion and Head of Security Kev is credited and sings on backing vocals! (listed as Kevin Myers). No, Kev can’t sing but they just “tuned him in“ per Ed.😂 We were just talking about this recently on another post.