You Need Me, I Don't Need You

"You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (or simply "You Need Me") is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released as the second single from his first studio album, + (Pronounced "plus”) and was released in the United Kingdom on 26 August 2011.

"You Need Me, I Don't Need You"
Single by Ed Sheeran
from the album +
Released26 August 2011 (2011-08-26)
Recorded
Length3:40
Label
Songwriter(s)Ed Sheeran
Producer(s)
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Young Guns"
(2011)		 "You Need Me, I Don't Need You"
(2011)		 "Lego House"
(2011)
Music video
"You Need Me, I Don't Need You" on YouTube

The track "You Need Me" was originally released on the You Need Me extended play in 2009. The new version of "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" was re-recorded with a heavier beat, and peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for shipments exceeding 600,000 copies.[1]

Background

During his headline set in the BBC Introducing tent at the Glastonbury Festival 2011, Sheeran revealed that "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" would be his second single.[2] The single was premiered on BBC Radio 1 as Zane Lowe's "Hottest Record In The World" on 6 July 2011.[3] He performed the song live for the SBTV YouTube channel, in which he made an entire song, backing track included, in just 5 minutes using a guitar and loop pedal.[4] This version included lyrics from Sheeran's cousin—rapper Alonestar (Jethro Sheeran)—and reggae group LaidBlak, but the official single release in 2011 included just lyrics written by Ed Sheeran himself.[5]

On 27 July 2011, Zane Lowe also made the Loadstar remix his "Hottest Record In The World".[6] Rizzle Kicks uploaded their remix of the song to YouTube on 14 August 2011. The original verses were replaced with their own lyrics, while Sheeran sings the chorus.[7]

Composition

According to the sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing, "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" is written in the key of E minor; Sheeran's vocals range from the note of D3 to G4. Instrumentation is provided by guitar, piano and a drum loop. The song incorporates R&B sonority.[8]

Critical reception

Writing for the Star-Ledger, Tris McCall described "You Need Me, I Don't Need You as "a frenetically strummed, wordy kiss-off, and the climax of +."[9] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave a 4/5 rating of song, stating:

'I sing, I write my own tune/ And I write my own verse, hell/ Don't need another wordsmith to make the tune sell,' he sing-speaks over an acoustic hip-hop beat complete with head-nodding guitar riff - marking a swift departure from the saccharine singer-songwriter sound of his heart-tugging debut. 'They say I'm up and coming like I'm f**king in an elevator,' he quips with steely conviction, prompting the response, 'We know you're a real artiste now, but there's no need to be cocky!'[10]

Live performances

On 24 June 2011, Sheeran performed the song at Glastonbury Festival 2011 on the BBC Introducing Stage[11] as well as live at the iTunes Festival on 8 July 2011 and at the 2011 Reading and Leeds Festivals. Sheeran also performed the track at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards on 9 October 2011 at Wembley Arena. At Sheeran's Brixton concert, on 21 January 2012, his performance of the song concluded the gig and included appearances from Rizzle Kicks, Wretch 32 and Devlin, with the performance lasting over 15 minutes. However he has also played the song at various local concerts before making it as a mainstream artist, the very first performance is believed to be at a gig where Sheeran was supported by a band named We Can't Dance. On 21 April 2012, Ed played the song live for the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago while touring with Snow Patrol for the Fallen Empires tour. On Sunday 25 June, he closed his set and the Glastonbury Festival 2017 with the song. He has also frequently used the song to end sets on his Divide Tour, which concluded in 2019.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" was first released on YouTube on 19 July 2011. The music video was directed by Shane Ramirez.[12][13] It features signing actor Matthew Jacobs Morgan.[14]

Track listing
Digital download / CD single
No.TitleLength
1."You Need Me, I Don't Need You"3:40
2."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (Live Ustream Version)6:51
3."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (featuring Wretch 32 & Devlin)3:03
4."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (Loadstar Remix)5:01
5."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (Gemini Remix)4:30
Alternate CD single
No.TitleLength
1."You Need Me, I Don't Need You"3:40
2."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (featuring Wretch 32 & Devlin)3:03
3."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (Live Ustream Version)6:51
4."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (Loadstar Remix)5:01
5."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (Culprate Remix)4:02
7" vinyl
No.TitleLength
1."You Need Me, I Don't Need You"3:40
2."You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (Acoustic Version)4:18

Credits and personnel
  • Vocals, lyrics, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, bass guitar, percussion, beat-box – Ed Sheeran
  • Producer, programming – Jake Gosling
  • Producer, additional drums and percussion – Charlie Hugall
  • Bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar – Chris Leonard
  • Piano – Tom Greenwood
  • Drums – Ben Scott Hollingsworth (Ben Scott)
  • Mastering – Christian Wright
  • Label – Warner Music Group

Charts and certifications

Release history
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom 26 August 2011[28]
Warner

Notes
  1. The single "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" peaked at number nineteen on the independent releases chart for the week ending 4 June 2011 following downloading from the You Need Me extended play. Upon release through Warner Music Group in August 2011, the single became ineligible for the respective chart.

References
  1. "British single certifications – Ed Sheeran – You Need Me, I Don't Need You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 November 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type You Need Me, I Don't Need You in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  2. "BBC Glastonbury Festival - 2011 - Ed Sheeran". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  3. "BBC - Zane Lowe's Hottest Records blog: Hottest Record - Ed Sheeran - You Need Me". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  4. "SB.TV - Ed Sheeran - "You Need Me, I Dont Need You" - A64". YouTube. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  5. "Ed Sheeran - Evolution of You Need Me I Don't Need You - 28/7/11". YouTube. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  6. Zane Lowe. "Zane Lowe's Hottest Records blog: Hottest Record - Ed Sheeran - You Need Me (Loadstar Remix)". BBC. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  7. Rizzle Kicks. "You Need Me, I Don't Need You-Rizzle Kicks remix". YouTube. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  8. "Ed Sheeran – You Need Me, I Don't Need You Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com (EMI Music Publishing). Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  9. McCall, Tris (28 July 2013). "Song of the Week: 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You,' Ed Sheeran". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  10. "Ed Sheeran: 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You' - Single review". Digitalspy.co.uk. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  11. "BBC Glastonbury Festival - 2011 - Ed Sheeran". Bbc.co.uk. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  12. Ed Sheeran - You Need Me, I Don't Need You [Official Video] on YouTube
  13. "Ed SheeranYou Need Me I Don't Need You – Emil Nava". Emilnava.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  14. Ed Sheeran - You Need Me, I Don't Need You (Official Video) on YouTube.
  15. "The ARIA Report - Issue #1147" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  16. "Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  18. "Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Need Me, I Don't Need You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  22. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  23. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  24. "End of Year 2011" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  25. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?share=19540&t=t
  26. "Canadian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – You Need Me I Don't Need You". Music Canada. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  27. "American single certifications – Ed Sheeran – You Need Me, I Don't Need You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 8 February 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  28. "You Need Me, I Don't Need You (Remixes) - EP by Ed Sheeran on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  29. "Ed Sheeran: You Need Me I Dont Need You (2011): 7'". hmv.com. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  30. "Ed Sheeran: You Need Me I Dont Need You (2011): CDS". hmv.com. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
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