I agree with one of Sheeran’s friends on screen who says, “It’s cool to watch the making of something from nothing that becomes what people will be singing.”    

And it’s way cool when the subject just happens to be one of the world’s leading music artists who has sold over 20 million albums and 100 singles!

Creativity? He has that.

To Ed Sheeran I tip my hat.

Songwriter shows the song process

that’s led to his immense success.

Happiness while doing his thing

is clear even when bells don’t ring.

Sounds, rhythms and melodies

are tried by Ed for fans to please.

This documentary reveals

the depth of care Ed really feels

about his album and each song.

And that’s why he did not go wrong.

For me, the highlight of this documentary involves Sheeran and a wonderful orchestra recording “Perfect,” one of his best songs, in my opinion. “Perfect” is also how I rate Songwriter – despite its unique home video format. That format works here by turning the viewer into a fly on the wall during songwriting sessions.

EPILOGUE: Just how popular was the “Divide” album? It raced to number one in the United Kingdom and in the United States. The first two singles from the album, "Shape of You" and  "Castle on the Hill"  broke records in a number of countries. Sheeran also became the first artist to have two songs that opened in the U.S. top ten in the same week. Within three months, Sheeran had earned ten top ten singles from “Divide” on the United Kingdom Singles Chart, which broke the record for most top ten UK singles from one album. And in 2018, “Divide” was named the 2017 best-selling album worldwide.

(Produced by Murray Pictures; not rated by MPAA. Available now on Apple Music)

Review also posted at ReelTalk Movie Reviews.