"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 in the United Kingdom on 26 August 2011 as the second single from his debut studio album, + ("Plus").
The track "You Need Me" was originally released on the You Need Meextended 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 exceeding 600,000 units.[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]
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.[citation needed] On Sunday 25 June, he closed his set and the Glastonbury Festival 2017 with the song. Sheeran used the song to close the encore sets of approximately 97% of shows on his Divide Tour, which concluded in 2019.[12]
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.[13][14] It features signing actor Matthew Jacobs Morgan.[15]
Track listings
Digital download / CD single
No.
Title
Length
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)
^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 Meextended play. Upon release through Warner Music Group in August 2011, the single became ineligible for the respective chart.
