Ed Sheeran unveiled the significant influence Rihanna has exerted on his musical journey, confessing during an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on March 26th that the Grammy-award-winning artist serves as a constant inspiration for many of his compositions, notably the blockbuster hit, "Shape of You." The 34-year-old crooner revealed, "Rihanna possesses an unparalleled sense of taste in music. Her selections are always impeccable. As songwriters in our circle, we find ourselves perpetually penning tunes with the intention of pitching them to her."
He further elaborated, "With every album I've crafted, I've consistently set aside time to pen, 'Let's attempt to create a tune that Rihanna would love.'" Reflecting on "Shape of You's" unprecedented chart-topping success, Sheeran admitted, "It didn't quite resonate with me personally, as I envisioned it for someone else entirely."
Fallon quipped, likening Rihanna to Sheeran's "muse," to which Sheeran readily concurred, adding, "I assure you, countless songwriters out there have birthed their finest works while striving to pen the perfect Rihanna song."
Moreover, Sheeran disclosed that Justin Bieber's smash hit, "Love Yourself," co-written by him and Benny Blanco, was initially conceived as a potential Rihanna track. Meanwhile, Rihanna, who has been on an eight-year musical hiatus, has hinted at the imminent release of her ninth album this year, stirring anticipation among fans worldwide.
