Ed Sheeran to release a second Perfect collaboration featuring Andrea Bocelli
Ed Sheeran is one of the leading names in the race for the Christmas Number 1 this year, and he has one final trick up his sleeve that he hopes will help him clinch the coveted #XmasNo1 spot.
Ed is currently celebrating Perfect becoming his fourth Number 1 single, which reached the summit after an incredible 22 non-consecutive weeks in the Top 40.
Several versions of the song are currently available, including the original, an acoustic recording, remixes from Mike Perry and Robin Schulz, and most recently, a duet version featuring Beyoncé, the latter of which skyrocketed the song's popularity last Friday to earn Ed a second Number 1 smash of 2017. Now, Ed is releasing another collaborative version this Friday.
"I do have one more trick up my sleeve," Ed explained on last Friday's Official Chart Show with Mistajam on BBC Radio 1. "It's not like a Beyoncé trick, but it's quite a cool trick. "This next one, no-one's expecting. It's more for my dad's generation. It'll be out in a week. You'll see then."
MORE: Official Christmas Number 1 2017: The contenders
It was then revealed on US TV over the weekend that operatic tenor Andrea Bocelli will be sharing the mic with Ed on the latest version, which Ed believes will interest an older audience. The new duet will be released this Friday, December 15.
Speaking to the Today show, Ed confirmed: "I've got an Italian operatic version with Andrea Bocelli coming out. It's just kind of a little present for Christmas. It's a really beautiful video that comes with it."
Ed's fourth UK chart topper is also a record-breaker. No other song has spent longer on the Official Chart before reaching Number 1 than Perfect, and Ed breaks his own 19-week record set by Thinking Out Loud as an extra cherry on top. Click here to view Ed's complete UK chart history.
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Makis Sklavenitis
He is desperate to be Christmas #1.Its annoying and unfair with all the different versions trick of the song.
I`ll be beyond happy if Mariah Carey ruins it for him.She deserves it.
KS
Kevin Summers
The ginger busker is cheating himself to a Christmas number one....
Howie Roscoe
Taken from the OCC Rules :
"A maximum of three digital bundle formats for each title is eligible for the singles chart. The first 3 formats to
be domestically released will feature in the Chart unless the record company elects a different combination
before release. 4th and subsequent digital bundle formats of a single will not be eligible for a chart position"
However there is also this rule : "In addition to 3 physical formats and 3 digital bundles, an unlimited number of digital variants of the featured song may be combined for a chart position."
The second rule shown needs clarifying Please answer OCC
Looking at itunes so far 4 "single" versions have been issued (all mentioned in the article) However the 4th "single" has been called "Perfect Duet" whereas the other 3 have just been called "Perfect". The OCC chart & Music Week is showing this week's number 1 as just "Perfect" whereas the radio 1 Chart is showing it as "Perfect Duet". I assume for last weeks chart the "duet" plus all versions of the regular version & (1 out of the Acoustic, Robin Schulz & Mike Perry Versions) counted
If the Andrea Bocelli version is also issued as "Perfect Duet" will the OCC call it that & will ONLY sales of the 2 duets count ???? @officialcharts please comment @jackwhite
KS
Kevin Summers
But it's three different artists, so they should count separately. Are all the versions of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' bundled together?
Richard Goodyer
Ed Sheeran is fixing the chart and getting away with it. Time to look at the eligability rules me thinks.
Andrew
Does Ed Sheeran have shares in OCC? Why is he allowed to so openly manipulate the chart?
Mark Willmott
Come on OCC. How can a remix be included towards sales figures? Shouldn't be allowed.
T
TaylorJM
Perfect was originally recorded with an orchestra before it was stripped back down for the Divide album, so it's possible the instrumentals are from that version. Andrea Bocelli and Ed Sheeran did a comedy skit together for the MTV EMA's in 2015. Beyonce suggested the Perfect acoustic remix but maybe Ed Sheeran was originally going to ask her to sing in classical version to showcase her vocals?
Zoltán Oskovits
Dear OCC! How many versions are eligible according to the current rules?