Ed Sheeran floods the Metropolitano with his multicolored psychedelia.

How many songs can fit into a lifetime? Would you know how to estimate that? Ed Sheeran proved in Madrid yesterday that there are quite a few—perhaps more than we realize—that bear his name.  With the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium filled to capacity , the ginger-haired artist once again showcased his infallible formula: a guitar, four loop pedals, a handful of  global hits  that resonate on radios, at weddings, and even at funerals, and the ability to captivate 70,000 people all at once. Quite an achievement.

The show kicked off with *Castle in the Hill* and *Shivers*, including a slip upon entering the stage.  There was plenty of pyrotechnics, flames, and electric guitars.  Far from the measured Ed Sheeran of his previous tours, the  Mathematics Tour  presents an immense spectacle.

“When I was 18, I wrote some of these songs when hardly anyone would stop to listen to me on the streets of London.  Sixteen years have passed, and now there are thousands of you.  I am very grateful,” Sheeran introduced *The A Team*, standing in the center of six T-shaped platforms that composed the stunning stage, wearing a shirt that read “Madrid.” The stage itself was shaped like an asterisk, featuring a circular rotating core and half a dozen screens, like giant guitar spikes, with psychedelic visuals that changed color according to the album of the song he was performing.

In his new tour, Sheeran doesn’t just sing about love, loss, or  grey days ; he adds them, multiplies them, divides them, and after several operations, turns them into a spectacle. The concert last night was the first of two dates the singer will perform at the Metropolitano, with all tickets sold out, marking the kickoff of the *Mathematics European Tour*.  An event that gathered a diverse, yet equally sweaty crowd , who lined up outside the venue hours before the opening act, despite the heat and chaotic organization that prevented many attendees from entering until the last minute due to issues with Ticketmaster.

Inside the venue, a landscape of the most heterogeneous kind was visible: from sweet older couples to  groups of friends in football shirts, to teenagers adorned with colorful glitter.  A reminder, too, that exactly a year ago, one of his best friends, Taylor Swift—with whom he shares songs like *Endgame* or *The Joker and The Queen*—had come to Madrid to dazzle fans with two shows at the stadium of their rival team.

“It’s been a long time since I last saw you. Many beautiful things and also some sad moments that I have reflected in my music,” the artist admitted.  Indeed, this stop marks Ed Sheeran’s return to the Spanish capital  after more than six years of absence. The last time he performed in Madrid, besides private gigs, was in 2019 at what was then called Wanda Metropolitano following the planetary success of his album *Divide*.

Since then, the musician has released three more albums (*Equals*, *Subtract*, and *Autumn Variations*),  taken a sabbatical, become a parent,  navigated personal turbulence—the death of his best friend Jamal Edwards and the serious illness of his wife—and continued to solidify his status as one of today’s most influential singer-songwriters in pop.

It’s not an exaggeration: Ed Sheeran has sold more than 200 million records, and his repertoire  combines acoustic ballads showcasing his vocal range , hints of rap inspired by his love for Eminem, as well as electronic and folk flirtations. In short, the Brit can boast being something like a modern classic at just 34 years old.

If you need more proof, just listen to the roars of a stadium singing along to  hits  like *Lego House, Dive, Give Me Love, Galway Girl, Thinking Out Loud, Perfect,* and *Sing*.

At the midpoint of the concert,  Sheeran made room for his underrated album  *N°6 Collaborations Project*, with a  medley  featuring *Take Me Back to London, South of the Border, Beautiful People,* and *I Don’t Care*, his duet with Justin Bieber.

There was also space for previews of his upcoming studio album, named *Play*, which Sheeran has already been promoting while disguised at metro stations in England and the USA, performing  singles  like *Azizam* and *Old Phone*. Both songs hark back to the Ed of his early days, reminiscent of his iconic tracks like *Photograph* and *Don’t*, which surely resonated with an *all-in audience.*  As he announced hours earlier on Instagram, he took the opportunity to debut  *Sapphire* a week before its official release, fully utilizing the  looper  that has become essential in his performances. “If this goes wrong, forgive me. It’s the first time I’m singing it live,” the Brit excused himself.

Two hours and countless spins on stage (both vocal and physical) later,  an emotional Sheeran closed with  *Shape of You* and *Bad Habits,* proudly wearing a La Roja shirt, followed by roaring applause. Last Friday, the Metropolitano was envious of any karaoke.

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