The A Team (Ed Sheeran song)

{{Short description|2011 single by Ed Sheeran}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox song

| name = The A Team

| cover = Ed Sheeran - The A Team.png

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Ed Sheeran

| album = +

| released = 10 June 2011

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Folk

| length =

  • 4:18 (album version)
  • 3:42 (radio edit)

| label =

| writer =

| producer = Jake Gosling

| chronology = Ed Sheeran

| prev_title = If I Could

| prev_year = 2011

| next_title = Young Guns

| next_year = 2011

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|UAWcs5H-qgQ|"The A Team"}}}}

}}

"The A Team" is the debut single by English singer Ed Sheeran. It was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 10 June 2011, serving as the lead single from his debut album, + (2011). "The A Team" is a folk ballad about a sex worker addicted to crack cocaine, a Class A drug. It was written after Sheeran visited a homeless shelter and heard some of the stories of the lives people had been living. He wrote the song following a last-minute performance at an event for the homeless. The chorus of "The A Team" was also used by Sheeran in the track "Little Lady", which features Mikill Pane. "Little Lady" is available on the EP No. 5 Collaborations Project.

It became a top 10 hit in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart, with sales of 57,607 copies.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-13838719/ Ed Sheeran's debut single 'The A Team' at number three] BBC News, Retrieved 20 June 2011. The song was serviced to US radio formats in late 2012 and became a sleeper hit there, gradually rising up the Billboard Hot 100 to peak at number 16, becoming Sheeran's first single on that chart. On 5 December, the song received a Grammy Award nomination for Song of the Year, Sheeran's first Grammy Award nomination. At the 2012 Brit Awards, it was nominated for Best British Single.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/brit-awards/9095843/Brit-Awards-2012-live.html|title=Brit Awards 2012: as it happened|date=21 February 2012|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=27 February 2012|location=London|first=Michael|last=Hogan}}

Background and release

Sheeran said the song came from "an experience I had when I did a gig at a homeless shelter". He explained, "I was 18 at the time and kind of quite naive. So, I was a bit taken aback by some of the stories that I heard. [...] I wanted to write it so it sounded kind of upbeat, so you wouldn't really know what it's about, because it's quite a dark subject." In a 2011 video interview with Absolute Radio, Sheeran stated that it was based on the experiences of a particular woman at the shelter, named Angel, hence the 'Angels to fly' line in the song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6JliNhAHEU|title=Ed Sheeran at Latitude 2011|website=YouTube}} Talking to Billboard, he explained the title: "A drug like crack cocaine is called a 'Class A drug'. That's in the same category as heroin. Instead of making it clear and just saying what the problem was, I'd say, 'She's in the 'Class A' team.'"{{cite magazine | first=Gary | last=Trust | title=Chart Beat Meet & Greet: Ed Sheeran (Exclusive Video) | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/493958/chart-beat-meet-greet-ed-sheeran-exclusive-video | magazine=Billboard.com | date=17 April 2012 }} The single was released 1 May 2011, in the UK through Atlantic Records. In US, "The A Team" was serviced to adult album alternative (also triple-A, AAA, or adult alternative) stations on 27 February 2012.

Composition

According to the sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing, "The A Team" is set in common time with a tempo of 170 beats per minute. Written in the key of A major; Sheeran's vocals range from the note of A2 to A4. Instrumentation is provided by guitar, piano and vocals.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0095832&|title=Ed Sheeran – The A Team Sheet Music |date=26 July 2011 |publisher=Musicnotes.com (EMI Music Publishing) |access-date=2 May 2012}} "The A Team" is a folk song.{{cite web |last1=Hyden |first1=Steven |last2=Koski |first2=Genevieve |url=https://www.avclub.com/this-was-pop-discovers-the-softer-side-of-the-rock-song-1798234467 |title=This Was Pop discovers the softer side of the rock-songs chart |work=The A.V. Club |date=2 November 2012 |access-date=19 September 2017}} Gary Trust from Billboard compared the song to "folk/rock hits like Suzanne Vega's 'Luka' (about child abuse), 10,000 Maniacs' 'Like the Weather' (depression) and Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' (alcoholism)", songs that "shade their heavy topics under a melodic canopy". Ryan Reed from the publication, considered as a jazz-folk song.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1067126/track-review-ed-sheeran-the-a-team |title=Chart Beat Meet & Greet: Ed Sheeran (Exclusive Video) – Chart Beat |publisher=Billboard.com |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=5 May 2012}}

Critical reception

"The A Team" received critical acclaim.

TheMark Moore of Contactmusic.com awarded the single 7/10, calling it a "beautiful melodic track that is made by its dark lyrical content..."{{Cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/single-review/ed-sheeran-the-a-team|title=Ed Sheeran – The A Team|date=22 June 2011|website=Contactmusic.com}} Critics also praised Sheeran's vocals. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy awarded the song 5 stars out of 5, writing that Sheeran's "man-and-his-guitar concept is about as cliché as they come, but it's his intelligent lyrics and softer than cream cheese vocals that set him apart from the pack." He further praised the song, commenting that "Sheeran's frank honesty and lump-in-the-throat-like emotion are weighted by a folky melody and off-kilter acoustics."{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/single-reviews/a324793/ed-sheeran-the-a-team/|title=Ed Sheeran: 'The A Team'|first=Robert|last=Copsey|date=14 June 2011|website=Digital Spy}}

Chart performance

The track made its debut on the UK Singles Chart at number three on 19 June 2011[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/The%20A%20Team Ed Sheeran – 'The A Team' – UK Official Charts Company Information] Retrieved 24 July 2011. – entering as the second highest new entry behind Calvin Harris and Kelis' "Bounce", which debuted at number two and then it spent four non-consecutive weeks at the number three position. "The A Team" also saw chart success elsewhere, peaking at number two on the Scottish Singles. "The A Team" became the best selling debut single and the overall eighth best-selling single of 2011 in the UK, shifting 801,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-top-20-biggest-selling-singles-of-2011-revealed/ |title=The Top 20 biggest selling singles of 2011 revealed! |publisher=Officialcharts.com |access-date=5 May 2012}} As of September 2017, the song has sold 1,119,000 copies, with 46 million streams, making a total of 1,587,000 combined units.{{cite news |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-chart-millionaires-revealed__20459/ |title=he UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed |first= Rob |last=Copsey |work=The Official Charts Company |date=19 September 2017 }}

The single debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number thirty-two, 23 October 2011. It peaked at number two for two weeks{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Ed+Sheeran&titel=The+A+Team&cat=s |title=Ed Sheeran – The A Team |publisher=australian-charts.com |access-date=5 May 2012}} and has been certified 10-times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales and streams of 700,000 units. On the New Zealand Singles Chart the song entered at number thirty-eight, 21 November 2011. It peaked at number three and has been certified platinum by Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for sales of 15,000 copies.{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2012-04-06 |title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart |publisher=Nztop40.co.nz |date=9 April 2012 |access-date=5 May 2012}} The song also peaked at number three and Irish Singles Chart.

After being serviced to radio formats in US, the song made its first American chart entry on Billboard{{'}}s component Adult Pop Songs at number thirty-eight.{{cite magazine | author=Billboard | title=Chart Highlights: Katy Perry's 'Part of Me' Tops Dance/Club Play Songs | url=http://www.billboard.com/news#/column/chartbeat/chart-highlights-katy-perry-s-part-of-me-1006918952.story | magazine=Billboard.com | date=30 April 2012}} It also debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since peaked at number 16, becoming Sheeran's first top 20 hit on the chart. It also peaked at 29 on the Canadian Hot 100. As of February 2015, "The A Team" has sold 2.3 million copies in the United States.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbBBBFFa64s |title=Official Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Mar. 7 2015 Countdown |work=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |via=YouTube |time=2:00 |date=25 February 2015 |access-date=25 February 2015}}

Music video

The music video for the song was shot and edited by Ruskin Kyle (Rivers Rush Video Production Company).{{cite web|url=http://www.riversrush.com |title=Rivers Rush – a video production company – Ruskin Kyle |publisher=Riversrush.com |access-date=5 May 2012}} Sheeran refers to when he first created the demo for the song during an interview with 96.1 KISS,{{cite web|title=KISS Music Theater – Ed Sheeran – Interview with Tall Cathy|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ_e07N0mXc|publisher=961KISS|access-date=4 February 2013}} "Whenever I wrote songs in the past, I never recorded them down because I didn't have a recorder but I had a Mac computer and made a video version of it." The original demos for "The A Team" were originally all recorded in this manner but not released to the public. When asked about his inspiration behind the Grammy nominated hit, Sheeran shared, "The A Team is written about a woman that I met in a homeless shelter."

The video was made at and around Angel tube station in Islington, London, and was uploaded to YouTube on 22 April 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWcs5H-qgQ|title=Ed Sheeran – The A Team (Official Music Video)|publisher=YouTube|date=22 April 2010|access-date=5 May 2012}} It depicts the story of a young woman addicted to drugs, portrayed by Selina MacDonald, who's seen trying to earn money selling The Big Issue magazine on the streets of London, actually selling one to Sheeran himself. The girl's struggles, both financial and existential, result in her prostituting herself to get money to buy crack. In the end, the girl dies alone in her room from her drug use, the outcome being the preface of the video, where a tearful grieving woman can be seen beside her corpse. An acoustic, unplugged version of the song was also uploaded onto the official Ed Sheeran YouTube page on 10 May 2011.

Live performances

Ed Sheeran performed the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on 30 March 2012 and on the talk show Conan on 8 May 2012. Sheeran performed an acoustic version of the song live at the Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of Queen Elizabeth II on 4 June 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9311374/The-Queens-Diamond-Jubilee-Concert-review.html |title=The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert, review |author=Neil McCormick |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=4 June 2012 |access-date=4 December 2012}} Sheeran performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show along with "Grade 8" on 4 October 2012 and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! along with "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" on 19 December 2012. Sheeran also performed "The A Team" as a duet with Elton John at the 2013 Grammy Awards on 10 February 2013.

Cover versions

In July 2011, Birdy covered the song at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.{{cite web|title=BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge – Birdy)|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/sessions/2011-07-19_birdy|publisher=BBC|date=19 July 2011|access-date=15 February 2012}}{{cite web|title=Birdy – 'The A Team' (Ed Sheeran Cover)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p856dtR4mms|publisher=OfficialBirdy/YouTube|access-date=15 February 2012|date=28 July 2011}} Luca Hänni, winner of the ninth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar performed the song in the Top 16 show on 25 February 2012. Kendall Schmidt from Big Time Rush posted a cover of the song on YouTube in June.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ETVkHHV6RI|title=Kendall Schmidt – COVER – "A-Team" /Ed Sheeran|website=YouTube}} On 17 June 2012, during One Direction's Up All Night Tour, member Niall Horan covered the song at Anaheim's The Theatre at Honda Center.{{cite web|url=http://www.sugarscape.com/tags/music/733205/video-niall-horan-sings-ed-sheerans-team-little-help-harry-styles |title=VIDEO: NIALL HORAN SINGS ED SHEERAN'S THE A TEAM (WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HARRY STYLES) |publisher=Sugar Magazine;Hachette Filipacchi Médias|date=18 June 2012 |access-date=19 June 2012}} The X Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan has also used the music from the song, rewriting the lyrics from the perspective of the man who uses the services of the girl of the song, with version entitled "The B Team". X Factor Indonesia contestant "Mikha Angelo" covered the song in the third gala show. Also, the Jonas Brothers covered the song on their tour during Latin America.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjjHiI6gZiQ|title=YouTube|website=YouTube|access-date=29 September 2014}} In 2013 the French movie "Les Gamins" used a cover version by St John's International School choir for its OST{{cite web|url=http://www.musicme.com/#/St-John's-International-School/titres/The-A-Team-t2021805.html|title=musicMe : musique gratuite, telechargement mp3, video-clips HD|access-date=29 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQoARMjOWl8|title=Musique de Film : Les Gamins BO – 11. The A-Team|work=YouTube|access-date=29 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/les-gamins-bande-originale/id622835960|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224035613/https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/les-gamins-bande-originale/id622835960|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2014|title=iTunes – Musique – Les Gamins (Bande originale du film) par Various Artists|work=iTunes|access-date=29 September 2014}} On 19 January 2013, singer Masha, covered the song on her YouTube channel, as of November 2013 Masha's cover has received nearly 50,000 views.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5jbIcX9k_o|title=Ed Sheeran – The A Team (Cover by Masha)|work=YouTube|access-date=29 September 2014}} In January 2013, YouTube stars, Andy Lange and Chester See, made a cover on Lange's channel. The video currently has over 140,000 views.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvQNcq_LwZM|title=The A Team – Chester See & Andy Lange|website=YouTube}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download

| title1 = The A Team

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = The A Team

| note2 = Shy FX's Ackee and Saltfish Remix

| length2 = 4:28

| title3 = The A Team

| note3 = KOAN Sound Remix

| length3 = 4:39

| title4 = The A Team

| note4 = True Tiger Remix

| length4 = 3:39

| title5 = The A Team

| note5 = Acoustic

| length5 = 4:01

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD single

| title1 = The A Team

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = The A Team

| note2 = KOAN Sound Remix

| length2 = 4:39

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 7-inch vinyl

| title1 = The A Team

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = The A Team

| note2 = Shy FX's Ackee and Saltfish Remix

| length2 = 4:28

}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

= Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (2011–13)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|2|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Austria|19|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Flanders|18|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Wallonia Tip|26|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Billboardcanadianhot100|29|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Billboardcanadaac|26|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=10 December 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|40|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=10 December 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|38|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=10 December 2017}}
{{single chart|Czech Republic|31|year=2011|week=39|rowheader=true|access-date=20 March 2017}}
{{single chart|Czechdigital|83|year=2017|week=02|rowheader=true|access-date=20 March 2017}}
scope="row"|Euro Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0]=ss_chart_search_title%3A%22The%20A-Team%22&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3A846&refine=1|title=Euro Digital Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|7

{{single chart|France|43|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Germany|9|songid=792576|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=20 March 2017}}
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|3|year=2021|week=25|rowheader=true|access-date=1 July 2021}}
scope="row"|Iceland (RÚV){{cite web|url=http://www.ruv.is/persona/ed-sheeran|publisher=RÚV|title=Ed Sheeran Chart History|date=7 March 2016|access-date=24 May 2017|archive-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507142719/http://ruv.is/persona/ed-sheeran|url-status=dead}}

|21

{{single chart|Ireland2|3|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=22 January 2020}}
{{single chart|Israelairplay|6|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|year=2011|week=33|rowheader=true|access-date=24 March 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboardjapanhot100|5|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
scope="row"|Luxembourg (Billboard){{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0]=ss_chart_search_title%3A%22The%20A-Team%22&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3A913&refine=1|title=Luxembourg Digital Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=20 March 2017}}

|8

scope="row"| Mexico (Billboard Ingles Airplay){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0]=ss_chart_search_title%3A%22The%20A%20Team%22&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3A1188&refine=1|title=Mexico Ingles Airplay|magazine=Billboard|access-date=20 March 2017}}

|34

{{single chart|Dutch40|5|year=2012|week=6|rowheader=true|access-date=20 March 2017}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Norway|5|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Scotland|2|date=20110730|rowheader=true|access-date=20 March 2017}}
{{single chart|Slovakia|84|year=2011|week=30|rowheader=true|access-date=20 March 2017}}
{{single chart|Spain|44|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Sweden|27|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|23|artist=Ed Sheeran|song=The A Team|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|UK|3|date=20110625|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|16|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|11|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|6|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|4|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|9|artist=Ed Sheeran|rowheader=true|access-date=14 June 2014}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"|Chart (2011)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2011.htm|title=Top 100 Singles 2011|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|24

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/pdf/top100/top100-2011.pdf|title=Single Top 100 Van 2011|language=nl|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|access-date=21 March 2017}}

|60

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2011&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – single 2011|language=nl|publisher=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|76

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20110109/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2011|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=21 March 2017}}

|8

scope="col"|Chart (2012)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2012.htm|title=Top 100 Singles 2012|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|91

scope="row"|France (SNEP){{cite web|url=http://proxy.siteo.com.s3.amazonaws.com/www.snepmusique.com/file/singlefusionnes2012.pdf|title=Classement des 200 premiers Singles Fusionnés par GfK année 2012|publisher=SNEP|access-date=3 February 2013}}

|145

scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2012|title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment Charts|access-date=21 March 2017}}

|83

scope="row"|Japan (Japan Hot 100){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/japan-hot-100?page=9|title=Best of 2012 – Japan Hot 100 Songs|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|98

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/pdf/top100/top100-2012.pdf|title=Single Top 100 Van 2012|language=nl|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|access-date=21 March 2017}}

|24

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2012&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – single 2012|language=nl|publisher=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|28

scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|title=End of Year Charts 2012|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/2012-12-31|work=The Official NZ Music Charts|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|30

scope="row"|Sweden (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=20120001|title=Årslista Singlar – År 2012|language=sv|publisher=Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association|access-date=29 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414085047/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=20120001|archive-date=14 April 2014}}

|60

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusEOY2012.pdf|title=End of Year 2012|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|118

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/node/427867?page=3|title=Adult Pop Songs: 2012 Year-end|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|32

scope="col"|Chart (2013)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-100-songs|title=Best of 2013 – Hot 100 Songs|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=13 December 2013}}

|75

scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/adult-contemporary-songs|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2013|magazine=Billboard|access-date=29 September 2019}}

|28

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-adult-pop-songs|title=Adult Pop Songs: 2013 Year-end|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=29 June 2014}}

|42

scope="row"|US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-rock-songs|title=Rock Songs: 2013 Year-end|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=8 July 2014}}

|15

=Decade-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2010–2019)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2019/end-of-decade-singles-chart|title=2019 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart|publisher=ARIA|date=January 2020|access-date=16 January 2020}}

| 35

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-top-100-biggest-songs-of-the-decade-2010-2019__27936/|title=The UK's Official Top 100 biggest songs of the decade|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=11 December 2019|access-date=12 December 2019}}

| 34

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "The A Team"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=10|relyear=2011|certyear=2022|access-date=16 May 2022|refname="aria"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=20125|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|access-date=19 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Platinum|number=9|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|certyear=2023|relyear=2011|access-date=6 October 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|certyear=2020|certmonth=4|relyear=2011|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=17 July 2021|type=single|id=9392}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|access-date=4 May 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2011|certyear=2017|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|id=4287|access-date=18 April 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|award=Platinum|number=5|type=single|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=28 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=2012|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|access-date=18 January 2013}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2011|certyear=2023|access-date=4 March 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=2012|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2011|certyear=2014|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|access-date=20 March 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A Team|type=single|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=2011|certyear=2023|id=9979-2403-1|access-date=24 March 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=2011|certyear=2021|artist=Ed Sheeran|title=The A-Team|access-date=25 November 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable"
Region

! Date

! Format

! Label

rowspan="2"| United Kingdom

| 10 June 2011{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-a-team-ep/434815628 |title=The A Team by Ed Sheeran iTunes |publisher=iTunes |date=1 May 2011 |access-date=5 May 2012}}

| Digital download

| rowspan="3"| {{hlist|Lava|Atlantic}}

13 June 2011{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0051GHPZG |title=The A Team – Ed Sheeran www.amazon.co.uk/ |publisher=Amazon.co.uk |access-date=5 May 2012}}

| CD single

United States

| 27 August 2012

| Contemporary hit radio

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}