Ed Sheeran is (finally) returning to Florida: a Divide tour setlist review

At the end of August, Ed Sheeran will make a long-awaited return to Florida, performing in three cities on the North American leg of his Divide tour. This comes as exciting news for fans who have not seen Sheeran perform live since 2012, as he overlooked Florida when touring the U.S. after the release of his sophomore album, “X” (pronounced “multiply”).

In just over a week, Tampa will welcome Sheeran to the Amalie Arena on Tuesday, Miami will host him at American Airlines Arena on Aug. 30 and the Amway Center in Orlando will bid him farewell Aug. 31.

The last time Sheeran headlined a show in Florida was the first time he performed as a headliner in the U.S. His small-scale and intimate performance at Orlando’s House of Blues was the first stop he made while touring for his album “+” (pronounced “plus”).

There is no telling what this year’s experience will be like for fans who have avoided the internet’s circulation of concert videos from this and his previous tour.

For many, checking the setlist to a concert feels like seeking out a spoiler. Having waited so long to see my favorite artist, I am hoping the songs he performs will cover all bases, making up for time and tours lost. Thus, I peeked, and I reviewed.

1. “Castle on the Hill”: This song is a perfect opener and was a flawless lead single on “÷” (pronounced “divide”), even while shared with its dichotomous “Shape of You.” I expect its anecdotal quality and anthemic feel will create an atmosphere of escape, setting the tone for the show.

2. “Eraser”: “Eraser” is the only track on “÷” to feature Sheeran rapping. Sheeran shows this skill on previous albums, so although this is not the crowd favorite of the bunch, the hook is catchy enough to leave attendees satisfied.

3. “The A Team”: “The A Team”is one of those songs that will stick with an artist past their career’s end. If you don’t think you know it, you’re wrong. I cannot say I am thrilled about this necessary evil of a choice, but I will most definitely be caught singing along.

4. “Don’t”/“New Man”: There was no question Sheeran would turn these into a mashup. “New Man” might remind fans of the single Sheeran called Niall Horan and Ellie Goulding out on during his last album run. Nonetheless, a sequel to “Don’t” was always welcome.

5. “Dive”: If people still take out their lighters and wave them and their bodies side-to-side in coordination with the rhythm of a song, “Dive”will most definitely be the time during which we see this cliche at play. I cannot wait to participate.   

6. “Bloodstream”: I’m convinced Sheeran chose “Bloodstream” over “Runaway” on the set list of his last tour, and I was almost relieved to know I would not see the offense at play in person. I spoke two years too soon.

7. “Happier”: “Happier” is that sad song you resonate with even though you’ve never had your heart broken. It’s beautiful, and I cannot wait to fake cry at it in person.

8. “Galway Girl”: If you know how to do an Irish jig, this is the one appropriate time (besides St. Patrick’s Day) to show it off.

9. “Feeling Good”/“I See Fire”: Sheeran is expected to cover Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good” in a mashup with Sheeran’s own “I See Fire,” which he wrote for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” At some shows, however, he has substituted this mashup for other, less worthy songs on “÷,” so the anticipation is killing me.

10. Choice Song: Sheeran has surprised fans with a different song each night to fill this space. The possibilities hold strong potential for either a happy surprise or major letdown.

11. “Photograph”: “Photograph” is the song that should’ve never been made a single because it ruined many future brides’ hopes of being the first dance track at their wedding, including mine. As it made the rounds on the Multiply Tour, I thought I would never hear it played live, so this is a huge deal.

12. “Perfect”: “Perfect” is the “Thinking Out Loud” of “÷” and another slow song I am not ecstatic about but will still loudly sing along to.

13. “Nancy Mulligan”: If you have not heard “Nancy Mulligan,” you have not heard the single cutest song on the album that might also make you want to do an Irish jig.

14. “Thinking Out Loud”: You will sing along to this song. The concessions staff will sing along to this song. The moms waiting in the car outside of the arena will sing along to this song. If this song was not on the set list, it may as well not have existed.

15. “Sing”: “Sing” confused fans when it came out as the lead single on “X,” especially after “+" gave fans the idea that Sheeran would never delve into this territory. Fans forgave him when the rest of the album came out, but then “Shape of You” was introduced as a lead single on “÷.”

16. “Shape of You”: You never thought you would dance to an Ed Sheeran song at the club, and then “Shape of You” was released. Expect your local arena to feel precariously like your favorite Midtown bar for about four minutes.

17. “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”: The best moment of Sheeran’s House of Blues show in 2012 was his live version of “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.” It ran almost 10 minutes long, and, when it was over, the audience wanted an encore from a breathless Sheeran. The fact that he is potentially bringing back this full version (which can be heard on Sheeran’s “5” extended play) is a gift.

If Sheeran could have taken any song from “+,” I am glad it was “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You,” though one thing I will never forgive Sheeran for is that no live performance of “Wake Me Up” from “+” exists, and probably never will. However, the set list is not missing many important tracks from “÷,” and I’m satisfied with the choices it took from “X.”