Tuesday, June 3, 2014 7:15am ET by  
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Ed Sheeran says Taylor Swift and Elton John convinced him to release 'Sing'

Ed Sheeran says he was encouraged to release 'Sing' as his first single by some superstar friends.

The singer unleashed the song this week in the UK as the first track from his upcoming second record 'x'.

He told Seven magazine that he initially wanted to release 'One' as the maiden tune from the album.

However, it was the convincing words of some famous friends that ultimately changed his mind. Sheeran said:

"Elton John came into the office to listen to the album. [I also played him 'Sing'] and Elton said: 'You're mental if you don't put that on the album. That's your first single'. So he originally planted the seed in my head. Then I went out for dinner with Pharrell around a month ago..."

Speaking meanwhile about Taylor Swift's thoughts on his release schedule, the singer-songwriter said:

"She said I was mad if I put out 'One' first. She was like, 'That's just gonna...not bore people, but just satisfy them. But you want people to talk. And if they listen to Sing they can love or hate it, but they are gonna talk about it'...Taylor and Elton are two of the people I would play music to and really listen to their advice. Taylor has not put a foot wrong, ever. So I played her every song I ever wrote for this album."

Watch the video for Ed Sheeran's 'Sing' below: