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Lego House
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| "Lego House" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ed Sheeran | ||||
| from the album + | ||||
| B-side | "Grade 8" | |||
| Released | 11 November 2011 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:03 | |||
| Label | Warner | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Jake Gosling | |||
| Ed Sheeran singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Lego House" on YouTube "Lego House" (Lego Version) on YouTube | ||||
"Lego House" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 11 November 2011 as the third single lifted from his debut studio album + (pronounced "plus") of 2011.[1] It was released as the second single in the US on 11 February 2013.[2] It was written by Sheeran, Jake Gosling and Chris Leonard, and produced by Jake Gosling.
The song received its first radio play on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 8 September 2011[3] and was Sheeran's first song to make the BBC Radio 2 playlist. The remix featuring P Money premiered on MistaJam's BBC Radio 1Xtra show on 30 September 2011. The music video stars Rupert Grint, as a play on his physical resemblance to Sheeran.[4] The song did well worldwide, reaching top five on Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK Singles Chart, and top fifty on other countries including United States.
Composition
[edit]'Lego House' is about that moment in a relationship when you realise where it's going and you want to save it. I tried to be creative and imaginative, using Lego as a metaphor for the relationship.
According to the sheet music published by Jordan James EMI Music Publishing, "Lego House" is a bass song written in the key of B major; Sheeran's vocals range from the note of B2 to G#4. Instrumentation is provided by guitar and piano.
Commercial performance
[edit]The song peaked at No. 5 in its sixth week on the singles chart in the United Kingdom.[5] As of September 2017, the song has sold 812,000 copies in the United Kingdom, which together with 29 million streams give a total of 1,105,000 in combined units.[6]
Music videos
[edit]
The music video for "Lego House" was filmed at the Forum, University of Hertfordshire. It stars actor Rupert Grint. It was released on 20 October 2011 on Sheeran's YouTube channel.[7]
The video's narrative seemingly portrays Grint as Sheeran, performing such activities as writing song lyrics on a pad of paper, lounging in his tour bus, and ultimately going onto the stage for a cheering crowd. However, after he takes the stage, security immediately tackles him, and Grint is slowly revealed to be in fact an obsessive fan of Sheeran, and the events of the video turn out to be him stalking the real Sheeran with increasing severity and mental instability (writing the song was transcribing lyrics from the album booklet, and lounging in the bus was him breaking into it). The video ends with the two running into each other as Grint is forcibly removed from the music venue and Sheeran comes out of a lift on his way to perform.[4]
A "Lego-fied" version of the original music video for "Lego House" was released on 11 April 2013 on The Warner Sound's YouTube channel.[8] The video is a shot-for-shot recreation in LEGO bricks, directed by Shane Ramirez. The music video also got nominated for 2013 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video before losing out to Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven".[9]
In 2025, Grint reprised the role in the video for Sheeran's 2025 song, "A Little More". Grint is released from prison 14 years later and starts to see what looks like Sheeran in common, everyday places. As the sightings increase, Grint becomes comfortable with it and accepts the situation.
Live performances
[edit]In June 2023, during his - Tour in Toronto, Sheeran performed the song with Canadian singer Shawn Mendes.[10] In August 2023, Sheeran performed the song outside the Lego store in the Mall of America.[11]
Formats and track listings
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lego House" (acoustic) | 3:07 |
| 2. | "Lego House" (Gosling Remix) (featuring P Money) | 3:50 |
| 3. | "Lego House" (The Prototypes Remix) | 4:24 |
| 4. | "Lego House" (Subscape Remix) | 5:10 |
| 5. | "Grade 8" (acoustic) | 3:00 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lego House" | 3:04 |
| 2. | "Grade 8" (acoustic) | 3:00 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lego House" | 3:05 |
| 2. | "Grade 8" (acoustic) | 3:00 |
Credits and personnel
[edit]- Lead vocals – Ed Sheeran
- Producers – Jake Gosling
- Lyrics – Ed Sheeran, Jake Gosling, Chris Leonard
- Label – Warner Music Group
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[47] | 8× Platinum | 560,000‡ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[48] | Gold | 15,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[49] | 3× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[50] | 2× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[51] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[52] | 3× Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| Sweden (GLF)[53] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[54] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[55] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
| Streaming | ||
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[56] | Platinum | 1,800,000† |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "iTunes – Music – Lego House – EP by Ed Sheeran". iTunes.
- ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases – Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates – ..." All Access.
- ^ "BBC – Zane Lowe's Hottest Records blog: Hottest Record – Ed Sheeran – Lego House". bbc.co.uk.
- ^ a b "5 times Rupert Grint and Ed Sheeran joked about being the same person". Entertainment Weekly. 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Lego House". The Official Charts Company.
- ^ Copsey, Rob (19 September 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". The Official Charts Company.
- ^ Tags: Rupert Grint Ed Sheeran – Lego House (Official Video)
- ^ Ed Sheeran – "Lego House (Lego Version)". YouTube. 11 April 2013.
- ^ Isle Interactive Ltd. "Ed Sheeran – Lego House (Lego Version) Video Premiere". edsheeran.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ^ Dunworth, Liberty (21 June 2023). "Watch Shawn Mendes join Ed Sheeran for first live performance in "year and a half"". NME. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (13 August 2023). "Ed Sheeran Played 'Lego House' Outside a Lego Store". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 09. týden 2012 in the date selector. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lego House". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- ^ "Media Forest Week 06, 2012". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ Ed Sheeran chart history. olt20.com. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 14, 2012" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 26 November 2011. p. 45. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2012. ARIA Charts. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ Jaaroverzichten 2012 (in Dutch). ultratop.be/nl. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2012". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 2012". The Official NZ Music Charts. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2012". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Lego House" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Lego House". Music Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Lego House". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Lego House" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Lego House". Radioscope. Retrieved 29 December 2024. Type Lego House in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
- ^ "Ed Sheeran – Lego House" (in Swedish). Grammofonleverantörernas förening. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Lego House". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Lego House". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Lego House". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
External links
[edit]Lego House
View on GrokipediaBackground
Writing and Inspiration
"Lego House" was inspired by Ed Sheeran's experiences with a deteriorating romantic relationship, capturing the moment of realization that it is heading toward collapse and the desire to salvage it. The song employs the metaphor of constructing a house from Lego bricks to symbolize the fragile yet reconstructible nature of emotional connections, where pieces can be disassembled and reassembled if needed. Sheeran described this imagery as apt because "'Lego House' is about a break-up and it was me using the metaphor of Lego... Lego is a good metaphor for that because you can take it apart and put it back together again," drawing from the toy's inherent design for iterative building.[4] The track originated during a songwriting session in 2010, where Sheeran collaborated with producer Jake Gosling and songwriter Chris Leonard, who contributed to the lyrics and initial demo's acoustic structure. Initially conceived as a potential track for the boy band JLS, the song was ultimately retained by Sheeran after their label declined to release it, citing it as "too cheesy." This early collaboration shaped the core acoustic structure and lyrical framework that would define the final version.[1] The Lego motif in the song emerged organically from Sheeran's longstanding personal affinity for the toy, rooted in his childhood. Sheeran, who collected and played with Lego sets extensively as a child, later donated remnants of his childhood collection—including pieces from a boxed set kept in his family home—to a charity auction in 2020, highlighting its enduring significance in his life. This connection infused the song's central imagery with authentic nostalgia, transforming a simple childhood pastime into a poignant emblem of relational vulnerability.[5][6]Recording and Production
The recording sessions for "Lego House" took place primarily at Sticky Studios, a converted barn in Windlesham, Surrey, owned by producer Jake Gosling, during 2010 and 2011 as part of the production for Ed Sheeran's debut album +. Additional overdubs, including some live drum elements, were completed at SARM Studios in London by engineer Guy Massey. These sessions built on Sheeran's earlier EPs, which Gosling had also produced at Sticky Studios, allowing for a collaborative environment where Sheeran could refine his acoustic-driven sound.[7][8] Jake Gosling served as the primary producer and co-writer for "Lego House," shaping its intimate arrangement by emphasizing Sheeran's acoustic guitar foundation while incorporating subtle electronic elements. Gosling also contributed piano and programming, focusing on a minimalist production that avoided dense layering to preserve emotional vulnerability, with effects like reverb applied sparingly through hardware such as the TC Electronic M3000. His approach blended Sheeran's folk influences with urban production techniques, ensuring the track's sparse setup highlighted lyrical delivery over elaborate orchestration.[7][8] The song's core instrumentation centered on acoustic guitar, captured using an SE Electronics 4400a microphone for a warm, natural tone that formed the rhythmic and melodic backbone. Layered vocals were a key feature, with Sheeran recording harmonies in full takes using an SE Z3300a microphone (later supplemented by a Telefunken U47 for select overdubs), followed by pitch correction via Melodyne to maintain authenticity without altering the performance's raw feel. Minimal percussion was employed to underscore intimacy, consisting of subtle live drum parts added at SARM Studios and occasional programmed beats, avoiding heavy rhythms in favor of space around the vocals and guitar. This setup resulted in a production that prioritized Sheeran's solo-like delivery, evoking the simplicity of his live loop-pedal performances.[7][8]Release and Promotion
"Lego House" was released on 11 November 2011 as the third single from Ed Sheeran's debut studio album +. The track was distributed by Warner Music UK Limited, which handled its global rollout through various formats including digital downloads and physical media. Promotional tie-ins with Warner Music emphasized digital and broadcast platforms to build anticipation. The single debuted as an exclusive EP on iTunes, containing the original version, an acoustic rendition, and additional remixes to encourage immediate fan engagement and streaming. Warner also supported radio play by distributing promotional CD singles to stations across Europe, facilitating early airplay and helping the song gain traction in markets like the UK and Denmark.[9][10][8] Initial marketing campaigns leveraged the song's playful title by incorporating Lego imagery into advertisements and the physical single's packaging, aligning the visual branding with the lyrics' metaphorical construction theme to appeal to a young adult audience.[11]Composition
Musical Elements
"Lego House" is classified as a folk-pop song characterized by its acoustic-driven melody and intimate singer-songwriter style. The track blends elements of contemporary folk with pop sensibilities, emphasizing stripped-back instrumentation that highlights Ed Sheeran's vocal delivery and guitar work.[12] The song is composed in the key of B major and maintains a tempo of approximately 80 beats per minute, creating a laid-back, reflective pace. It follows a conventional verse-chorus structure, with the total duration clocking in at 3:05, allowing for a concise yet emotionally resonant arrangement.[13][14] Harmonically, "Lego House" relies on a repeating I-V-vi-IV progression (B-F♯-G♯m-E), a staple in modern pop that provides familiarity while supporting the song's introspective mood. The acoustic guitar is played in a fingerpicked style, with intricate riffs that layer arpeggios and melodic fills to gradually build emotional tension throughout the verses and bridge.[15][16]Lyrics and Themes
The lyrics of "Lego House" center on the theme of love as a fragile yet rebuildable structure, with Lego bricks serving as a metaphor for the delicate nature of relationships and the effort required to mend them after heartbreak. Ed Sheeran uses this imagery to convey how love can be constructed piece by piece but is susceptible to sudden collapse, much like a Lego creation that shatters upon impact, emphasizing vulnerability and the optimism in reconstruction.[17] A key breakdown appears in the recurring lines from the verse and outro: "I'm gonna pick up the pieces and build a Lego house / If things go wrong we can knock it down," which symbolize resilience and a proactive approach to emotional recovery, portraying the singer's determination to reassemble a broken bond despite the possibility of further failure. These lyrics highlight themes of devotion and adaptability in love, where the ease of dismantling contrasts with the patience needed for rebuilding, underscoring the song's message of enduring commitment amid uncertainty.[17][4] Sheeran has drawn from personal experiences of breakups to inspire the song, without naming specific individuals, framing it as a reflection on real emotional struggles translated through the Lego analogy to capture the painstaking process of healing. In discussing the track, he stated, "It's about a break-up and it was me using the metaphor of Lego. You spend so long putting Lego together and if you drop it on the floor, within an instant, it's broken, and it takes a while to put it back together," illustrating how the lyrics stem from his observations of relationships' fragility and the hope for restoration.[17]Music Videos
Original Video
The original music video for "Lego House," directed by Emil Nava, premiered on October 20, 2011, and stars actor Rupert Grint in the lead role as an obsessive fan of Ed Sheeran.[18][19] Produced by Jacob Swan Hyam for Pulse Films, the video adopts a low-key, narrative-driven style that emphasizes psychological depth over elaborate effects, focusing on the fan's delusional immersion into Sheeran's world.[19] In the plot, Grint's character breaks into Sheeran's tour bus and begins hallucinating a life as the musician himself, mimicking Sheeran's mannerisms, interactions with fans, and onstage performance to adoring crowds at a concert venue.[1] The narrative builds to a climactic twist, where security forcibly removes the impostor from the venue, only for him to cross paths with the real Sheeran emerging from a lift, underscoring the fan's shattered illusion.[1] Filming took place primarily at The Forum, University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, capturing authentic concert-like scenes during Sheeran's live appearance there.[20][21] The video's conceptual visuals loosely echo the song's Lego metaphor of fragile, constructed relationships, portraying the fan's fantasy as a temporary build that inevitably crumbles.[19] Sheeran selected Grint for the role due to their physical resemblance, enhancing the theme of mistaken identity and obsession.[1]Lego-Themed Video
The Lego-themed video for Ed Sheeran's "Lego House" is a stop-motion animation remake released on April 11, 2013, recreating the original music video shot-for-shot using physical Lego bricks. Directed, produced, and animated by then-17-year-old Dylan Woodley of Insomniac Animations, the project was commissioned by Warner Music Group's Atlantic Records after Woodley's viral Lego recreation of Foster the People's "Houdini" gained attention. The video transforms the live-action narrative into a playful, brick-built world, emphasizing meticulous detail in sets and figures to parallel the song's metaphorical exploration of building and dismantling relationships.[22] Production spanned 50 days, with Woodley constructing custom Lego environments and minifigures to match every scene, including representations of the central characters and props like a brick-built house symbolizing the lyrical "Lego house." The animation captures thematic elements such as assembly and disassembly, using stop-motion techniques to animate the bricks in sync with the song's acoustic folk-pop rhythm. Presented in a split-screen format alongside the original video, it highlights the precision of the recreation while adding a whimsical, childlike layer to the song's emotional storytelling.[22][23] The video quickly became a viral hit, amassing over 7 million views on YouTube within its first decade and enhancing the song's appeal through its creative homage to the Lego brand. It briefly references the original video's casting by replicating key interactions in brick form, underscoring the thematic consistency without delving into live-action specifics. This variant solidified "Lego House" as a culturally resonant track, blending music promotion with inventive visual artistry.[24]Commercial Performance
Chart Positions
"Lego House" by Ed Sheeran experienced strong chart performance across multiple international markets, particularly in English-speaking countries, following its release as a single on November 11, 2011. The track benefited from the momentum of Sheeran's debut album +, achieving top-five peaks in several key territories during late 2011 and 2012.[2]| Country/Region | Chart | Peak Position | Entry Date | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Official Singles Chart | 5 | September 24, 2011 (initial); November 20, 2011 (re-entry) | 47 |
| Australia | ARIA Singles Chart | 4 | March 25, 2012 | 27 |
| New Zealand | Recorded Music NZ Singles Chart | 5 | February 6, 2012 | 26 |
| Ireland | Irish Singles Chart | 5 | October 27, 2011 | 34 |
| United States | Billboard Hot 100 | 42 | April 13, 2013 | 16 |
| Canada | Canadian Hot 100 | 54 | June 23, 2013 | 11 |
