Bad Habits

"Bad Habits" is harmonically minimalist by design — a single four-chord loop in B natural minor that never deviates or modulates. Its power lies not in harmonic complexity but in how the production transforms the same progression across sections. The absence of a traditional V chord (F#) means the harmony never fully resolves in a classical sense, keeping a perpetual forward motion that mirrors the song's theme of compulsive behavior. The i–VI–III–VII loop is a modern pop staple, but the minor-key setting and synth-pop production give it a darker, more urgent character than typical major-key equivalents.

Ed Sheeran originally planned to release a slower acoustic ballad as the lead single from his fifth album. However, when COVID-19 restrictions began easing in England in early 2021, he felt the moment called for something more uplifting and energetic. He wrote "Bad Habits" in January 2021 with longtime collaborator Johnny McDaid and rising producer Fred again.., deliberately crafting a track that would surprise listeners and defy expectations of his acoustic-guitar-wielding image.

"Bad Habits" marked a bold stylistic departure for Ed Sheeran, trading his acoustic signature for pulsing synth-pop that drew comparisons to The Weeknd and Bronski Beat. Released as the lead single from his fifth album = (Equals), the track topped charts in 28 countries and spent eleven consecutive weeks at number one in the UK, becoming the best-selling single of 2021 in Britain while its lyrics quietly addressed addiction beneath the dancefloor sheen.