What Do I Know?

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For the Ricochet song, see What Do I Know.

"What Do I Know?"
Song by Ed Sheeran
from the album ÷
Released3 March 2017 (2017-03-03)
Recorded2016
Genre
Length3:57
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Johnny McDaid

"What Do I Know?" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was included on his third studio album ÷ (2017), serving as the tenth track.[1] After the album's release it charted at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Sheeran performed the song live with the cast of People Just Do Nothing on the telethon for Comic Relief 2017.[3]

Background

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The song is the tenth track on Sheeran's third studio album ÷, which was released in March 2017, three years on from his previous release x. In an interview with People magazine, Sheeran said that the song was "basically written on the spot" in a meeting with one of his record label executives. He said, "That was a weird song because that song was written trying to peacock in front of my label head. He'd come down to my house for the day, and I'd started writing that song, and in my head I was like 'I want to show him how fast I can write a song'. So that song came from just trying to write a song really quickly, to show him that I could write a song".[4]

In an interview with Zane Lowe, Sheeran said that the song is a "knee-jerk reaction" to things that had happened in 2016: "I'm not a hugely outwardly political person, and I don't want to be. I'm a singer, and I know if like I had a political opinion, people would be like, 'Shut up mate! Sing your song.' ... My whole mantra in life is always like 'love is everything'. I love love, I love when people are happy. So my whole point of this song is basically not to say 'fuck everyone, everything is going to shit' It's just like love can change everything, love can change the world in the moment, but I don't know anything, what do I know, don't quote me. Basically being able to say anything "political" I want to say, but then being like [shrug]."[5]

Sheeran also said that he intended to end concerts on the North American leg of his ÷ Tour with "What Do I Know?", saying 'I really want to close shows with that one because I feel like walking away from a gig having "love can change the world" in your head is a good thing'.[4]

Comic Relief version

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Sheeran recorded a version of the song for Comic Relief 2017 with Kurupt FM from the BBC TV series People Just Do Nothing. He also performed the song live on the telethon after his appeal video was shown.[3]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for What Do I Know
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[28] Gold 15,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[29] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[30] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[31] Gold 25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[32] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[33] Platinum 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  6. ^ "Ed Sheeran – What Do I Know?". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Ed Sheeran – What Do I Know?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  9. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 10. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  12. ^ "Ed Sheeran – What Do I Know?" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  14. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Do I Know?". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ "Ed Sheeran – What Do I Know?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Ed Sheeran – What Do I Know?". VG-lista. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Ed Sheeran – What Do I Know?". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 10. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Ed Sheeran – What Do I Know?". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  23. ^ "Ed Sheeran: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
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  32. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). Type What Do I Know? in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
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