THERE WAS A point last year when Ed Sheeran dominated all 10 of the top 10 chart positions in Ireland.

And yes, that includes Galway Girl.

Let’s be honest, the Ed Sheeran extravaganza was hard to avoid – if you were so inclined, that is – but sooner or later it began to dissipate, somewhat.

But not fast enough for Elton John’s liking by the sounds of things.

Speaking on the George Ezra & Friends podcast this week, the 71-year-old alluded to the Sheeran saturation evidenced in international charts in recent years.

On the American radio chart, which is the middle-of-the-road chart, Ed is still No1 and Shape Of You is still in the chart.  It’s like, ‘Why?’ How many times do you want to listen to these things?

Fair, but… one more time, maybe?

Elton was, however, keen to stress that his lack of enthusiasm for the track and its popularity has less to do with Ed, and more to do with this generation’s consumption of music.

Indeed, Elton told George that he has advised Ed it would be unwise to assume that that level of popularity is easily maintained.

Comparing the peak of his career, which he considers 1970 to 1976, to Ed’s, Elton said it’s a hard period to replicate.

You have a heyday and you have a rest, and the heyday can never be replaced. After that I had the common sense to know I’m not going to have a No1 every time straight away. I knew someone else would take over. It’s cyclical.

And Ed has the suss now, thanks to Elton.

Ed will go through that and I’ve talked to him about it. I’ve said, ‘There’ll come a time where this won’t happen every time and you have to accept that’.

Well, good to know.

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