Take Me Back to London

"Take Me Back to London" is a song by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran featuring British rapper Stormzy. It was released through Asylum and Atlantic Records as the final single from the former's compilation album No.6 Collaborations Project (2019).

"Take Me Back to London"
Single by Ed Sheeran featuring Stormzy
from the album No.6 Collaborations Project
Released	9 August 2019 (2019-08-09)[1]
Genre	Grime
Length	3:09
Label	Asylum Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Ed Sheeran Shellback Max Martin Fred Gibson Michael Omari Jr.
Producer(s)	Skrillex Kenny Beats Fred
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Antisocial / South of the Border" (2019) "Take Me Back to London" (2019) "Own It" (2019)
Stormzy singles chronology
"Crown" (2019) "Take Me Back to London" (2019) "Sounds of the Skeng" (2019)
Lyric video
"Take Me Back to London" on YouTube

The song was written by Sheeran, Shellback, Karl Sandberg, Frederik Gibson and Michael Omari Jr., with production from Skrillex, Kenny Beats and Fred. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart following the release of its remix.

Background and composition

Sheeran and Stormzy previously performed together at the 2017 Brit Awards. "Take Me Back to London" was announced as part of the tracklist for No.6 Collaborations Project (2019).^[2]

"Take Me Back to London" is a grime song. According to HotNewHipHop's Aron A., Sheeran "shows off his bars on the record while swapping verses with Stormzy".^[3] The song sees Sheeran "brag" about the gross of his ÷ Tour.^[4]

Critical reception

Time's Raisa Bruner wrote that the trap beat on "Take Me Back to London" gets "Sheeran’s melodic touch, with Stormzy jumping in from the start to boost the energy with his signature vibrancy".^[5] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times wrote that Stormzy "does an admirable job of rapping ferociously but politely enough to not upstage the host", criticising the line "It’s that time, big Mike and Teddy are on grime".^[6]

Commercial performance

"Take Me Back to London" achieved success in the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number three and later reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the third single from No.6 Collaborations Project to reach the summit of the chart. It was Sheeran's eighth and Stormzy's second number one in the UK.^[7][8]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2019) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 29 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[10] 27 Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[11] 22 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 59 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 21 Denmark (Tracklisten)[14] 26 Germany (GfK)[15] 68 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[16] 38 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 7 Latvia (LAIPA)[18] 22 Lithuania (AGATA)[19] 79 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 69 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 29 Romania (Airplay 100)[22] 73 Scotland (OCC)[23] 8 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] 17 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 44 UK Singles (OCC)[8] 1 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[26] 16 US Rolling Stone Top 100[27] 62

Year-end charts Chart (2019) Position UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[28] 23

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29]	Platinum	80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[30]	Gold	45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31]	Platinum	30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[32]	Gold	25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[33]	3× Platinum	1,800,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United Kingdom	9 August 2019	Contemporary hit radio	Atlantic Asylum	[1]

Remix

"Take Me Back to London (Sir Spyro Remix)"
Remix by Ed Sheeran featuring Stormzy, Jaykae and Aitch
from the album No.6 Collaborations Project
Released	23 August 2019
Length	3:51
Label	Asylum Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Ed Sheeran Shellback Karl Sandberg Frederik Gibson Michael Omari Jr.
Producer(s)	Sir Spyro Skrillex Kenny Beats Fred
Jaykae singles chronology
"Chat" (2019) "Take Me Back to London (Sir Spyro Remix)" (2019) Faded (2019)
Aitch singles chronology
"AitcH20 Freestyle" (2019) "Take Me Back to London (Sir Spyro Remix)" (2019) "Kilos" (2019)
Music video
"Take Me Back to London (Sir Spyro Remix)" on YouTube

"Take Me Back to London (Sir Spyro Remix)", featuring English rappers Stormzy, Jaykae and Aitch was released as a single on 23 August 2019.^[34]

Music video

A music video for the Sir Spyro remix was shot between Manchester, Birmingham and London by director KC Locke. It opens with images of Sheeran and Stormzy ripping the countryside in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan while wearing matching tracksuits and getting measured for bespoke suits. Jaykae and Aitch soon join them to watch some motorcycle burnouts. Along the way, there is plenty of quintessentially British activity, including a spot of tea, late-night post-pub grubbing and copious pints chugged.^[35]

Track listing

Digital download^[36] and streaming^[37]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Take Me Back to London" (Remix) (featuring Stormzy, Jaykae and Aitch)	3:52
2.	"Take Me Back to London" (Sir Spyro Remix) (featuring Stormzy, Jaykae and Aitch)	3:51

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	23 August 2019	Digital download streaming	Original + Sir Spyro remix	Atlantic Asylum	[36][37]
United Kingdom	13 September 2019	Contemporary hit radio	Sir Spyro remix		[38]