Ed Sheeran: 'The A Team'

In an age where a star is born in a matter of weeks (and in the case of Joe McElderry, fall just as fast), we were beginning to think that the traditional path to success of hard graft and persistence had been wiped out. Thankfully, Ed Sheeran - after three years, 600 live shows and five self-released EPs - proves there's life in the old gal yet with his first mainstream release, 'The A Team'.

Yes, the man-and-his-guitar concept is about as cliché as they come, but it's his intelligent lyrics and softer-than-cream-cheese vocals that set him apart from the pack. The true story of a homeless drug addict who will "go mad for a couple grams" and whose face is "crumbling like pastries", Sheeran's frank honesty and lump-in-the-throat-like emotion are weighted by a folky melody and off-kilter acoustics. It might have taken him a while to get here, but as the saying goes, slow and steady...

Watch 'The A Team' music video below: