KUALA LUMPUR – Ed Sheeran’s “+-=÷x” (The Mathematics) Asia Tour concert at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium tonight has reunited friends from different parts of the country who made a pact to turn up in t-shirts with mathematics symbols.
Scoop talked to several Sheerios (a term meaning the singer’s fans), aged 18 to 21 from Klang and Bukit Mertajam in Penang, who are friends from school and church – with some of them being cousins.
Zeph, 21, wore a blue tee with the “÷” symbol, representing Sheeran’s “Divide” hit album which was released in 2017.
Four of his friends wore different coloured t-shirts with the plus (+), subtract (-), equals (=) and multiply (x) symbols, respectively.
Claire, 21, who came as multiply, said they made their own Sheeran-inspired merchandise, including caps and bandanas, to “show their love” for the British star.
The quintet of friends then burst into song for Scoop, singing Galway Girl from the ÷ (Divide) album.
“We hope he performs this song tonight,” they said, adding that they have followed the “Perfect” artist’s music since they were teens, and would belt out his songs in the car on the way home from school.
Sheeran’s tour is also dubbed The Mathematics Tour, or officially, the “+-=÷x Tour”, after his series of albums each named according to a maths symbol.
Besides Zeph and Claire, three others wearing coloured maths symbol t-shirts today were Priyanka, 18, who wore =, Erin, 19, who wore -, and Carl, 21, who wore +.
The five are part of a larger group of about a dozen or more Sheerios who decided to travel to Bukit Jalil and reunite for the concert tonight.
They also said they are looking forward to Calum Scott’s opening act, which is expected to start at 7.45pm before Sheeran takes the stage later.
“I expect Calum to perform his mainstream song, You Are the Reason, later. Let’s see,” said Claire.
As early as 1pm, fans had arrived to buy official Ed Sheehan merchandise such as t-shirts, keychains, wristband, and exclusive Sheeran photobooks.
“It’s our handsome Teddy Boy!” one excited fan told Scoop while showing off the photobook he just purchased.
Each person among the group of friends met today bought a wristband costing RM80 per piece, which bore maths symbols.
Sheeran has previously performed in Malaysia in 2017 and in 2019 for his ÷ (Divide) world tour.
The concert tonight is expected to bring a fresh experience for Malaysian fans, with a stage set in the middle of the audience to give fans a 360° experience. – February 24, 2024