One Direction: Someone Stole the Demo of Their Song ‘Little Things’ from Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran gave songs he wrote to other artists, including One Direction. For example, Sheeran gave One Direction a ballad he co-wrote called “Little Things.” During an interview, his co-writer explained how Sheeran almost lost the song. Sheeran’s co-writer said the reaction to the song changed her life forever.

How Ed Sheeran almost lost the song ‘Little Things’

Fiona Bevan is a professional songwriter who composed songs for the Backstreet Boys, Natalie Imbruglia, and others. During an interview with Songwriting, Bevan said she wrote “Little Things” with Sheeran. Sheeran put the demo of the song on his phone and then someone stole his phone.

“So we lost the demo and thought we’d lost the song,” Bevan added. “Then about a year later, I started thinking, ‘I wonder about that little song, I wonder if we should do something with it and pitch it to another artist or something,’ and I texted Ed saying, ‘Do you remember that song we wrote?’ I’d found the 41 lyrics in my bedroom, so I sent them to him and he was like, ‘Oh yeah, I remember how this goes.'”

How Ed Sheeran gave the song to One Direction

Subsequently, Sheeran came in contact with One Direction. “He demoed it up on an iPad on the tour bus and then he met One Direction backstage at the Olympics’ opening ceremony, I think because that’s when they were both playing together,” Bevan said. “So he became friends with them and the guys were like, ‘Send us some songs,’ and I think he pitched them about 10 songs and the one they liked the best was ours.” “Little Things” became the first song Bevan wrote that another artist recorded.

The way the world reacted to One Direction’s ‘Little Things’

“Little Things” became a hit. The track reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 18 weeks. Its parent album, Take Me Home, was a hit as well. Take Me Home peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, remaining on the chart for 77 weeks.

“Little Things” was an even bigger hit in the United Kingdom. The Official Charts Company reports the track hit No. 1 in the U.K. and lasted on the chart for 27 weeks. It was one of One Direction’s four No. 1 hits in the U.K., alongside “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Drag Me Down,” and “One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks).” Meanwhile, Take Me Home hit No. 1 in the U.K. and stayed on the chart for 96 weeks. 

Bevan told Songwriter the success of “Little Things” changed her life. The track allowed her to quit her day job and become a full-time songwriter. She said watching the song hit No. 1 on iTunes in various countries was incredible. While “Little Things” was almost lost forever, it became one of the most famous One Direction songs in the U.K.