Ed Sheeran enjoys being competitive

Ed Sheeran says he enjoys being "competitive" in his career and finds it strange why people have a tough time respecting his "work ethic".

The 27-year-old singer-songwriter, who once famously declared friendly competition with Adele, said he could not top what the fellow artiste had achieved but one had to aim high to improve their art.

"A lot of people call out the competitive side of me, but if you're a basketball player, you should (aim to) be better than LeBron James. You can't just be like, 'Oh, I'm happy in my lane.' You have to aim for the top. I don't think any artist will do what Adele's done. I don't think I could do what Adele's done, but if you don't aim there then you won't get there...

"I make music for me, but when it comes to a career, what is the fun of not (being competitive)? People get very confused with me as competitive because they think I'm making the music for that and to get bigger, but it just works ethic," Sheeran told People magazine.

In a new documentary, directed by his cousin Murray Cummings, "The Shape of You" hitmaker can be heard telling his team he does not want to be the "male Adele", but rather "be Adele".

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