Jump to content

Azizam (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Azizam"
Single by Ed Sheeran
from the album Play
B-side"Crashing"
Released4 April 2025 (2025-04-04)
Length2:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Ilya
  • Johnny McDaid
  • Savan Kotecha
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Under the Tree"
(2024) 		"Azizam"
(2025)
Music video
"Azizam" on YouTube

"Azizam" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 4 April 2025 under Sheeran's own label Gingerbread Man Records and distributed by Warner Records as the lead single from his upcoming eighth studio album, Play.[1][2] The track was written and produced by Sheeran, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Johnny McDaid and Savan Kotecha.[3] The Persian version of the song featuring Iranian singer Googoosh was released on 18 April 2025.[4] The CD single and 7-inch single will be issued on 23 May 2025, including exclusive bonus track "Crashing".[5][6] "Azizam" debuted at number three on the UK singles chart.

Composition

[edit]

The word "azizam" (عزیزم) originates from the Persian language and literally translates to "my dear" or "my beloved".[7][8] The track features a vibrant dance beat with Persian music influences.[9][10] Several Iranian and Indian artists took part in the recording of the song, playing instruments like ghatam, daf, santoor, hammered dulcimer or lute, and singing backing vocals.[11][12] "Azizam" was inspired by Sheeran's wife and their love affair.[13] The singer explained the meaning of the song and its composition process on his social media pages:[14]

"Even though it’s completely different to anything that I’ve ever done before, "Azizam" feels familiar to me. I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song and Ilya Salmanzadeh, who I worked with on the track, helped bring that to life. He was so inspiring to work with. I wrote ‘Azizam’ after [Salmanzadeh] suggested trying out making music inspired by his Persian heritage and culture. I love learning about music and different cultures the more I travel and connect with people. It was like opening a door to a completely new and exciting world. I loved how a lot of rhythms, scales, melodies and instruments were different but similar to the Irish trad music I had grown up with. It was showing to me music connects us all, and really is a universal language".

Promotion

[edit]

On 15 March 2025, he debuted "Azizam" during a surprise street performance in New Orleans.[15] Four days later, a 30-second snippet of "Azizam" premiered on YouTube.[16]

Critical reception

[edit]

Reviewing "Azizam" for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis wrote that the song at first instance appears to be a non-commercial tunes but "once you hear the end result, it has pretty much the same relation to Persian music as "Galway Girl" did to sean-nós singing" stressing that the "Middle Eastern cast to a counter-melody that appears during the chorus, but the rest is positively Anglo-Saxon".[17]

Music video

[edit]

On 4 April 2025, Sheeran released the "Pink Heart Video" of "Azizam", directed by Liam Pethick.[18] It was filmed mainly in the United States, during the promotion of the single in March 2025.[18]

The official music video was released on 17 April 2025.[19] It was filmed in South London in mid-February 2025,[20] after Sheeran finished the Indian leg of his ongoing +–=÷× Tour, and directed by Iranian-American filmmaker, Saman Kesh.[21] The Persian wedding-themed video stars Googoosh, Andy, Omid Djalili, Eyelar, Ilya Salmanzadeh and Shervin Alenabi.[19]

Track listing

[edit]
  • Digital / streaming single[22]
  1. "Azizam" – 2:42
  • Digital / streaming single[4]
  1. "Azizam" featuring Googoosh (Persian version) – 2:42
  1. "Azizam" – 2:42
  2. "Crashing"

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[23]

  • Ed Sheeran – songwriting, production, vocal producer, lead vocals, guitar, backing vocals
  • Ilya Salmanzadeh – songwriting, production, bass, drums, keyboards, backing vocals, programming, engineering
  • Johnny McDaid – songwriting, production, guitar, backing vocals
  • Savan Kotecha – songwriting, production, backing vocals
  • Graham Archer – vocal producer
  • Ganesh Murali – ghatam, tambourine
  • Jayesh Kathak – daf
  • Tapas Ray – santoor, hammered dulcimer, lute
  • Andy – backing vocals
  • Arash – backing vocals
  • Elvira Anderfjärd – backing vocals
  • Eyelar Mirzazadeh – backing vocals
  • Luka Kloser – backing vocals
  • Citizens of the World Choir – choral backing vocals
  • Graham Archer – engineering
  • Jeremy Lertola – assistant engineer
  • Nick Rose – assistant engineer
  • Will Reynolds – assistant engineer
  • Serban Ghenea – mixer
  • Bryce Bordone – assistant mixing engineer
  • Stuart Hawkes – mastering

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Azizam"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[24] 20
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] 12
Belarus Airplay (TopHit)[26] 94
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[27] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[28] 24
Bulgaria Airplay (PROPHON)[29] 2
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[30] 12
Canada AC (Billboard)[31] 8
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[32] 13
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[33] 13
CIS Airplay (TopHit)[34] 2
Croatia International Airplay (Top lista)[35] 1
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[36] 20
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[37] 80
Denmark (Tracklisten)[38] 11
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[39] 15
France (SNEP)[40] 98
Germany (GfK)[41] 12
Global 200 (Billboard)[42] 17
Greece International (IFPI)[43] 48
Hungary (Editors' Choice Top 40)[44] 37
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[45] 27
Ireland (IRMA)[46] 13
Italy (FIMI)[47] 73
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[48] 48
Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit)[49] 7
Latvia Airplay (LaIPA)[50] 1
Lithuania (AGATA)[51] 62
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[52] 2
Luxembourg (Billboard)[53] 24
Malta Airplay (Radiomonitor)[54] 1
Moldova Airplay (TopHit)[34] 126
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[55] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[56] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[57] 29
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[58] 53
North Macedonia Airplay (Radiomonitor)[59] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[60] 15
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[61] 14
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[62] 42
Portugal (AFP)[63] 133
Romania Airplay (TopHit)[64] 23
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[65] 9
Serbia Airplay (Radiomonitor)[66] 20
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[67] 14
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[68] 67
Slovenia Airplay (Radiomonitor)[69] 16
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[70] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[71] 16
Turkey International Airplay (Radiomonitor Türkiye)[72] 3
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[34] 117
UK Singles (OCC)[73] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[74] 28
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[75] 16
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[76] 12
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[77] 15

Release history

[edit]
Release history for "Azizam"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 4 April 2025
Original
[22]
Italy Radio airplay [78]
United States Contemporary hit radio [79]
Various 18 April 2025
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Persian [4]
23 May 2025
Original [5][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (11 March 2025). "Ed Sheeran confirms new single is coming "next month", reveals upcoming song titles". NME. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  2. ^ Smith, Thomas (14 February 2025). "Ed Sheeran Has Seemingly Revealed the Title of His Next Album". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  3. ^ Marzi, Mattia (4 April 2025). "La nuova (vecchia) era di Ed Sheeran: ecco il singolo "Azizam"" [Ed Sheeran's new (old) era: here's the single "Azizam"]. Rockol (in Italian). Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Azizam (feat. Googoosh) [Persian Version] - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Azizam CD single". store.edsheeran.com. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "Azizam 7" single". store.edsheeran.com. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  7. ^ Griffiths, George (20 March 2025). "Ed Sheeran's new single: What does Azizam mean? Persian term and origin explained". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  8. ^ Zemler, Emily (4 April 2025). "Ed Sheeran Drops 'Playful' New Single 'Azizam'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  9. ^ "Ed Sheeran teases new single 'Azizam' ahead of eighth album release". The Times of India. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  10. ^ Savage, Mark (4 April 2025). "Ed Sheeran launches 'playful' new era with Persian-influenced song, Azizam". BBC News. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  11. ^ Nasto, Vincenzo (9 April 2025). "Testo, traduzione e significato di Azizam, Ed Sheeran abbraccia la cultura persiana nella nuova canzone" [Lyrics, translation and meaning of Azizam, Ed Sheeran embraces Persian culture in new song]. Fanpage.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  12. ^ Beaumont, Mark (12 April 2025). "Ed Sheeran's Persian pop experiment 'Azizam' proves he's too big to fail". The Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Ed Sheeran has new song ready inspired by wife". femalefirst.co.uk. 23 February 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  14. ^ Skinner, Tom (4 April 2025). "Ed Sheeran brings "party atmosphere" on "celebratory" new single 'Azizam'". NME. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  15. ^ Lynch, Jessica (17 March 2025). "Ed Sheeran Surprises New Orleans with Unreleased Song 'Azizam'". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Azizam (Preview)". YouTube. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  17. ^ Petridis, Alexis (4 April 2025). "Ed Sheeran: Azizam review – a cross-cultural Persian experiment … which sounds incredibly English". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Azizam (Pink Heart Video)". YouTube. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Azizam (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  20. ^ Dresdale, Andrea (4 April 2025). "Ed Sheeran releases new song 'Azizam' with a fun video: Watch here". ABC News. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Azizam the song is out". Instagram. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Azizam - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  23. ^ "Azizam / Ed Sheeran". Tidal. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  24. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 21 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  25. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Azizam" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  26. ^ "Top Radio Hits Belarus Weekly Chart: Apr 24, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  27. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Azizam" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  28. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Azizam" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  29. ^ "PROPHON – Charts" (in Bulgarian). PROPHON. 11 April 2025. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  30. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  31. ^ "Canada AC Airplay − Week of April 26, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  32. ^ "Canada CHR Airplay − Week of April 19, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  33. ^ "Canada Hot AC Airplay − Week of April 26, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  34. ^ a b c Ed Sheeran — Azizam. TopHit. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  35. ^ "Airplay Radio Chart Top100 – 21. travnja 2025". Hrvatska radiotelevizija. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  36. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 16. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  37. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 15. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  38. ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 15, 2025". Hitlisten. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  39. ^ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Apr 17, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  40. ^ "Top Singles (Week 16, 2025)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  41. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Azizam" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  42. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  43. ^ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 16/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  44. ^ "2025/16. heti Editors' Choice Top 40 slágerlista" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  45. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög: Streymi, spilun og sala viku 16. Birt 19. apríl 2025 – Næst uppfært 26. apríl 2025" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  46. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  47. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 15" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  48. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 2025/04/23". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  49. ^ "Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Weekly Chart: Apr 17, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  50. ^ "Latvijas dziesmu topā augstu lido "Raķešu zinātne"" [“Raķešu zinātne” is flying high in the Latvian song chart] (in Latvian). TV Net [lv]. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  51. ^ "2025 16-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 18 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  52. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Apr 24, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  53. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  54. ^ "Malta – Radio Airplay Chart | Settimana 16.2025 – dal 11/04/2025 al 17/04/2025" [Malta – Radio Airplay Chart | Week 16.2025 – 11/04/2025 to 17/04/2025] (in Italian). Radiomonitor. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  55. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2025" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  56. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Azizam" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  57. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  58. ^ "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: April 4th, 2025 – April 10th, 2025". TurnTable. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  59. ^ "Macedonia – Radio Airplay Chart | Settimana 16.2024 – dal 11/04/2025 al 27/04/2025" [Macedonia – Radio Airplay Chart | Week 16.2025 – 11/04/2025 to 17/04/2025] (in Italian). Radiomonitor. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  60. ^ "Singel 2025 uke 16". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  61. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 05.04.2025–11.04.2025.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  62. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 11.04.2025–17.04.2025.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  63. ^ "Top 200 Singles Semana 15 de 2025" (PDF). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  64. ^ "Top Radio Hits Romania Weekly Chart: Apr 24, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  65. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Apr 24, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  66. ^ "Serbia – Radio Airplay Chart | Settimana 16.2025 – dal 11/04/2025 al 17/04/2025" [Serbia – Radio Airplay Chart | Week 16.2025 – 11/04/2025 to 18/04/2025] (in Italian). Radiomonitor. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  67. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 16. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  68. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 15. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  69. ^ "Slovenia – Radio Airplay Chart | Settimana 16.2025 – dal 11/04/2025 al 17/04/2025" [Slovenia – Radio Airplay Chart | Week 16.2025 – 11/04/2025 to 17/04/2025] (in Italian). Radiomonitor. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  70. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 16" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  71. ^ "Ed Sheeran – Azizam". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  72. ^ @RadiomonitorTR (25 April 2025). "Radiomonitor Türkiye Uluslararası Listesi 17. Hafta Top10" [Radiomonitor Turkey International Chart Week 17 Top10] (Tweet) (in Turkish). Retrieved 25 April 2025 – via Twitter.
  73. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  74. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  75. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  76. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  77. ^ "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  78. ^ Tenaglia, Raffaella (13 September 2024). "Ed Sheeran "Azizam" | (Radio Date: 04/04/2025)" (in Italian). Airplay Control S.R.L. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  79. ^ "Hot New Releases". Hits Daily Double. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Azizam_(song)&oldid=1287354392"