Azizam (song)

The word "azizam" (عزیزم) originates from the Persian language and literally translates to "my dear" or "my beloved".^[11][12] The track features a vibrant dance beat with Persian music influences.^[13][14] 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.^[15][16] "Azizam" was inspired by Sheeran's wife and their love affair.^[17] Sheeran explained the meaning of the song and its composition process on his social media pages:^[18]

"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".

On 15 March 2025, he debuted "Azizam" during a surprise street performance in New Orleans.^[19] Four days later, a 30-second snippet of "Azizam" premiered on YouTube.^[20]

Reviewing "Azizam" for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis wrote that the song at first instance appears to be a non-commercial tune 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".^[21]

On 4 April 2025, Sheeran released the "Pink Heart Video" of "Azizam", directed by Liam Pethick.^[22] It was filmed mainly in the United States, during the promotion of the single in March 2025.^[22]

The official music video was released on 17 April 2025.^[23] It was filmed in South London in mid-February 2025,^[24] after Sheeran finished the Indian leg of his ongoing +–=÷× Tour, and directed by Iranian-American filmmaker, Saman Kesh.^[25] The Persian wedding-themed video stars Googoosh, Andy, Omid Djalili, Eyelar, Ilya Salmanzadeh and Shervin Alenabi.^[23]

• Digital and streaming single^[26]

1. "Azizam" – 2:42

• Digital and streaming single^[5]

1. "Azizam" (Persian version; featuring Googoosh) – 2:42

• CD and 7-inch single^[7][8]

1. "Azizam" – 2:42
2. "Crashing" – 4:11

• Digital and streaming single^[27]

1. "Azizam" (D.O.D remix) – 2:48

• Digital and streaming single^[28]

1. "Azizam" (acoustic version) – 2:41

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[29]

• Ed Sheeran – songwriting, production, vocal production, 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 production
• 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 – mixing
• Bryce Bordone – assistant mixing engineer
• Stuart Hawkes – mastering

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