How Ed Sheeran turned a Persian term of endearment into a global dance hit
In short: When Ed Sheeran released Azizam in 2025, he bridged the gap between Irish folk roots and Persian musical traditions. Inspired by collaborator Ilya Salmanzadeh, the track became a chart-topping success, proving that diverse rhythms and instruments can create a universal language that resonates across borders, from London to the Middle East.
The song Azizam, meaning my beloved in Persian, emerged from a creative collaboration between Ed Sheeran and producer Ilya Salmanzadeh. Sheeran, seeking to craft a party atmosphere, found inspiration in Salmanzadeh's Persian heritage. The recording process involved a fusion of sounds, incorporating traditional instruments such as the santoor, hammered dulcimer, lute, ghatam, and daf. Sheeran noted that while these scales and melodies felt distinct, they shared a surprising similarity to the Irish traditional music of his upbringing.
The track's release strategy was as expansive as its sound. Following a surprise debut in New Orleans on 15 March 2025, the single officially dropped on 4 April 2025. It quickly climbed the charts, reaching number three in the UK and hitting the top spot in Belgium and the Netherlands. The song's cultural footprint grew further with a Persian version featuring Googoosh and a Polish version recorded after a bet with influencer Łatwogang. By the 2025 NRJ Music Awards, it had secured the International Hit of the Year title.
Critical reception highlighted the song's hybrid nature. Reviewer Alexis Petridis observed that while the track features a Middle Eastern-inspired counter-melody, its core remains firmly rooted in an Anglo-Saxon pop structure. The accompanying music video, directed by Saman Kesh, leaned into this cultural synthesis with a Persian wedding theme, featuring a cast of prominent Iranian-American and Iranian figures. Ultimately, the project serves as a case study in how modern pop production can act as a vehicle for cross-cultural exploration, blending global influences into a commercially successful, dance-oriented format.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Azizam (song)
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