Ed Sheeran's 'Azizam': Everything you need to know about the single
Find out what it means!
Last updated 20th Oct 2025
Ed Sheeran released his eighth album, 'Play' in September 2025 and it features the lead single 'Azizam', which was released back in April. Along with releasing the new music, Ed teased some surprises for fans. On the day of release, the singer shared a video on Instagram writing: 'i’m so overwhelmed with the positive reaction to this song, and so excited for all the other surprises i have for ya.' (sic)
In the video, he could be seen in New York City and Ipswich, with pink balloons featuring the song name printed on them. Some of the balloons were huge, while others were normal sized.
Is there a music video?
On 18th April, Ed released his official music video which shows the singer being chased by wedding guests, at a Persian wedding.
As he released the music video, Ed wrote on Instagram: 'When we had all finished Azizam in the studio, I asked @ilya_music what we should do for a music video, and he said ‘you gotta do it as a Persian wedding, thats the best way to showcase all of the culture in a video’.
'I contacted @saman_kesh, who I have worked with before, who is also Persian, and asked him to basically make a video which is me going on a crash course Persian wedding. He wanted to make it like other non Persians would experience a wedding for the first time, and how full on, but fun it is.'
He continued: 'I found it was so similar in ways to the Irish weddings I grew up going to, but obviously so different in other ways. Much like the rhythms and instrumentation of the song, I find our two cultures have so much intertwined similarities. But underneath it all is love and pride.
'I loved the day shooting, I learnt so many new things, got to experience all of it with my dad, and work with amazing people like @andymusic1, @omiddjalili, @eyelarx and @shervinalenabi.
'I hope you love the music video, it was a joy to make it. At the end there is a cameo from the legendary @googoosh, who I adore. We did a Persian Version of the song together, and that is out at midnight, enjoy x'.
In October 2025, he shared the director's commentary for the video, where he and director Saman Kesh opened up about the filming of the video. During the chat, Ed explained about the scene where he is being smothered by people and chased around the building.
"This actually happens to me like quite a lot. If I'm like out in a public, usually it's when people have had a few drinks," Ed explained. "If I'm out in a public place, not with like not security or whatever. This can happen if people have had a lot of drinks and people swarm in and you feel very very very claustrophobic.
"It it was like a loving 'cause sometimes you're in those situations in public places and it's more people just grab you to take a picture. They might not even like your music. They just kind of want the moment. Whereas this felt like love coming in."
Where did it come in the charts?
It debuted at Number 3, staying there for a total of three weeks and being kept off the top spot by Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' with the second position being taken by Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club'. It was certified Platinum by the BPI in October 2025, with 600,000 UK sales.
What does 'Azizam' mean?
When he started to tease his new song in March, Ed shared some clips of his song revealing its name meaning 'my dear' or 'my beloved' in Persian.
Following the announcement, fans left very excited comments, with JLS writing; '🪩', and a fan commenting: 'BANGER COMING IN 3,2,1'.
As well as sharing a video of himself in the studio, where he confirmed there was a single coming soon, Ed's HQ account also shared another clip of the song. In the video, Ed is in the back of an open-top car singing along to his new song, as the lyrics read on the screen: 'Come and play, Azizam, meet me on the floor tonight, show me how to move like the water, in between the dancing lights, be mine, Azizam'.
What has Ed said about the song?
Ed later shared further details about his new song confirming the release date, and telling fans the reason for its Persian name. He explained further in the caption for his Instagram post, writing: 'I wrote Azizam after @ilya_music 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.
'This whole album is about being playful, explorative, and celebratory. The song comes out April 4, and it’s really great. Hope you like it too. And thank you to Ilya for introducing me to such a fantastic world and culture. And thank you to @awsuki and @jmd_snowpatrol for helping create this with us. Pre save Azizam now, out April 4th x'.
In an interview with Hits Radio, Ed also said how he hoped the song would be really successful, he explained: "(The) test for this song is whether it like beats ‘Bad Habits’ (and) can be a show closer. So, I'm hoping that, that that's my like goal for it, that like the fans like it enough that it can just be the end of the show because I think it's a good like dance song at the end."
He went on to say: "Do you know what Drake said it once? He was like 'I judge albums based on what I closed the show with and if I'm still closing the show with ‘One Dance’ I've done the wrong job', you know? And I was like, that's a that's a good point."
Is there a Farsi version?
Yes, there is! As we previously mentioned the name of Ed's song means 'my dear' or 'my beloved' in Persian. In an interview he told Hits Radio that there will be a version recorded in Farsi, and it features a singer who is very popular in that community.
He said: "No (we can’t hear a Farsi version), because I'm recording it on Tuesday (8th April). Yeah, I'm recording it on Tuesday, but the singer who is on it is about as big as it gets within the Persian community. So I'm very excited and honoured."
Ed added: "(Yes, there will be a) Remix, then yeah, in about two weeks when the video comes out."
What is 'Crashing'?
'Crashing' is the B-side to 'Azizam' and is only available with the physical copy of the single.
When was 'Azizam' released?
It was released on 4th April 2025.
Take a look through the facts and figures of Ed Sheeran's previous albums:
1) '+' (Plus), 2011
Release date: 9th September 2011
Track list: 1) 'The A Team', 2) 'Drunk', 3) 'U.N.I.', 4) 'Grade 8', 5) 'Wake Me Up', 6) 'Small Bump', 7) 'This', 8) 'The City', 9) 'Lego House', 10) 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You', 11) 'Kiss Me', 12) 'Give Me Love', 13) 'The Parting Glass' (hidden track)
Sales: 8x Platinum in the UK with 2,400,000 sales, certified by the BPI in 2018.
Tour: 'The + Tour' - Ed initially played 30 dates across the UK and Ireland, before performing 10 dates in Europe, six in Australia and New Zealand, 14 in North America and returning to the UK for a further 27.
Chart info: '+' debuted at Number 1 on the UK charts, staying at the top spot for three weeks before spending a whopping 444 weeks on the chart in total and going on to become the ninth best-selling album in the UK of the 2010s.
Personnel: Ed worked alongside longtime collaborator Jake Gosling for his debut record, who helped co-write many of the songs as well as performing backing vocals and instrumentation with some production credits too.
2) 'x' (Multiply), 2014
Release date: 20th June 2014
Track list: 1) 'One', 2) 'I'm a Mess', 3) 'Sing', 4) 'Don't', 5) 'Nina', 6) 'Photograph', 7) 'Bloodstream', 8) 'Tenerife Sea', 9) 'Runaway', 10) 'The Man', 11) 'Thinking Out Loud', 12) 'Afire Love'
Sales: 13x Platinum in the UK with 3.9 million sales, certified by the BPI in May 2024.
Tour: 'The X Tour' - Ed performed an incredible 180 dates between August 2014 and December 2015, performing in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.
Chart info: 'x' also debuted at the top spot, staying there for an initial eight weeks. It has spent a total of 13 weeks at Number 1, and a total of 432 on the chart overall. It is the third best-selling album of the 2010s in the UK and 20th best-selling album in the history of the UK.
Personnel: Ed once again worked with Jake Gosling on his second album, beginning a long songwriting partnership with Johnny McDaid of Snow Patrol on this record also. Of course, Pharrell Williams lended his vocals to 'Sing', with producer Benny Blanco working on 'Don't' and Rudimental featuring on 'Bloodstream' as well as Amy Wadge on 'Thinking Out Loud'.
Awards: Won the 2015 BRIT Award for British Album of the Year, nominated at the 2015 Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year.
3) '÷' (Divide), 2017
Release date: 3rd March 2017
Track list: 1) 'Eraser', 2) 'Castle on the Hill', 3) 'Dive', 4) 'Shape of You', 5) 'Perfect', 6) 'Galway Girl', 7) 'Happier', 8) 'New Man', 9) 'Hearts Don't Break Around Here', 10) 'What Do I Know?', 11) 'How Would You Feel (Paean)', 12) 'Supermarket Flowers'
Sales: 13x Platinum in the UK with 3,900,000 sales, certified by the BPI in 2022.
Tour: 'The ÷ Tour' saw Ed perform a whopping 260 dates starting in March 2017 and finishing in August 2019 - making it the highest-grossing concert tour and reportedly the most attended tour of all time, with more than 8.5 million people turning out.
Chart info: Ed went three for three when '÷' debuted atop the UK charts, having an initial run of nine weeks on the top spot with a total of 20 weeks at Number 1 overall and 299 weeks on the chart in total.
Personnel: Ed teamed up with Johnny McDaid once again for '÷', also roping in the likes of Julia Michaels, Steve Mac, Ryan Tedder and Jessie Ware for songwriting.
Awards: Ed won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2018.
4) 'No.6 Collaborations Project', 2019
Release date: 12th July 2019
Track list: 1) 'Beautiful People' (featuring Khalid), 2) 'South of the Border' (featuring Camila Cabello and Cardi B), 3) 'Cross Me' (featuring Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock), 4) 'Take Me Back to London' (featuring Stormzy), 5) 'Best Part of Me' (featuring Yebba), 6) 'I Don't Care' (with Justin Bieber), 7) 'Antisocial' (with Travis Scott), 8) 'Remember the Name' (featuring Eminem and 50 Cent), 9) 'Feels' (featuring Young Thug and J Hus), 10) 'Put It All on Me' (featuring Ella Mai), 11) 'Nothing on You' (featuring Paulo Londra and Dave), 12) 'I Don't Want Your Money' (featuring H.E.R.), 13) '1000 Nights' (featuring Meek Mill and A Boogie wit da Hoodie), 14) 'Way to Break My Heart' (featuring Skrillex), 15) 'Blow' (with Chris Stapleton and Bruno Mars)
Sales: 3x Platinum in the UK with 900,000 sales, certified by the BPI in 2022.
Tour: Ed did not tour his fourth album, having released the record as he was finishing up his previous tour.
Chart info: The album debuted at the top spot, spending an initial four weeks at Number 1 with a total of 159 weeks on the chart.
Personnel: Aside from the aforementioned featured artists, Ed also worked with Max Martin and André 3000 among others.
Awards: It was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
5) '=' (equals), 2021
Release date: 29th October 2021
Track list: 1) 'Tides', 2) 'Shivers', 3) 'First Times', 4) 'Bad Habits', 5) 'Overpass Graffiti', 6) 'The Joker and the Queen', 7) 'Leave Your Life', 8) 'Collide', 9) '2step', 10) 'Stop the Rain', 11) 'Love in Slow Motion', 12) 'Visiting Hours', 13) 'Sandman', 14) 'Be Right Now'
Sales: 4x Platinum in the UK with 1.2 million sales, certified by the BPI in 2025.
Tour: 'The +–=÷× Tour' (Mathematics Tour) kicked off in April 2022 and ended in September 2023, with Ed performing a total of 88 shows across Europe, North America and Oceania.
Chart info: Ed's 100% record of albums debuting at the top spot was kept in check here, with a total of four weeks at Number 1.
Personnel: Returning pals Johnny McDaid, Amy Wadge and Steve Mac all contributed to the record, as well as Taylor Swift and Bring Me The Horizon contributing to remixes of 'The Joker and the Queen' and 'Bad Habits' respectively.
6) '-' (subtract), 2023
Release date: 5th May 2023
Track list: 1) 'Boat' 2) 'Salt Water' 3) 'Eyes Closed' 4) 'Life Goes On' 5) 'Dusty' 6) 'End of Youth' 7) 'Colourblind' 8) 'Curtains' 9) 'Borderline' 10) 'Spark' 11) 'Vega' 12) 'Sycamore' 13) 'No Strings' 14) 'The Hills of Aberfeldy'
Sales: Certified Gold in the UK with 100,000 sales.
Chart info: The album reached Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart.
Personnel: Aaron Dessner worked as a producer on each of the tracks on the album, with Fred Again, Max Martin and Shellback also joining on the production of lead single 'Eyes Closed'.
7) 'Autumn Variations', 2023
Release date: 29th September 2023
Track list: 1) 'Magical' 2) 'England' 3) 'Amazing' 4) 'Plastic Bag' 5) 'Blue' 6) 'American Town' 7) 'That's on Me' 8) 'Page' 9) 'Midnight' 10) 'Spring' 11) 'Punchline' 12) 'When Will I Be Alright' 13) 'The Day I Was Born' 14) 'Head > Heels'
Chart info: The album reached Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart.
Sales: Certified Silver in the UK with 60,000 sales.
Personnel: Aaron Dessner worked as a producer on the album.
8) 'Play', 2025
Release date: 12th September 2025
Track list: 1) 1) 'Opening' 2) 'Sapphire' 3) 'Azizam' 4) 'Old Phone' 5) 'Symmetry' 6) 'Camera' 7) 'In Other Words' 8) 'A Little More' 9) 'Slowly' 10) 'Don't Look Down' 11) 'The Vow' 12) 'For Always' 13) 'Heaven'
Here's everything we know about Ed's eighth album 'Play'.
8) 'Play', 2025
Release date: 12th September 2025
Track list: 1) 1) 'Opening' 2) 'Sapphire' 3) 'Azizam' 4) 'Old Phone' 5) 'Symmetry' 6) 'Camera' 7) 'In Other Words' 8) 'A Little More' 9) 'Slowly' 10) 'Don't Look Down' 11) 'The Vow' 12) 'For Always' 13) 'Heaven'
Sales: Certified Gold in the UK with 100,000 sales.
Chart info: The album reached Number 1 in the UK.
Personnel: Ed worked with long-time collaborator Johnny McDaid, along with Cirkut, Max Martin, Elvira, Davide Rossi, Dave, Fred Again, and many others on the record.
Now read:
What do we know about Ed's eighth album?
Ed Sheeran's albums: Facts and figures for his super successful records
Ed Sheeran: Get to know more about the 'Eyes Closed' singer