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Critics may sniff at Ed Sheeran’s Persian fusion hit Azizam – but we Iranians love it
With its Iranian melodies, instrumentation and backing singers, Sheeran’s joyful new single is a reminder of how culture transcends borders
The track, inspired by the Iranian heritage of Stockholm-based producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, has divided critics, with a Telegraph review calling it “a slice of pure pop froth that couldn’t be any more generic and upbeat if it was written by an AI programme”. This includes its hook, the use of instruments like the daf and santur, and backing vocals from huge Iranian pop stars Arash and Andy, the latter of whom delighted fans by playing it at a recent concert and saying he felt “deeply connected” to the song. But there’s evident joy in the way Sheeran sings over these fusions, and splicings of MENA music and British pop are often creative as well as commercial successes, as proved by the Chemical Brothers’ Galvanize, Blur’s Out of Time, or Coldplay’s recent We Pray, featuring Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna.
Or read this on The Guardian
