What does Ed Sheeran's Azizam lyrics mean? Persian fans left emotional despite poor review from critics

Azizam by Ed Sheeran has evoked strong feelings among Persian fans and has been met with confusion from critics. The song, whose title in Persian means my dear or my beloved, is a real statement of love and a totally new style for the famous singer from the UK.

---

Decoding the Lyrics: A Love-Filled Tribute

Azizam is mainly a person's poetical output. A love poem, rumored to be for Sheeran's wife, Cherry Seaborn. The lyrics express deep love and feeling of missing:

"I wanna be nowhere but here with you now / I wanna be one in the space / I wanna be tangled and wrapped in your cloud / I wanna be close to your face."

Sheeran, through the chorus, reveals the affection he has for the Persian culture, and this is the very moment as it does not seem like a music video or a song:

"Azizam / Meet me on the floor tonight / Show me how to move like the water / In between the dancin' lights / Be mine, be mine / Azizam."

---

A Music and Language Unification

Azizam’s most particular feature would be Edward Sheeran’s effort to showcase the Persian music genre. The piece includes instruments that are used in Persian tradition such as the ghatam, daf, santoor, and tar. In consequence, the track not only demonstrates the combination of the two traditions but also the difficulty to be heard in the global western pop music market.

It is to be noted that Sheeran went a step further to team up with Iranian-born Swedish producer Ilya Salmanzadeh so as to be sure that not only the lyrics but also that the melody itself was reminiscent of Persian music.

The song additionally consists of the vocals sung by the Citizens of the World Choir, a band of refugees and migrants, which served as further evidence of the song’s message of connection and unity.

---

Persian Fans Voice Their Reactions Loudly

The song Azizam is a cultural bridge to Persian audiences as the song is not only a medium that brings them joy but they also use it to express their gratitude for Sheeran’s reference to their language and their part of the world.

There are those who realize that the track, depending on its lyrics and rhythm, will be a regular feature at Persian weddings as it will likely be an ideal choice for the festive occasion.

---

Critics Stay Unimpressed

Despite the song’s heartwarming effect on the Persian public, Azizam, nevertheless, has failed to attract the approval of everyone. Critics contend that it is true that the song combines elements of Persian although it is mainly a pop song with the English style that prevents a total integration of those cultural influences it desires to accomplish.

A critique quoted by The Guardian said:

“A cross-cultural Persian experiment … which sounds incredibly English."

This claims that Sheeran’s mispronunciation of Azizam is one of the aspects of the song that takes away the authenticity of the track, but this has not been of much concern to most fans.

---

Final Thoughts: A Bold Experiment with Mixed Reactions

Azizam represents Ed Sheeran’s attempt to go into untrodden ways, adding the Persian flavors to his music. Although the fans of Sheeran and Persians in general have shown deep empathy for this track, critics of the music still question the way it is carried out.

Other than being critically debated, Sheeran’s move to explore and embrace a foreign cultural style in music has brought in a breath of fresh air, if not a complete change. Whether Azizam becomes a fan’s top choice for a long period or it sinks into oblivion after one trial, its emotional pull for the Iranians is indeed unquestionable.