Beautiful People (Ed Sheeran song) explained

Beautiful People
Cover:Ed Sheeran - Beautiful People.png
Type:single
Artist:Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid
Album:No.6 Collaborations Project
Studio:
Length:3:17
Label:Asylum
Producer:
  • Shellback
  • Max Martin
  • Fred
  • Ed Sheeran
Chronology:Ed Sheeran
Prev Title:Cross Me
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Blow" / "Best Part of Me
Next Year:2019

"Beautiful People" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran featuring American singer Khalid. It was released on 28 June 2019 through Asylum Records as the third single from the former's compilation album, No.6 Collaborations Project (2019).

It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in July 2019, becoming the second single from the album to reach the summit of the chart. Sheeran released an acoustic solo version of the song on 15 July without Khalid. The song has reached 1 billion streams on Spotify and 315 million views on YouTube.

Background and promotion

"Beautiful People" was announced as part of the tracklist for No.6 Collaborations Project (2019). Ed Sheeran revealed the song's artwork and release date on 23 June 2019.[1] [2] Footage of it being recorded in a studio was released in the following days leading up to its release.[3]

Composition

"Beautiful People" is composed in time and the key of E-flat major, with a moderate R&B groove and a tempo of 96 beats per minute. It has a chord progression of Cm–E–A–Gm7. Sheeran and Khalid's vocal range spans two octaves from B3 to B5.[4]

Critical reception

NMEs Nick Levine wrote that Sheeran's "skills as a pop craftsman are on full display" and the song "gives his usual everybro persona a welcome edge."[5] Chris Willman of Variety said Sheeran and Khalid make "a good match".[6] Bernadette Giacomazzo of HipHopDX viewed it as "one of the few tracks that actually works on the album", writing, "though they recycle old tropes, they stick to what they know best, which is just fine."[7] Malvika Padin of Clash found the track "strong and likeable, but nothing surprising."[8] Pitchforks Rawiya Kameir was less impressed, calling it "heavy-handed" and "a catchy calculation appropriate for the sad-pop dominating the charts."[9] Evening Standard reviewer Phoebe Luckhurst described the track as "Chainsmokers-esque".[10] Lucy Shanker of Consequence regarded the song as "disingenuous".[11]

Music video

The music video for "Beautiful People" was teased a day before its 28 June release.[12] The video included cameos of Ed Sheeran and Khalid. It was directed by Andy McLeod, and filmed in Barcelona and at the Lleida-Alguaire Airport in Catalonia, Spain.[13] [14]

The video opens with a simple looking couple waiting in line with their luggage at a small airport. After being approached by a pair of airport personnel, they are directed to a long white limousine waiting outside. The couple hesitantly enters the limousine, where they eat snacks they packed and notice other fancy cars driving past them, apparently heading to the same destination.

As the video continues, the couple find themselves at a series of fancy, expensive places filled with beautiful people: a pool party beside a mansion, a yacht filled with models, a fashion show, and a house party. Surrounded by wealth, indulgence, and beauty, the couple reacts to everything with cautious interest, but spend most of their time focused on each other, following the song's theme of being true to oneself.

At the end of the video, the couple flies home on a private plane, and upon landing at the airport, they are offered a ride in a nice car. The couple decline, take hands, and head for the airport bus instead.[15]

Track listing

  1. "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) – 3:17
  1. "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) [Danny L Harle Harlecore Remix] – 3:45
  1. "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) [NOTD Remix] – 2:42
  1. "Beautiful People" (Acoustic) – 3:06
  1. "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) [Jack Wins Remix] – 2:43

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of No.6 Collaborations Project[17]

Locations

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019–2020)! scope="col"
Peak
position
China Airplay/FL (Billboard)[18] 1
Colombia (National-Report)[19] 95
Croatia (HRT)[20] 3
Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40)[21] 3
Greece (IFPI)[22] 2
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[23] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 2
Latvia (LAIPA)[25] 2
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[26] 3
Lithuania (AGATA)[27] 2
Malaysia (RIM)[28] 4
Mexico (Billboard Mexican Airplay)[29] 18
Romania (Airplay 100)<--Please do not change this to Romanian Top 100 or Media Forest. The Airplay 100 is Romania's national singles chart from 2012 onwards. For further information, see WP:GOODCHARTS-->[30] 43
Singapore (RIAS)[31] 2
Slovenia (SloTop50)[32] 5
US Rolling Stone Top 100[33] 34

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Position
Australia (ARIA)[34] 14
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 19
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[36] 34
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[37] 40
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[38] 29
Denmark (Tracklisten)[39] 14
France (SNEP)[40] 133
Germany (Official German Charts)[41] 25
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[42] 61
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[43] 14
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[44] 14
Ireland (IRMA)[45] 21
Italy (FIMI)[46] 81
Latvia (LAIPA)[47] 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[48] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[49] 23
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[50] 19
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[51] 78
Portugal (AFP)[52] 46
Slovenia (SloTop50)[53] 47
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[54] 23
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[56] 21
US Billboard Hot 100[57] 50
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[58] 26
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[59] 26
Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Position
Australia (ARIA)[60] 82
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[61] 53
Denmark (Tracklisten)[62] 88
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[63] 36
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[64] 35
Netherlands (Airplay Top 50)[65] 48
Portugal (AFP)[66] 83
UK Singles (OCC)[67] 58
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[68] 48

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatVersionLabel
Various28 June 2019OriginalAsylum UK
Italy5 July 2019Contemporary hit radioWarner[69]
Various11 July 2019Danny L Harle Harlecore RemixAsylum UK[70]
NOTD Remix[71]
16 July 2019Acoustic[72]
Jack Wins Remix[73]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Here's when Ed Sheeran's 'Beautiful People' will be out . . 27 June 2019 . 23 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Ed Sheeran on Instagram: "The next song from my new record comes out friday, and it's great, just like @thegr8khalid who features on it. Hope you enjoy it as much as…". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BzDHIL-hb8B . 2021-12-24 . limited. Instagram.
  3. Web site: Hulton . Anna Sky . Ed Sheeran is due to drop another epic collaboration with Khalid very soon . . 26 June 2019 . 27 June 2019.
  4. Web site: Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid "Beautiful People" Sheet Music in Eb Major (transposable). Musicnotes.com. 16 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Ed Sheeran – 'No. 6 Collaborations Project': a track-by-track review. Levine. Nick. NME. 12 July 2019. 16 July 2021.
  6. Web site: Album Review: Ed Sheeran's 'No.6 Collaborations Project'. Willman. Chris. Variety. 12 July 2019. 16 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Review: Ed Sheeran's "No. 6 Collaborations" Is Great Pop Album But A Not-So-Great Hip Hop Album. Giacomazzo. Bernadette. HipHopDX. 19 July 2019. 16 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Ed Sheeran - No. 6 Collaborations Project . Padin. Malvika. Clash. 15 July 2019. 16 July 2021.
  9. Web site: Ed Sheeran: No.6 Collaborations Project Album Review. Kameir. Rawiya. Pitchfork. 16 July 2019. 6 July 2021.
  10. Web site: Ed Sheeran: No.6 Collaborations Project, review - Some killer, mostly filler as Ed goes into maestro mode . Lockhurst. Phoebe. Evening Standard. 12 July 2019. 16 July 2021.
  11. Web site: Review Ed Sheeran - No. 6 Collaborations Project. Shanker. Lucy. Consequence. 19 July 2019. 16 July 2021.
  12. Shafer . Elise . Ed Sheeran Teases Music Video for 'Beautiful People' Feat. Khalid . . 28 June 2019 . 27 June 2019.
  13. Web site: Ed Sheeran records his new song at the Lleida Alguaire airport . Aeroport Lleida-Alguaire . Aeroport Lleida-Alguaire . 26 January 2021 . 17 July 2019.
  14. Web site: Watch Ed Sheeran and Khalid mock fame in 'Beautiful People' video. Earls. John. NME. 28 June 2019. 16 July 2021.
  15. Web site: Ed Sheeran And Khalid's 'Beautiful People' Video Follows A Normal Couple Immersed In Luxury. https://web.archive.org/web/20190629102720/http://www.mtv.com/news/3129722/ed-sheeran-khalid-beautiful-people-video/amp/. dead. 29 June 2019. Alston. Trey. MTV News. 28 June 2019. 16 July 2021.
  16. Web site: Album Beautiful People (feat. Khalid), Ed Sheeran. Qobuz. 16 July 2021.
  17. 2019. No.6 Collaborations Project. Ed Sheeran. Asylum Records UK. 0190295427887. 11.
  18. China Airplay Chart/Foreign Language – 5 August 2019. Billboard China. zh. 16 August 2019. 26 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210326044548/https://hm.baidu.com/hm.js?ea3036954d7d46bba070c2b11dcdee00. dead.
  19. Web site: Top 100 Colombia. es. 22 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191207235834/http://national-report.com/top-colombia/. 7 December 2019.
  20. Web site: ARC 100 – datum: 14. listopada 2019.. ARC 100 – date: 14 October 2019. Komerički. Goran. hr. Hrvatska radiotelevizija. 14 October 2019. 16 July 2021. 14 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191014231804/https://radio.hrt.hr/clanak/arc-100-datum-14-listopada-2019/210761/. dead.
  21. Web site: EESTI TIPP-40 MUUSIKAS: Kuulajad kannatavad Ed Sheerani ja Metallica kontsertide kõrvalmõjude all. Eesti Ekspress. et. 24 July 2019.
  22. Web site: Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 36 2019. IFPI Greece. 22 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181008092532/http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html. 8 October 2018. dead.
  23. Web site: Lagalistinn Vika 34 – 2019. Plötutíðindi. is. 16 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20190826104245/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/. 26 August 2019. dead.
  24. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 6 July 2019.
  25. Web site: Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 29. nedēļa. lv. LAIPA. 28 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191010115041/https://www.parmuziku.lv/muzikas-zinas/latvija/muzikas-paterina-tops-29-nedela-8054. 10 October 2019.
  26. Web site: The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Ed Sheeran. The Official Lebanese Top 20. 17 December 2019.
  27. Web site: Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). lt. AGATA. 22 July 2019. 3 December 2019.
  28. Web site: Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia. en. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. 12 July 2019.
  29. Ed Sheeran Chart History (Mexico Airplay). Billboard. 16 July 2021.
  30. Web site: Airplay 100 – 27 octombrie 2019. Kiss FM. ro. 25 November 2019. 24 November 2019.
  31. Web site: RIAS International Top Charts Week 27. Recording Industry Association (Singapore). https://web.archive.org/web/20190713010815/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/. 13 July 2019.
  32. Web site: SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart. slotop50.si. 14 October 2019. 5 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200705100126/https://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2019&week=41. dead.
  33. Top 100 Songs. Rolling Stone. 12 July 2019. 1 January 2020. 26 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190726042156/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2019-07-12/. dead.
  34. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2019. Australian Recording Industry Association. 10 January 2020.
  35. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2019. austriancharts.at. 1 January 2020.
  36. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2019. Ultratop. 20 December 2019.
  37. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2019. Ultratop. 20 December 2019.
  38. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 6 December 2019.
  39. Web site: Track Top-100 2019. Hitlisten. da. 15 January 2020.
  40. Web site: Top de l'année Top Singles 2019. SNEP. fr. 2 July 2020.
  41. Web site: Top 100 Jahrescharts 2019. mtv.de. de. 6 December 2019.
  42. Web site: Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2019. 6 March 2020. Mahasz.
  43. Web site: Stream Top 100 - darabszám alapján - 2019. 16 July 2021. hu. Mahasz.
  44. Web site: Tónlistinn - LÖG - 2019. is. 16 July 2021. https://archive.today/20210112130309/https://plotutidindi.is/arslistar/tonlistinn-log-2019/. Plötutíðindi. 12 January 2021.
  45. Web site: Ireland's Official Top 50 biggest songs of 2019. Official Charts Company. White. Jack. 9 January 2020. 11 January 2020.
  46. Web site: Top of the Music FIMI/GfK 2019: Un anno con la musica Italiana. it. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. 10 January 2020. Download the attachment and open the Singoli file.
  47. Web site: Digitālās Mūzikas Tops 2019. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. lv. 3 January 2020.
  48. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2019. Dutch Top 40. 8 December 2019.
  49. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2019. dutchcharts.nl. 5 January 2020.
  50. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 2019. Recorded Music NZ. 21 December 2019.
  51. Web site: Najpopularniejsze albumy i single 2019 roku. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. pl. 28 January 2020.
  52. Web site: Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. 3 July 2020.
  53. Web site: SloTop50 – Letne lestvice. SloTop50. sl. 31 December 2019. 1 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200301200026/https://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Letne-lestvice/?year=2019. dead.
  54. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2019. Sverigetopplistan. 14 January 2020.
  55. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2019. hitparade.ch. 31 December 2019.
  56. Web site: The Official Top 40 biggest songs of 2019. Official Charts Company. Copsey. Rob. 1 January 2020. 1 January 2020.
  57. Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 6 December 2019.
  58. Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 6 December 2019.
  59. Pop Songs – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 6 December 2019.
  60. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2020. Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 January 2021.
  61. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2020. Billboard. 4 December 2020.
  62. Web site: Track Top-100 2020. Hitlisten. 13 January 2021.
  63. Web site: Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020. 15 February 2021. Mahasz.
  64. Web site: Tónlistinn - LÖG - 2020. is. 16 July 2021. https://archive.today/20210111084918/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/. Plötutíðindi. 11 January 2021. dead.
  65. Web site: Jaaroverzichten - Airplay 2020. nl. Dutch Charts. 7 May 2022.
  66. Web site: Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. 16 July 2021.
  67. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2020. Official Charts Company. 5 January 2021.
  68. Billboard. Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2020. 4 December 2020.
  69. Web site: ED SHEERAN "Beautiful People" | (Radio Date: 05/07/2019). radiodate.it.
  70. Web site: Beautiful People (feat. Khalid) [Danny L Harle Harlecore Remix] - Single by Ed Sheeran]. music.apple.com.
  71. Web site: Beautiful People (feat. Khalid) [NOTD Remix] - Single by Ed Sheeran]. music.apple.com.
  72. Web site: Beautiful People (Acoustic) - Single by Ed Sheeran. music.apple.com.
  73. Web site: Beautiful People (feat. Khalid) [Jack Wins Remix] - Single by Ed Sheeran]. music.apple.com.

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