Beautiful People (Ed Sheeran song)

"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).

"Beautiful People"
Single by Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid
from the album No.6 Collaborations Project
Released28 June 2019 (2019-06-28)
Studio
Length3:17
LabelAsylum
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Shellback
  • Max Martin
  • Fred
  • Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Cross Me"
(2019)		 "Beautiful People"
(2019)		 "Blow" / "Best Part of Me"
(2019)
Khalid singles chronology
"Talk"
(2019)		 "Beautiful People"
(2019)		 "Caught Up"
(2019)
Music video
"Beautiful People" on YouTube

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 4
4 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 B♭3 to B♭5.[4]

Critical reception

NME's 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] Pitchfork's 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
  • Digital download and streaming[16]
  1. "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) – 3:17
  1. "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) [Danny L Harle Harlecore Remix] – 3:45
  • Digital download and streaming – NOTD Remix[18]
  1. "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) [NOTD Remix] – 2:42
  • Digital download and streaming – Acoustic[19]
  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[21]

Locations

Personnel

  • Ed Sheeran – vocals, songwriter, producer
  • Khalid – additional vocals, songwriter
  • Max Martin – songwriter, producer
  • Shellback – songwriter, producer, guitar, programming
  • Fred – background vocals, songwriter, producer, programming, bass, drums, guitar, keys, engineer
  • Alex Gibson – additional production
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Denis Kosiak – recording Khalid's vocals
  • Joe Rubel – engineer
  • John Hanes – engineer
  • Michael Ilbert – engineer
  • Stuart Hawkes – masterering

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for "Beautiful People"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[110] 6× Platinum 420,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[111] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[112] Platinum 40,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[113] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[114] 8× Platinum 640,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[115] 2× Platinum 180,000‡
France (SNEP)[116] Platinum 200,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[117] Platinum 400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[118] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[119] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[120] 3× Platinum 150,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[121] 3× Platinum 30,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[122] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[123] 3× Platinum 1,800,000‡
United States (RIAA)[124] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Beautiful People"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 28 June 2019
Original Asylum UK [1]
Italy 5 July 2019 Contemporary hit radio Warner [125]
Various 11 July 2019
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Danny L Harle Harlecore Remix Asylum UK [17]
NOTD Remix [18]
16 July 2019 Acoustic [19]
Jack Wins Remix [20]

References
  1. "Here's when Ed Sheeran's 'Beautiful People' will be out". Business Standard. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  2. "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…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
  3. Hulton, Anna Sky (27 June 2019). "Ed Sheeran is due to drop another epic collaboration with Khalid very soon". Free Radio. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  4. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid "Beautiful People" Sheet Music in Eb Major (transposable)". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  5. Levine, Nick (12 July 2019). "Ed Sheeran – 'No. 6 Collaborations Project': a track-by-track review". NME. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  6. Willman, Chris (12 July 2019). "Album Review: Ed Sheeran's 'No.6 Collaborations Project'". Variety. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  7. Giacomazzo, Bernadette (19 July 2019). "Review: Ed Sheeran's "No. 6 Collaborations" Is Great Pop Album But A Not-So-Great Hip Hop Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  8. Padin, Malvika (15 July 2019). "Ed Sheeran - No. 6 Collaborations Project". Clash. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  9. Kameir, Rawiya (16 July 2019). "Ed Sheeran: No.6 Collaborations Project Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  10. Lockhurst, Phoebe (12 July 2019). "Ed Sheeran: No.6 Collaborations Project, review - Some killer, mostly filler as Ed goes into maestro mode". Evening Standard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  11. Shanker, Lucy (19 July 2019). "Review Ed Sheeran - No. 6 Collaborations Project". Consequence. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  12. Shafer, Elise (27 June 2019). "Ed Sheeran Teases Music Video for 'Beautiful People' Feat. Khalid". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  13. "Ed Sheeran records his new song at the Lleida Alguaire airport". Aeroport Lleida-Alguaire. Aeroport Lleida-Alguaire. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. Earls, John (28 June 2019). "Watch Ed Sheeran and Khalid mock fame in 'Beautiful People' video". NME. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  15. Alston, Trey (28 June 2019). "Ed Sheeran And Khalid's 'Beautiful People' Video Follows A Normal Couple Immersed In Luxury". MTV News. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  16. "Album Beautiful People (feat. Khalid), Ed Sheeran". Qobuz. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  17. "Beautiful People (feat. Khalid) [Danny L Harle Harlecore Remix] - Single by Ed Sheeran" – via music.apple.com.
  18. "Beautiful People (feat. Khalid) [NOTD Remix] - Single by Ed Sheeran" – via music.apple.com.
  19. "Beautiful People (Acoustic) - Single by Ed Sheeran" – via music.apple.com.
  20. "Beautiful People (feat. Khalid) [Jack Wins Remix] - Single by Ed Sheeran" – via music.apple.com.
  21. No.6 Collaborations Project (Media notes). Ed Sheeran. Asylum Records UK. 2019. p. 11. 0190295427887.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  23. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  24. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  25. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  26. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  27. "China Airplay Chart/Foreign Language – 5 August 2019". Billboard China (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  28. "Top 100 Colombia" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  29. Komerički, Goran (14 October 2019). "ARC 100 – datum: 14. listopada 2019" [ARC 100 – date: 14 October 2019] (in Croatian). Hrvatska radiotelevizija. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  30. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201944 into search. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  31. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201928 into search. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  32. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". Tracklisten. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  33. "EESTI TIPP-40 MUUSIKAS: Kuulajad kannatavad Ed Sheerani ja Metallica kontsertide kõrvalmõjude all". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  34. "Ed Sheeran,Khalid: Beautiful People (feat. Khalid)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  35. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  36. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  37. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  38. "Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 36 2019". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  39. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  40. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  41. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  42. "Lagalistinn Vika 34 – 2019" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  43. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  44. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  45. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  46. "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 29. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  47. "The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Ed Sheeran". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  48. "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  49. "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  50. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  51. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 2019" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  52. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  53. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  54. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  55. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  56. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  57. "Airplay 100 – 27 octombrie 2019" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  58. "Russia Airplay Chart for 2019-08-26." TopHit. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  59. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  60. "RIAS International Top Charts Week 27". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on 13 July 2019.
  61. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201943 into search. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  62. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201927 into search. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  63. "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  64. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  65. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  66. "Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  67. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  68. "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2019-07-29." TopHit. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  69. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  70. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  71. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  72. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  73. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  74. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. 12 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  75. "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  76. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2019". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  77. "Jaaroverzichten 2019". Ultratop. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  78. "Rapports Annuels 2019". Ultratop. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  79. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  80. "Track Top-100 2019" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  81. "Top de l'année Top Singles 2019" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  82. "Top 100 Jahrescharts 2019". mtv.de (in German). Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  83. "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2019". Mahasz. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  84. "Stream Top 100 - darabszám alapján - 2019" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  85. "Tónlistinn - LÖG - 2019" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  86. White, Jack (9 January 2020). "Ireland's Official Top 50 biggest songs of 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  87. "Top of the Music FIMI/GfK 2019: Un anno con la musica Italiana" (Download the attachment and open the Singoli file) (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  88. "Digitālās Mūzikas Tops 2019" (in Latvian). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  89. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2019". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  90. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2019". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  91. "Top Selling Singles of 2019". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  92. "Najpopularniejsze albumy i single 2019 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  93. "Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  94. "SloTop50 – Letne lestvice" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  95. "Årslista Singlar, 2019". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  96. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2019". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  97. Copsey, Rob (1 January 2020). "The Official Top 40 biggest songs of 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  98. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  99. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  100. "Pop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  101. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  102. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  103. "Track Top-100 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  104. "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020". Mahasz. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  105. "Tónlistinn - LÖG - 2020" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  106. "Jaaroverzichten - Airplay 2020". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  107. "Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  108. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  109. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  110. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  111. "Austrian single certifications – Ed Sheeran ft. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  112. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2020". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  113. "Brazilian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Beautiful People" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  114. "Canadian single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Beautiful People (ft. Khalid)". Music Canada. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  115. "Danish single certifications – Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  116. "French single certifications – Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  117. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid; 'Beautiful People')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  118. "Italian single certifications – Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  119. "New Zealand single certifications – Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  120. "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  121. "Portuguese single certifications – Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – Beautiful People" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  122. "Spanish single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Beautiful People (feat. Khalid)". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  123. "British single certifications – Ed Sheeran ft Khalid – Beautiful People". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  124. "American single certifications – Ed Sheeran – Beautiful People". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  125. "ED SHEERAN "Beautiful People" | (Radio Date: 05/07/2019)". radiodate.it.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.