Sapphire (song)

Last updated

"Sapphire"
Ed Sheeran - Sapphire.png
Single by Ed Sheeran
from the album Play
Language
  • English
  • Punjabi
Released5 June 2025 (2025-06-05)
Length2:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ed Sheeran
  • Ilya
  • Johnny McDaid
  • Savan Kotecha
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Old Phone"
(2025)
"Sapphire"
(2025)
"Drive"
(2025)
Music video
"Sapphire" on YouTube

"Sapphire" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. [1] It was released on 5 June 2025 as the third single from Sheeran's eighth studio album, Play , through Gingerbread Man Records and Atlantic Records. [2] The track marks Sheeran's first collaboration with Indian artist, Arijit Singh, and is noted for its blend of Western pop and Indian specifically Punjabi  musical influences. [3] [4] [5] "Sapphire" peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Sheeran's 43rd top 10 hit in his home country. It also reached top 10 in Switzerland and the Netherlands. In India, "Sapphire" topped the IMI International Top 20 Singles chart for 12 weeks.

Contents

Background

"Sapphire" was the first track recorded for Sheeran's album Play , setting the direction for the entire album. [4] He recorded much of it in Goa with Indian musicians and filmed the accompanying video during his tour across India, aiming to reflect the country's beauty and culture. He added that collaborating with Arijit Singh was the "final jigsaw piece" in bringing the song to life. [6]

Composition

"Sapphire" is a rhythmic and vibrant track that blends Indian cultural elements with Sheeran's signature pop sensibilities, featuring traditional instrumentation and lyrical nods throughout. This cross-cultural approach follows his previous single "Azizam", which drew from Persian and Irish influences. [7]

Critical reception

The "Sapphire" music video attracted 12 million views on YouTube within its first two days. Singh's inclusion on the song was met with widespread acclaim, and Sheeran's Punjabi vocals were also praised on social media. Shah Rukh Khan's appearance in the music video was similarly commended. [5]

Music video

The music video for "Sapphire" was directed by Liam Pethick and filmed across various cities in India, including Hyderabad, Kolkata, Arijit Singh's hometown in Murshidabad and Shillong. Released on 5 June 2025, it features Sheeran participating in Indian street culture—riding auto-rickshaws, wearing Ipswitch Town football shirts and Rajasthan Royals jersey, playing football with children, and exploring busy markets. Some of the locations featured in the music video include the street markets of Sultan Bazar, Ramoji Film City, Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Football Stadium in Shillong. [8] [9] Arijit Singh appears throughout the video, including footage of him on a scooter with Sheeran. The video includes a cameo appearance by Indian film actor Shah Rukh Khan, who lip-syncs part of the chorus, drawing widespread attention. [4]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Sapphire"
OrganisationYearCategoryResultRef.
MTV Video Music Awards 2025 Song of the Year Nominated [10]
Best Pop Video Nominated
Best Cinematography Nominated
Best Editing Nominated

Track listing

  1. "Sapphire" – 2:59
  1. "Sapphire" (unplugged) – 2:56
  1. "Sapphire" (featuring Arijit Singh) – 3:00
  1. "Sapphire" – 2:59
  2. "Sapphire" (featuring Arijit Singh) – 3:00

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [15]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Sapphire"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [88] Gold40,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) [89] Gold15,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [90] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for "Sapphire"
RegionDateFormatVersionLabelRef.
Various5 June 2025Original [11]
Italy11 July 2025 Radio airplay [91]
Various
  • Digital download
  • streaming
Unplugged [12]
24 July 2025feat. Arijit Singh [13]
22 August 2025 7-inch
  • Original
  • feat. Arijit Singh
[14]

References

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