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 Farsi word azizam" - meaning my dear or my darling in English - may not have the same level of global resonance as habibi or ma cherie, but to us Persians it's a daily refrain. We use it with our family, partners, friends; my cat probably thinks it's her middle name by now. So it felt huge when Ed Sheeran announced that the lead single from his new album would be called just that: Azizam.

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". But these reproaches are missing a whole other dimension: that the song has triggered a huge emotional response from millions of Iranians around the world. Hearing a beloved artist embrace our language with such care? We feel it. And we're here for it," said one popular comment on Sheeran's Instagram.