"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 fourth studio 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. Footage of it being recorded in a studio was released in the following days leading up to its release.
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.
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." Chris Willman of Variety said Sheeran and Khalid make "a good match". 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." Malvika Padin of Clash found the track "strong and likeable, but nothing surprising." Pitchforks Rawiya Kameir was less impressed, calling it "heavy-handed" and "a catchy calculation appropriate for the sad-pop dominating the charts." Evening Standard reviewer Phoebe Luckhurst described the track as "Chainsmokers-esque". Lucy Shanker of Consequence regarded the song as "disingenuous".
Music video The music video for "Beautiful People" was teased a day before its 28 June release. 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.
The video opens with a couple having a vacation 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.
Track listing Digital download and streaming "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) – 3:17 Digital download and streaming – Danny L Harle Harlecore Remix "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) [Danny L Harle Harlecore Remix] – 3:45 Digital download and streaming – NOTD Remix "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) [NOTD Remix] – 2:42 Digital download and streaming – Acoustic "Beautiful People" (Acoustic) – 3:06 Digital download and streaming – Jack Wins Remix "Beautiful People" (featuring Khalid) [Jack Wins Remix] – 2:43
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of No.6 Collaborations Project
Locations Recorded at MXM Studios (Stockholm, Sweden), Mandarin Oriental (Hong Kong) and Promised Land Music Studios (London) Mixed at MixStar Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia) Mastered at Metropolis Mastering (London)
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
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for "Beautiful People" Chart (2019–2020) Peakposition China Airplay/FL (Billboard) 1 Colombia (National-Report) 95 Croatia (HRT) 3 Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40) 3 Greece (IFPI) 2 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 3 Ireland (IRMA) 2 Latvia (LAIPA) 2 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20) 3 Lithuania (AGATA) 2 Malaysia (RIM) 4 Mexico (Billboard Mexican Airplay) 18 Romania (Airplay 100) 43 San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50) 4 Singapore (RIAS) 2 Slovenia (SloTop50) 5 US Rolling Stone Top 100 34
Year-end charts + 2019 Year-end chart performance for "Beautiful People" Chart (2019) Position Australia (ARIA) 14 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 19 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 34 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 40 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 29 Denmark (Tracklisten) 14 France (SNEP) 133 Germany (Official German Charts) 25 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 61 Hungary (Stream Top 40) 14 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 14 Ireland (IRMA) 21 Italy (FIMI) 81 Latvia (LAIPA) 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 23 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 19 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) 78 Portugal (AFP) 46 Slovenia (SloTop50) 47 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 23 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 23Tokyo (Tokio Hot 100) 22 UK Singles (OCC) 21 US Billboard Hot 100 50 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 26 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 26 + 2020 Year-end chart performance for "Beautiful People" Chart (2020) Position Australia (ARIA) 82 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 53 Denmark (Tracklisten) 88 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 36 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 35 Netherlands (Airplay Top 50) 48 Portugal (AFP) 83 UK Singles (OCC) 58 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 48
Certifications
Release history + Release dates and formats for "Beautiful People" Region Date Format Version Label Various 28 June 2019 Original Asylum UK Italy 5 July 2019 Contemporary hit radio Warner Various 11 July 2019 Danny L Harle Harlecore Remix Asylum UK NOTD Remix 16 July 2019 Acoustic Jack Wins Remix
References
External links