You know that feeling when a song just follows you everywhere? For the better part of late 2017 and most of 2018, you couldn't walk into a grocery store, a wedding reception, or a Starbucks without hearing that distinct opening guitar swell. Ed Sheeran i found a love—or as the charts officially call it, "Perfect"—became the kind of global phenomenon that most artists only dream of.
But here's the thing: it wasn't just another pop hit manufactured in a lab. It was actually a deeply personal gamble. Ed famously wanted to write the best love song of his career to beat "Thinking Out Loud," and honestly, he might have actually done it.
The Secret Inspiration Behind the Lyrics
Most people think "Perfect" is just a collection of sweet clichés, but the lyrics are actually a literal roadmap of Ed’s relationship with his now-wife, Cherry Seaborn.
They weren't strangers when they started dating. Far from it. They were actually kids together at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham. When Ed sings "we were just kids when we fell in love," he’s not just being poetic. They reconnected years later in New York, but the real spark happened at Taylor Swift’s 4th of July party in 2015.
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One of the most specific lines in the song—"barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song"—isn't just a generic romantic image. Ed has confirmed in interviews that this happened in Ibiza. They were at a villa, and the "favorite song" playing was actually "March Madness" by Future. Not exactly the slow-dance ballad you’d expect, right? But that’s the reality of it. It was just a raw, unscripted moment that Ed captured and polished into a diamond.
Why There Are Three Different Versions
Ed didn't just stop with the solo version. He basically pulled a "choose your own adventure" for the music industry.
- The Original: The one we all know from the Divide album.
- The Duet with Beyoncé: This was the heavy hitter. Ed actually traveled to Beyoncé’s house to record it. He mentioned that she did the vocal in just one take. One. Take.
- The Symphony with Andrea Bocelli: This version is actually a family affair. Ed’s brother, Matthew Sheeran, did the string arrangements. They recorded it at Bocelli’s home in Tuscany, and Ed even sang a bit in Italian.
It was a brilliant move. By releasing these variations, he didn't just keep the song on the radio; he made it accessible to everyone from high schoolers to opera fans. It’s why the song spent so many weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
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That Music Video with Zoey Deutch
If you haven't seen the video, it’s basically a four-minute Christmas movie. It stars Zoey Deutch and was filmed in Hintertux, Austria.
They didn't just use a green screen. They went to the actual Hintertux Glacier. The scene where they are skiing at night with red flares? That was a massive technical undertaking. It’s visually stunning, but the cold was very real.
Breaking Down the Numbers
The impact of this song on the wedding industry is genuinely hard to overstate. According to Spotify data, it remains one of the most popular "first dance" songs of all time. It’s essentially the modern-day "Unchained Melody."
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Why Ed Sheeran I Found a Love Still Matters
So, why does it still resonate years later?
It’s the vulnerability. In a world of over-produced synth-pop, a guy standing there with an acoustic guitar singing about feeling like he doesn't deserve the person he’s with is relatable. We’ve all had those moments of insecurity.
The song touches on a specific kind of "adult" love. It’s not just about the honeymoon phase; it’s about "carrying children of our own" and building a home. It’s a song about the long game.
Actionable Takeaways for Superfans
If you're looking to recreate that "Perfect" vibe or dive deeper into the lore, here’s how you can actually experience it:
- Visit the Location: If you're ever in Austria, the Hintertux Glacier is open year-round. You can visit the Tuxer Fernerhaus, the actual mountain hut seen in the video.
- Listen to the "Symphony" for the Strings: Pay attention to the orchestration in the Bocelli version. Knowing that Ed’s brother Matthew wrote those parts adds a layer of family history that makes the track feel much more intimate.
- The Hidden Meaning: Next time you hear the "barefoot on the grass" line, remember it’s about a Future song. It completely changes the energy of the track once you know the "real" version was a loud hip-hop party moment.
The song isn't going anywhere. Whether you love it or you've heard it a few too many times at weddings, there's no denying that Ed Sheeran captured lightning in a bottle with this one.