How Would You Feel (Paean)

The song How Would You Feel (Paean) by Ed Sheeran stands out for its intimate and personal story. Sheeran composed it while his girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn, was heading to the airport after a visit. The lyrics emerged as a sincere message, where the artist expresses his happiness and curiosity about her feelings. What’s curious is that, by the end of his album, he almost forgot he had created this piece until Cherry reminded him it was saved in her email. This gave the song a second chance, which was finally included in his third album, ÷, released in 2017.

The recording of this song took place in 2016, and although Sheeran had initially recorded the guitar solo himself, he decided to invite John Mayer to perform it, feeling his version did not do justice to the style of the renowned guitarist. The song, which falls within the blue-eyed soul genre, managed to reach second place on the UK singles chart and entered the top 10 in several countries. Despite not being an official single, its release coincided with Sheeran’s 26th birthday, adding a special touch to its story. The production and composition were handled by Sheeran himself, who has always been involved in every aspect of his music.