“Shape of You” is a pop song with dancehall, R&B, and tropical-house elements, written by Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac, and Johnny McDaid. It was written and recorded in 2016, initially conceived for other artists before Sheeran retained it for his own third studio album, ÷. The recording was released on 6 January 2017 as a double lead single with “Castle on the Hill,” produced by Sheeran and Mac. Its melody interpolates TLC’s “No Scrubs,” resulting in additional songwriting credits for Kandi Burruss, Tameka Cottle, and Kevin Briggs.
The original recording is in C-sharp minor, in common time, at 96 beats per minute. Its recurring C♯m-F♯m-A-B progression gives the track a compact four-chord loop, while the marimba-led percussion and tresillo rhythm create its distinctive swaying groove. The arrangement combines strummed acoustic guitar with sparse, dance-oriented production. The single reached number one in 34 countries, including the United Kingdom and United States, and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance.
