“Perfect” is a romantic ballad written and performed by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran for his third studio album, ÷ (2017). It was the first song he wrote for the album and was inspired by his relationship with Cherry Seaborn. Sheeran produced the recording with Will Hicks, while his brother Matthew Sheeran provided the string arrangement, their first collaboration. The original recording features acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, Hammond organ, bass, drums, percussion, woodwinds, and orchestral strings.
The song is in A-flat major, though Sheeran performs it live in G major. Its slow 12/8-style triplet feel can also be counted as about 63 BPM in 4/4, with a recurring A-flat5, F minor 7, D-flat suspended 2, E-flat progression. Released as a single in 2017, it reached number one in the UK and the United States. A stripped-down “Perfect Duet” with Beyoncé followed in December 2017, and “Perfect Symphony,” featuring Andrea Bocelli and using the full string orchestration, was released later that month.
