"How Would You Feel (Paean)" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on February 17, 2017, as the first single released to promote his third studio album ÷ (2017). The song is also the eleventh track on the album. When it was released, it reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the top 10 in six other countries.
Background and release
The song "How Would You Feel (Paean)" was written by Ed Sheeran while his girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn, was traveling to the airport to return home after a visit. He wrote the song, recorded it on his iPhone, and sent it to her via email. He explained that the song was created to express his happiness and ask her, "How do you feel?" Sheeran mentioned that the song almost did not appear on the album because he had forgotten he had written it. During an interview on On Air with Ryan Seacrest, he shared that after finishing the album, he asked his girlfriend, "What is your favorite song on the album?" She replied that he had forgotten the song existed and that she had saved it in her email because she was the only person he had sent it to. She found it from a year-and-a-half earlier, and he decided to record it for the album.
In the song, John Mayer plays a guitar solo. Sheeran said he originally played the solo himself but later listened to his recording and thought it sounded like a "poor man's John Mayer." Because he knew Mayer, he reached out to him to perform the solo instead.
Sheeran released "How Would You Feel (Paean)" on his 26th birthday. However, he clarified that the song was not officially released as a single.
Critical reception
Cécile Howard of The Edge gave the song 3 stars out of 5 and said, "The song does not introduce anything new, but it gives fans what they wanted and expected, though it leaves a not very satisfying feeling." Taylor Weatherby of Billboard called the song's guitar solo the best on the album, writing that Sheeran plays a guitar solo similar to John Mayer about two-thirds into the song, showing how skilled he is.