Apple

Lore & Background

At its core, "Apple" is a straightforward, almost giddy declaration of mutual attraction. The "apple" in the title works as a small, tender metaphor—something you want to take a bite of, something sweet and a little tart, something you keep reaching for. The lyrics paint a couple who are physically and emotionally in sync, and the song's structure bounces between Sheeran's conversational, almost spoken-word verses and Beyoncé's lush, melodic hooks, creating a call-and-response that mirrors the push-and-pull of a relationship in its honeymoon phase. The song sits within the *No.6 Collaborations Project*, an album Sheeran conceived as a series of duets with artists he admired, each track a different flavour of partnership. "Apple" represents the most overtly romantic and pop-forward entry on that record, pairing two of the biggest names in global pop music in a setting that feels intimate rather than grandiose. The production keeps things warm and mid-tempo, letting the vocal interplay carry the emotion without heavy arrangement. Culturally, the pairing of Sheeran and Beyoncé captured a moment when both artists were at the height of their commercial power, and the song's success reinforced the idea that a simple, heartfelt love duet could still dominate radio and streaming in an era of genre-blending. Fans particularly cherished the music video's stylised, almost storybook quality, which gave the song a visual identity distinct from Sheeran's more naturalistic earlier clips.

In Their Own Story

The studio lights are low, amber and soft, casting long shadows across a set that looks like a kitchen in a storybook—wooden counters, a single bowl of red apples catching the glow. Ed sits on the counter, guitar loosely in his lap, grinning the way he does when a melody finally lands. Across from him, Beyoncé sways in a simple dress, humming a line under her breath, testing the top note. They laugh. Someone calls "roll it." The first take is almost too easy; the second is the one they keep. Later, in the control room, they listen back and nod at each other like two people who just confirmed a secret. The apples on the counter stay untouched. They don't need to be eaten. They're the point.

Reader's Guide

"Apple" is a mid-tempo pop-R&B duet in which Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé sing about a couple who are hopelessly, joyfully devoted to each other. The "apple" is a small, affectionate metaphor for a partner—sweet, a little tart, always within reach. The track drops as part of *No.6 Collaborations Project* (2019), an album Sheeran designed as a string of duets rather than a solo record, and it stands out as the most overtly romantic and radio-friendly entry on the set. The key collaboration is, of course, Beyoncé herself, whose soulful, layered vocal delivery contrasts with Sheeran's conversational, almost spoken verse style. The production keeps the arrangement warm and uncluttered, letting the two voices carry the emotional weight. Culturally, the song landed when both artists were at peak global visibility, and its easy, feel-good energy made it a natural fit for radio, streaming playlists, and live performances. What made it stick was simplicity: a clear love-song structure, a memorable hook, and the sheer novelty of hearing two of the biggest names in pop trade lines with genuine warmth rather than competitive bravado. For fans, it became the track that proved Sheeran's songwriting could hold its own in a shared spotlight.

Did You Know?

• "Apple" was one of several duets on *No.6 Collaborations Project*, an album Sheeran framed as a collection of partnerships rather than a traditional solo release.
• The song's title uses "apple" as a playful, affectionate metaphor for a romantic partner rather than referencing any specific fruit-related story or idiom.
• Beyoncé's feature brought a distinctly R&B and soul-inflected vocal texture to the track, shifting its sound away from Sheeran's more acoustic-leaning solo material.
• The song became a regular fixture in Sheeran's live setlists, where the duet format allowed for a more interactive, audience-facing performance than his typical solo shows.