remixes

Occasional Drinking Buddies Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé Now Have a Song Together

What a pair. Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage

A couple years ago, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z walked into a bar. We realize that sounds like a joke, but true story: Sheeran had played a concert in New York City with Bey and Hov in attendance, when afterward, he invited them to join him at a local dive bar owned by his friend. There, the three ate pizza, took shots, and then Sheeran subjected them to a karaoke performance of “Empire State of Mind.†And it was apparently halfway decent! Because now Sheeran and Beyoncé have a song together. She’s featured on the remix to his song “Perfect,†a perfectly Bey way to follow-up on the date two years later. (She also agreed to perform a couple times with him in the meantime, like a most charitable acquaintance.) Sheeran’s original is currently rising fast on the Hot 100 — it’s up to No. 5 this week — and will likely now soar to No. 1 with an assist from Beyoncé. If it does, somewhat shockingly, it’ll be her first chart-topper since “Single Ladies†in 2008 (and his second after “Shape of You†earlier this year). So, really, who’s using who here?

Hear Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé’s ‘Perfect’ Remix