# Happier (Ed Sheeran song)

"Happier" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. The song was written by Sheeran along with Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco. It was included on his third studio album, ÷ (2017). After the album's release, it charted at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. It was released in Italy on 27 April 2018 as the fourth (fifth overall) and the final single from the album.

## Composition

According to Sheeran, the theme of the song is about looking back at an early relationship and, despite being initially angry and bitter at the breakup, later coming to realise that his first love was happier with someone else. He said: "I remember the first girl I was with, that the first and most of the second album was about, that I was with from school. And I remember the guy she was with, meeting him one day and being like, he is so much suited to her than I ever was. Seeing them together they were happy together, we never looked like that, we were never that couple, we were never that happy. So it was having a kind of epiphany moment, and writing a song that was basically that."
"Happier" was written in the key of C major with a tempo of 90 beats per minute. The song was composed in common time ($^4$ $_4$ time).

## Critical reception

Taylor Weatherby of Billboard described it as the "most heartbreaking track" and "perhaps one of the prettiest songs" on the album. She noted the track's melodic similarity to Sam Smith's 2014 songs "Stay with Me" and "Like I Can".

## Music video

The official video for "Happier" was released on Ed Sheeran's YouTube account on 27 April 2018. It was directed by Emil Nava, and features a puppet caricature of Sheeran from the music video of his single "Sing" sad about the other is about his balloon girlfriend with another puppet and ends with the balloon girl flying away.

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 6× Platinum | 420,000$^‡$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 15,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Platinum | 40,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 7× Platinum | 560,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | 3× Platinum | 270,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 400,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Platinum | 50,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 4× Platinum | 120,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | 4× Platinum | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Platinum | 10,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Platinum | 40,000$^‡$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Platinum | 20,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Country | Date | Format | Version | Label |
| Australia | 27 April 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Warner |
| Italy | 27 April 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Warner |
| United Kingdom | 27 April 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Warner |
| Various | 25 May 2018 | Digital download | Acoustic | Asylum |
| Various | 1 June 2018 | Digital download | Tiësto remix | Asylum |
| Various | 8 June 2018 | Digital download | Cazzette remix | Asylum |
| Various | 27 July 2018 | Digital download | Kasbo remix | Asylum |
| Germany | 6 July 2018 | CD single | Original | Warner |