[6] Randall Roberts of the Los Angeles Times likened the song to that of Eric Clapton's 1977 ballad "Wonderful Tonight" and Ginuwine's "In Those Jeans".[11][12] The Guardian columnist Tim Dowling suggests that the report is an indication of "very popular, slightly mellow songs that keep cropping up on sleep playlists" but not a list of a "carefully curated journey to unconsciousness".During his stay in Tenerife, Sheeran recorded a performance of the song whilst sitting in a fishing boat off the coast of San Andres, near Santa Cruz, the island's capital.In an article written for Valentine's Day, Marika Azzopardi of The Malta Independent compiled "some great moments of love in the arts",[15] including "Tenerife Sea" among other songs."[16] Jim Beviglia of the American Songwriter thought that although "tidy", "Tenerife Sea" comes "toothless" compared with the "daring confessionals" Sheeran made in the album's other tracks.[19] Writing for The Irish Times, Lauren Murphy noted that the album's few songs, including "Tenerife Sea", are "simply dull".This chart activity is ascribed to the acoustic version performed by James McVey, guitarist of the British pop group The Vamps, whose video was uploaded in YouTube.