Professor Wall

Final Paper

Gilian Maddux

Contemporary Issues in Music

SAM SMITH

Rejection, guilt, pain, love, passion, fear, lust, the list goes on. Music has the power to
make us all feel. Whether its feeling desperate and lonely when someone rejects our love, or the
feeling you get the first time they kiss you. It doesnt matter what were going through as people,
its all relative. Music allows us to express our emotions, tap into our vulnerabilities and face our
terrifying insecurities. Its the one part of our lives that we actually have control of.
I personally have an attachment to music because it runs in my blood. I couldnt picture a
world without that sweet soulful bridge of a song that carries you away, or that raw first verse that
takes you back to the first moment you knew. Sam Smith checks off all of these boxes for me. His
music makes me feel alive and afraid all at the same time. He reminds me to love myself
unconditionally and to embrace the moments that scare me the most.
Now that Ive expressed the infinite love I hold for Sam, its time to discuss his success.
Whether it be his ridiculously soulful voice or his light and powerful presence. At only 22 years
old hes had such a huge impact on the music world and this is just the beginning.
Sam Smith released his album In the Lonely Hour on May 26th this year in the United
Kingdom and New Zealand. Soon after that on June 3rd of this year the album was launched in
America and Canada. Lastly it hit Australia at some point in June. The album quickly escalated to
number 2 on the top 200 music billboard in the United States. Not only did his two singles Lay
Me Down and Money on My Mind create a huge impact here in America, but his singles as
well as his album hit Canada, Australia and New Zealand with a raptured bang.
Sam Smith released his EP Nirvana prior to his album release and collaborated with
Disclosure on their song Latch in October of 2012. Latch rose to the top speedily and thats

where it all started to come together for Smith. He continues to climb to the top of the charts with
his original music. Sam Smith is only 22 years old and his responses to his fans questions are real
and wise. When asked why his album was so sad, Smith responded by saying that it was as simple
as that. He was a lonely and sad 21 year old, with not too many reasons to feel small. But for him
this was a big loss. He fell in love with someone who didnt love him back. Just as we do, he was
blinded by the idea of what he wanted to see. His music reminds us that we all feel, we all love
and that all our pain is relatable in the most beautiful ways. He shared his most intimate moments
with his fans and that is what makes a musician virtuous. As an artist, today we rarely see exposure
and openness. Labels primarily feed the audience what they want to hear and they use artists to do
so.
Smith was born on May 19th of 1992, in Bishops Stortford United Kingdom. He signed
with Capitol Records and thus produced In the Lonely Hour. Capitol Records is one of largest
American record labels. It was founded in 1942 by Johnny Mercer, Buddy DeSylva and Glenn
Wallichs and is owned by a division of the Universal Music Group. Their headquarters building
in Los Angeles is a noted landmark. Mercer submitted the idea of creating this label to his fellow
songwriter DeSylva and after they made an agreement Wallichs wanted to partake in this
investment and take care of the business aspect of the company. Capitol Records has signed every
kind of artist, from Frank Sinatra to the Beatles to the lovely Katy Perry. Theyve produced all
sorts of genres and didnt hold back from any opportunity that might benefit them in the long run.
With Sam Smiths music we see both Art music characteristics and Folk music
characteristics. In each of his songs Smith improvises with his vocal charismatic notes and his
constant change in rhythm. From an Art Music perspective his music is professional but at the

same time it carries folk notions. His music is not high tech, especially with live performances. On
his record hes got everything from violins, to back up vocals, to harmonies. But when its just
him with the piano naked and unprotected in front of the world, its low tech. The beauty is there
whether its high or low tech. Smith writes his music in a way that all people can relate to. There
are no boundaries. Weve all been hurt before in one way or another. It may have been heartbreak,
the loss of a loved one, abandonment, divorce. So when he puts life into these songs hes not
helping just one person heal. Hes helping all of us understand our emotions and realize that hard
is hard. That its better to feel something then nothing at all.
The role of a producer is responsible for manufacturing and managing an artists career.
Smiths album reaches all kinds of people and it stands out. He is putting life back into music, and
with most musicians there is a void missing from their performance. It almost feels like they are
just singing words and not listening to the words that once held such promise for them. What is
music turning into? Well thats a broad question, but one thing I do know is that if people like Sam
Smith continue to rise we may be on the right track. His music will leave us responsive and that is
the point of music after all.
On March 30th the cumulative download sales performance for Sam Smiths album In
the Lonely Hour started at around 50,000. By June 29th it shot all the way up to 1,200,000. On a
weekly basis the download sales coasted up and down, but by the end of each week gained sales
by 200,000. This albums sales performance has remained at about 233,100 in just two weeks
alone. Thus making a quick jump to #2 on the billboard top 200 most popular albums. This was
recorded on July 12th of this year. Smith falling right behind the talented Ed Sheeran and his

incredible album, X. And as a much newer artist I find is astonishing that Smiths album could
the follow the footsteps of such a raw and original mastermind like Sheeran.
With Smiths first single Stay With Me making waves as soon as it was launched, this
positive profit was only beginning to pile up. This single made major radio airplay all over the
world and gave Smith a huge stepping stone to the beginning of his continuous success. With radio
stations such as Z100, Pandora and even college stations playing this song, the spreading of it was
inevitable. Stay With Me expressed a story of a person falling in love with a one night stand and
begging them to stay, but having to deal with the pain that comes with knowing that they never
will. With his charismatic and realistic way of writing, he hit home for all of us with this album.
In his music video for Leave your Lover, at first you may think hes talking about the woman
his friend is in love with. But towards the end we see that hes talking about his friend. Smith has
been vocal about the fact that he is gay, expressing that his album In the Lonely Hour is all about
falling in love with a man. This music video alone was viewed about 10 million times since its
been posted on YouTube. His other music videos and cover videos have a similar response and
its been nothing but a positive success for his music career. This album and most of his singles
have gained him popularity and an incredibly high sales chart. (So Im sure Capitol Records is
quite content with that as well.) Another successful video would be his cover of Fast Car by
Tracy Chapman. Its already an epic song itself, but Smith is almost bringing it back to life. Hes
got this way with music, a gift really. It isnt just his astonishing vocal performances, its his
connection to each song he sings. Just as he sees the beauty in every person, he sees the beauty in
every song and he makes it crystal clear. I feel as if Smith is saying that if you dont at least try to

give the song a chance to channel your emotions then youre bound to fall. If you dont give
something the chance to make you vulnerable, that youll never truly be happy with who you are.

He has gained recognition from ITunes, YouTube, Spotify, etc. But he has also conquered
popularity through the use of Blog Sites. Sites such as Reedit, Tumblr and Sound-cloud. I first
heard Sam Smith through a Tumblr post. One of the Blogs that i follow posted his first single,
Lay Me Down. And from there on out, it was a done deal and i was hooked.

Blogs are less about fact and more about opinions. People express themselves through blogs and
create controversy and conversation over the topic being discussed. Some of the popular music
blogs include Pitchfork, Consequence of Sound and Tiny Mix Tapes. I personally looked at a blog
regarding Smiths album, In the Lonely Hour, on Pitchfork. The author of this blog is a guy by
the name of Andrew Ryce. Ryce discusses how Capitol Records has given Smiths raw sound a
bit of pampering. He compares Smith to Duffy, relating their levels of soul. He gives the album
itself a 5.5 all in all. But Ryce believes the album is less reflective on Sam Smith himself and more
on the clichs about love that sell.
Ryce tells us that in the single Stay With Me, there is too much going on. It is meant to be an
open and vulnerable tune. But instead it becomes corny with all of the instruments in the
background. Although its gone up the charts, Ryce still isnt seeing Smiths true colors. In the
long run Ryce believes that this album was meant to come from a personal place for Smith. Instead
it was overtly polished by his label. Towards the end of this blog Ryce states, Though there's no
doubt In the Lonely Hour comes from a personal place, it doesn't end up feeling like a very personal
record. Except for one part: on the album's very first line, Smith quivers "When I signed my deal/

I felt pressure." Judging from how In the Lonely Hour turned out, his suspicions were for good
reason.
Sirius XM played Stay With Me on their newer station Venus. This station used to play
mainstream top 40 singles and was called 20 on 20. This station recently decided to go for a
more rhythmic pop based sound as of the early 2000s. (Thus Smiths music is a perfect fit.) Smith
also gained huge recognition by coming in the live studio at Sirius XM and performing his own
slowed down rendition of Whitney Houstons 80s hit, How Will I Know. (This is a video well
worth looking up, its incredible!) With the gift to make any song he performs his own, his voice
will only continue to leave us in a vulnerable state of feeling.
The bigger factor that lead to Smiths recognition was being featured on Disclosures breakthrough
single Latch. Smith has recorded a variety of covers that you can find anywhere on the internet.
He is personable and thats what really makes him marketable. Its not just the fact that he is a
remarkable vocalist and songwriter. Its that he breaks into the depth of his music and makes you
open your mind to the endless possibilities that music allows us to touch, taste and see. That is if
we open our minds to music.
Smiths full deluxe album is now on Spotify. His hits and his EP are as well, but they have been
on there for a while now. I honestly dont know why that is, but I think it may have something to
do with his contract and the profit Capitol wants him to make. I bought the full album on ITunes
and its worth the buy. So part of me does understand why someone as real as Sam Smith wants
to stay true to himself and his musical value. (Although this control is probably in the hands of his
label.)

So where does all this leave Sam Smith? In terms of sales I believe that they will only increase as
time passes. No one can fully predict that, but if he continues to write music the way he does and
stay true to his artistry, theres no doubt in my mind he wont continue to be one of a kind in the
music industry.
Sam Smith makes our toes curl and our souls melt, with his heart wrenching music. At least that
what he does to me. He values people as people which is what all of us should be doing. I read an
article where Smith expresses how apps such as tinder and grinder are pulling us apart from real
communication as human beings. Thus taking away our skills as people to interact and become
outgoing. He believes a true connection cant just be an attraction, its got to be more than that.
His main message is loud and clear. What is it you ask? It is to give love a chance, no matter what
shape, size or shade it enters your life in. That then and only then will you be given a chance at
love in its rawest and most vulnerable form.
In the words of Sam Smith, I dont have money on my mind money on my mind I do it
for I do it for the love. Ill leave you with that.