Pray (Sam Smith song) explained
"Pray" is a song by English singer and songwriter Sam Smith. It was written by Smith, Larrance Dopson, Darryl Pearson,Timbaland, Jose Valasquez and Jimmy Napes, with production handled by Timbaland, Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice. The song was released on 6 October 2017 through Capitol Records, as a promotional single from Smith's second studio album, The Thrill of It All (2017).[1] [2] [3] A new version of the song featuring American rapper Logic was released as the third single from the album on 29 March 2018.
Background
On 4 October 2017, Smith teased the song on social media by posting a video, alongside the song's release date.[4] They tweeted shortly after the song's release: "I hope you love 'Pray', I hope it becomes your friend in those deep dark nights of confusion and loneliness. Love you all so much."[5] They explained to Billboard that "Pray" was prompted by time spent in Iraq with the charity War Child, saying: "I spent five days in Mosul and came back embarrassed that I had known so little about the world and other people's lives. I went back to that great Nina Simone quote, that it is important to speak about the times you live in. I hadn't done that; I'd just written a bunch of songs about love. So I wanted to write about how I'm now starting to open my eyes, at 25, to what is going on in the rest of the world, and that it's not always pretty."[6]
Critical reception
Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone called "Pray" a "gospel-inspired track" that is "bolstered by a textbook but understated Timbaland beat".[7] Winston Cook-Wilson of Spin deemed it a "half spare R&B, half gospel shuffle downbeat track".[8] Nick Reilly of NME wrote: "The soul-infused track features Timbaland on production duties, and comes complete with powerful choral backing."[9] Alex Ross of Vice regarded it as "a soulful downtempo ballad that showcases Smith's vocal versatility and conjures a little more drama", writing that it is more interesting when compared with "Too Good at Goodbyes".[10] Lauren O'Neill of the same publication wrote that the song "pretty much follows the structure" of "Too Good at Goodbyes", making Smith's voice "predictable", which he called "a shame when there's so much to work with".[11] Mike Wass of Idolator wrote that the song "introduces aspects of hip-hop into [Smith's] sound and finds [them] singing about world issues".[12]
Live performances
On 7 October 2017, Smith performed "Pray" and "Too Good at Goodbyes" on Saturday Night Live.[13] [14]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[15]
- Sam Smith – songwriting, vocals
- Larrance Dopson – songwriting
- Darryl Pearson – songwriting, guitar
- Timbaland – songwriting, production, drum programming, drums, percussion, programming
- Jose Valasquez – songwriting
- Jimmy Napes – songwriting, production
- Steve Fitzmaurice – production, engineering, mixing
- Bob Ludwig – mastering engineering
- Gus Pirelli – engineering
- Darren Heelis – engineering, drum programming
- Jodi Milliner – bass guitar
- LaDonna Harley-Peters – background vocals
- Vula Malinga – background vocals
- The LJ Singers – background vocals
- Vicky Akintola – background vocals
- Patrick Linton – background vocals
- Isabel Grundy Gracefield – assistant recording engineering
- Steph Marziano – assistant recording engineering
- John Prestage – assistant recording engineering
- Will Purton – assistant recording engineering
- Darren Heelis – engineering, drum programming
- Earl Harvin – drums, percussion
- Ben Jones – guitar
- Reuben James – organ
- Lawrence Dopson – piano
- Simon Hale – string arranging
- Richard George – strings
- Bruce White – strings
- Everton Nelson – strings
- Ian Burdge – strings
- Lawrence Johnson – vocal arranging
Charts
Release history
Note
Logic version
On 29 March 2018, a remix of the song featuring American rapper Logic[21] [22] [23] was re-released to digital download and streaming on 27 April 2018.[24] [25] [26] It was also sent to contemporary hit radio formats in Australia, Italy and the United Kingdom as the third single from Smith's second studio album The Thrill of It All.
Music videos
The music video for "Pray" featuring Logic was released on 9 May 2018, directed by Joe Connor.[27]
Charts
Release history
Notes and References
- News: Bianca. Garwood. Sam Smith Shares "Pray" and Announces 'The Thrill of It All'. 15 October 2017. Ebony. 9 October 2017.
- News: Jem. Aswad. Sam Smith Drops Song 'Pray,' Album Due Nov. 3. 15 October 2017. Variety. 6 October 2017.
- News: David. Renshaw. Sam Smith teams with Timbaland for "Pray". 15 October 2017. The Fader. 6 October 2017.
- News: Joshua. Espinoza. Sam Smith Announces Title of New Album, Releases Second Single "Pray". 15 October 2017. Complex. 6 October 2017. 11 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180411115912/https://www.yahoo.com/music/sam-smith-announces-title-album-042958492.html. dead.
- News: Michael. Lewittes. Watch Sam Smith Perform 'Pray' And 'Too Good At Goodbyes' On 'SNL'. 15 October 2017. iHeartRadio. 9 October 2017.
- News: Lynch. Joe. Sam Smith Brings 'Too Good at Goodbyes,' 'Pray' to 'Saturday Night Live'. 15 October 2017. Billboard. 8 October 2017.
- News: Daniel. Kreps. Sam Smith Details New LP 'The Thrill of It All,' 2018 Tour. 15 October 2017. Rolling Stone. 6 October 2017.
- News: Winston. Cook-Wilson. Sam Smith – "Pray". 15 October 2017. Spin. 6 October 2017.
- News: Reilly. Nick. Sam Smith releases new single 'Pray' and announces second album. 15 October 2017. NME. 6 October 2017.
- News: Ross. Alex. Here's Sam Smith Performing "Too Good at Goodbyes" and "Pray" on 'SNL'. 15 October 2017. Noisey. 8 October 2017.
- News: O'Neill. Lauren. Sam Smith is Peak Sam Smith on His New Song with Timbaland, "Pray". 15 October 2017. Noisey. 7 October 2017.
- News: Mike. Wass. Sam Smith Performs "Too Good At Goodbyes" & "Pray" On 'SNL'. 15 October 2017. Idolator. 9 October 2017.
- News: Abel. Shifferaw. Watch Sam Smith's Stunning Performance of "Pray" and "Too Good at Goodbyes" on 'SNL'. 15 October 2017. Complex. 8 October 2017.
- News: Tyler. Schmitt. Watch Sam Smith Perform Songs from New Album on 'SNL'. 15 October 2017. Variance. 8 October 2017.
- Web site: Pray / Sam Smith TIDAL. Tidal. 15 October 2017.
- Web site: Classifica settimanale WK 45. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Italian. 10 November 2017.
- Web site: Top 40 NL: Sam Smith - Pray. Dutch. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. 25 November 2017. 26 June 2018.
- Web site: BillboardPH Hot 100. Billboard Philippines. 18 November 2017.
- Web site: Pray (MK Mix) – Single by Sam Smith. iTunes Store. 27 April 2018. 30 April 2018.
- Web site: DeVille. Chris. Lil Dicky Is Making A Career Out Of Being Charismatic And Problematic In Equal Measure. Stereogum. 29 March 2018. 3 April 2018. The moribund gospel ballad “Pray” was butt before, and a couple verses from Logic ain’t gonna stop the remix from being butt..
- samsmithworld. Smith. Sam. Sam Smith (singer). 978638206055931904. My new single is PRAY feat. @Logic301 I am so excited for you to hear this new version of one of my favourite tracks on the album. It was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with Logic to create this, such an incredible artist x Released Thursday. 27 March 2018.
- Web site: New Music: Sam Smith feat. Logic – 'Pray (Remix)' | Rap-Up. www.rap-up.com.
- News: Sam Smith & Logic Team Up for 'Pray' Remix: Listen . 29 March 2018 . Billboard . Mackenzie . Cummings-Grady . 4 June 2019 .
- Hear Logic Join Sam Smith on Reverent New Version of 'Pray'. Elias. Leight. Rolling Stone. 29 March 2018.
- Web site: Listen to Sam Smith's new single Pray featuring Logic. www.officialcharts.com.
- Web site: Logic Connects With Sam Smith For An Updated Version Of "Pray". HotNewHipHop. 29 March 2018.
- Sam Smith Drops Luxe New Video For 'Pray' Featuring Logic: Watch. Billboard.
- Web site: Sam Smith Chart History: Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales. . 23 April 2020.
- Web site: Dutchcharts.nl – Dutch Single Tip – 12/05/2018. Dutch. MegaCharts. 12 May 2018.
- Web site: Pray feat. Logic.
- Web site: Singles To Radio - The Music Network. themusicnetwork.com.
- Web site: BBC - Radio 1 - Playlist. BBC Radio 1. https://web.archive.org/web/20180415065228/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist. 15 April 2018. 13 April 2018. 13 April 2018.
- Web site: SAM SMITH - PRAY (feat. LOGIC) (Radio Date: 27-04-2018). EarOne. 27 April 2018. 30 March 2020.
- Web site: Pray (feat. Logic) – Single by Sam Smith. iTunes Store. 29 March 2018. 30 April 2018.
