Sam Smith Explained
Sam Smith |
Birth Name: | Samuel Frederick Smith |
Birth Date: | 1992 5, df=yes |
Birth Place: | London, England |
Years Active: | 2008–present |
Works: | Discography |
Awards: | Full list |
Module: | |
Samuel Frederick Smith (born 19 May 1992) is an English singer and songwriter. In 2012, they rose to prominence when they featured on Disclosure's breakthrough single "Latch", which peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart. The following year, they featured on Naughty Boy's single "La La La", which became a number one single in the UK.
Smith's debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour (2014), was released through Capitol Records UK and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart.[1] The album's lead single, "Lay Me Down", was released prior to "La La La". The album's second single, "Money on My Mind", became their second number one single in the UK.[2] Its third single, "Stay with Me", was internationally successful, reaching number one in the UK and number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, while subsequent singles "I'm Not the Only One" and "Like I Can" reached the top ten in the UK. The album won four awards at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Smith's song "Writing's on the Wall" served as the theme for the James Bond film Spectre (2015), and won Smith a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Smith's second studio album, The Thrill of It All (2017), and debuted atop the UK and US album charts. The albums lead single, "Too Good at Goodbyes" reached number one in the UK and Australia and number four in the US. Following the 2018 single "Promises" (with Calvin Harris), which peaked at number one in the UK, Smith released "Dancing with a Stranger" (with Normani) in 2019, which peaked within the top ten in the UK and the US, also receiving a nomination for Song of the Year at the 2020 Brit Awards. The singles, along with "How Do You Sleep?" would precede the release of their third studio album, Love Goes (2020).[3] In 2022, Smith's single "Unholy" (with Kim Petras), would become their first number one single in the US and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The song would precede their fourth album, Gloria (2023).[4]
Smith's numerous accolades include five Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, and an American Music Award, as well as a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. On the UK Albums Chart, In the Lonely Hour was the best-selling debut album of the 2010s and the sixth best-selling album of the decade, while collectively Smith's albums spent the fourth-most weeks at number one in the 2010s, behind Ed Sheeran, Adele and Eminem.[5] [6] Smith is the first openly non-binary musician to both release a song that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to win a Grammy Award.
Early life
Samuel Frederick Smith[7] was born in a Jewish family in London on 19 May 1992,[8] [9] to Frederick Smith and broker Kate Cassidy.[10] Smith grew up in Great Chishill, where they attended Thomas More Primary School.[11] They were bullied for having breasts as a child and underwent liposuction at age 12.[12] As part of Youth Music Theatre UK, Smith appeared in the troupe's 2007 production of Oh! Carol, a musical featuring the music of Neil Sedaka.[13] Before entering the musical theatre, they had been in jazz bands.[14] While studying singing and songwriting under jazz pianist Joanna Eden for a number of years,[15] Smith attended St Mary's Catholic School in Bishop's Stortford[16] and was a member of the Bishop's Stortford Junior Operatics (now Bishops Stortford Musical Theatre Society) and the Cantate Youth Choir.[17] Smith attended the Anglican St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden, with family members, as a youth.[18] Smith released two singles, "Bad Day All Week" in 2008 and "When It's Alright" in 2009.[19]
Career
2012–2016: In the Lonely Hour
Smith was featured on the Disclosure song "Latch", which was released on 8 October 2012 and peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. In February 2013, Smith released the first single from their debut album, "Lay Me Down", and later in the year featured on Naughty Boy's single "La La La". It was released on 19 May 2013 and peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. Smith's first EP Nirvana was released the following year. The first song on the EP, titled "Safe with Me", is produced by Two Inch Punch and was first broadcast on MistaJam's BBC Radio 1Xtra show on 24 July 2013.[20] The second song on the EP is titled "Nirvana" and is produced by Craze & Hoax and Jonathan Creek. The EP also includes Smith's acoustic solo version of "Latch" and a live version of "I've Told You Now".[21] Smith released the Disclosure, Nile Rodgers, and Jimmy Napes collaboration "Together" on 25 November 2013 as the only single from . In December 2013, Smith was nominated for the 2014 Brit Critics' Choice Award and the BBC's Sound of 2014 poll,[22] [23] winning both.[24] [25]
The second single from Smith's debut album, titled "Money on My Mind", was released on 16 February 2014. It was announced on 16 December that Smith's debut studio album, titled In the Lonely Hour, would be released on 26 May 2014 through Capitol Records.[1] Smith described the album as "all about unrequited love" stemming from personal experience, having never been loved back by any previous love interests.[26] The album reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and number two on the Billboard 200, and by 5 November it had become the second biggest selling album of 2014 in the US behind only 1989 by Taylor Swift.[27] [28] In January 2015, In the Lonely Hour was named the second best selling album of 2014 in the UK, behind x by Ed Sheeran.[29] A live version of album track "I've Told You Now", performed at St Pancras Old Church, was made available as a free download as part of an Amazon.com promotion on 27 December 2013.[30] The album track "Make It To Me", co-written by Howard of Disclosure and Jimmy Napes, was made available as a free download as part of an iTunes Store promotion on 13 January 2014.[31] Smith went on their debut American headlining tour in the second quarter of 2014, with a setlist of primarily new material.[26] On 20 January 2014, Smith made their American television debut performing "Latch" with Disclosure on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Smith also performed on Saturday Night Live on 29 March 2014, performing the gospel-tinged "Stay with Me" and an acoustic version of "Lay Me Down".[32] [33] [34] "Stay with Me" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.[35] [36] The fourth single from the album, "I'm Not the Only One", reached number three in the UK and number five in the US.[36] Smith performed "Stay With Me" live at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards on 24 August at The Forum in Inglewood, California.[37] On 15 November 2014, they joined the charity group Band Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track "Do They Know It's Christmas?" at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in Western Africa.[38]
In 2015, it came to light that singer Tom Petty, noting similarities between "Stay with Me" and his 1989 hit song "I Won't Back Down", had negotiated an out-of-court settlement with Smith in October 2014. Petty and co-composer Jeff Lynne were awarded 12.5 percent of the royalties from "Stay with Me", and the names of Petty and Lynne joined James John Napier (known professionally as Jimmy Napes) in the ASCAP song credit.[39] At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, held on 8 February 2015, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Smith performed "Stay with Me" and also received four Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Stay with Me") and Best Pop Vocal Album (for In the Lonely Hour).[40] At the 2015 Brit Awards held at The O2 Arena in London on 25 February, they performed "Lay Me Down", and won the Brit Awards for British Breakthrough Act, and Global Success.[41] In March 2015, "Lay Me Down" was re-released as the sixth single from the album, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Smith's third US top 10 single).[42] The same month, Smith recorded another version of the song, featuring John Legend, for the British charity telethon Comic Relief, which reached number one in the UK.[43] At the 2015 Billboard Music Awards on 17 May, Smith received three Billboard Awards: Top Male Artist, Top New Artist, and Top Radio Songs Artist.[44] They featured on Disclosure's single "Omen", which was released on 27 July 2015.[45]
On 8 September 2015, Smith and Jimmy Napes confirmed that they had composed "Writing's on the Wall", the theme song to Spectre, the 24th James Bond film.[46] The song was released on 25 September 2015 and became the first James Bond theme to reach number one in the UK. On 19 October, Smith was presented with two Guinness World Records—one for recording the first James Bond theme song to go to number one in the UK and another for scoring the most consecutive weeks in the UK top 10 by a debut album, for In the Lonely Hour.[47]
At the 73rd Golden Globe Awards on 10 January 2016, they received the Award for Best Original Song for "Writing's on the Wall".[48] On 14 January, the song earned Smith an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.[49] In the nominations for the 2016 Brit Awards announced on 14 January, the song was among the nominees for Best British Video.[50] Smith performed "Writing's on the Wall" at the Academy Awards on 28 February and, along with Napes, collected the prize for Best Original Song.[51] In their acceptance speech, Smith referenced an article by Ian McKellen published before the awards ceremony that claimed no openly gay man had won an Oscar for Best Actor; Smith misquoted McKellen as saying that no gay man in general had won an Oscar. This was quickly discredited by openly gay recipient Dustin Lance Black,[52] but McKellen mentioned that the error "doesn't detract" from Smith's achievement.[53]
2017–2021: The Thrill of It All and Love Goes
On 8 September 2017, Smith released a new single titled "Too Good at Goodbyes", which debuted at number one in the United Kingdom and number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.[54] Their second studio album, The Thrill of It All, debuted atop the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, becoming their first number one album in the US.[55] [56] On 20 March 2018, Smith started The Thrill of It All Tour, which visited Europe, North America, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa until 2019. On 27 March 2018, they released "Pray" featuring American rapper Logic. On 17 August 2018, the singer collaborated as the main vocalist on Calvin Harris's new track "Promises".[57] The song became Smith's seventh number one hit on the UK Singles Chart and their first top song on Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart.[58] They also released the song "Fire on Fire" as the Watership Down soundtrack.
In January 2019, Smith released the song "Dancing with a Stranger" with Normani as a single and it reached the top ten in the UK, the US and other countries. In February, Smith performed a medley of songs alongside Calvin Harris, Rag'n'Bone Man and Dua Lipa at the 2019 Brit Awards held at the O2 Arena in London. "How Do You Sleep?" was released on 19 July 2019.[59]
In December 2019, the Official Charts Company named In the Lonely Hour the best-selling debut album of the 2010s and the sixth best-selling album of the decade in the UK, while at 10 weeks, Smith's albums collectively spent the fourth-most weeks at number one in the UK in the 2010s, behind Ed Sheeran, Adele and Eminem.[5] [6]
On 13 February 2020, Smith revealed that a third studio album, then titled To Die For, was scheduled to be released on 1 May.[60] On 30 March, Smith announced that, due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they would be delaying the release of their third album and would include a number of changes to the album track list and the title, as they would continue to work on it. However, they did state that it would still be released sometime within 2020.[61] "I'm Ready", a collaboration with American singer Demi Lovato was released on 16 April and charted well in the top 40 of several countries.[62] On 6 July, Smith released their cover of Coldplay's "Fix You". They had originally performed the song earlier in May for the iHeartRadio Living Room Series. On 17 September, they released a new single, "Diamonds", and then announced the new title for their third album, Love Goes, which was released on 30 October.[63] On 29 September they announced that they would be performing a livestream concert on 30 October from Abbey Road Studios in London, their only live performance of 2020.[64] The concert featured guest appearances by British actress Jade Anouka on "My Oasis" and singer Labrinth on "Love Goes", and included a cover version of "Time After Time", which drew praise from the song's original singer and writer Cyndi Lauper.[65] The concert was recorded and released as a live album, Love Goes: Live at Abbey Road Studios, on 19 March 2021.[66] The same year, Smith recorded a cover of "You Will Be Found", in collaboration with Summer Walker, for the soundtrack album of the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. Their version of the song also plays during the closing credits of the film itself.[67]
2022–present: Gloria
On 25 August 2022, Smith announced that they had collaborated with German singer Kim Petras on a song titled "Unholy", with Petras calling it "the best song" she has been part of.[68] The first single from Smith's fourth studio album Gloria, it reached number one in the UK, the US (Smith's first US chart topper), Australia and other markets.[69] [70] The song made Smith and Petras the first openly non-binary and first openly transgender musicians, respectively, to release a song that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. On 18 November, Smith released the single "Night Before Christmas", which was added to their EP The Holly & the Ivy.[71] Gloria was released on 27 January 2023, garnering generally favourable reviews from critics.[72] [73] [74]
In February 2023, Smith and Petras won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Unholy". This made Smith the first openly non-binary artist to win a Grammy, and Petras the first openly transgender artist to win a major-category Grammy.[75] In April of that year, Smith embarked on the Gloria World Tour to promote the album. The concert tour visited Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania throughout the year. In July 2023, Smith and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris collaborated for a second time, and released a song titled "Desire" on 28 July 2023 with Sony Music.[76] [77] The song peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.[78]
Artistry
Influences
Smith cited Adele and Amy Winehouse as primary influences.[79] [80] They admire Adele's "honesty in her music" and the way she has handled fame; they expressed a wish to maintain a similar public image.[79] Winehouse's debut album Frank was the first album Smith ever bought.[81] Early in their career, Smith received advice from Mary J. Blige and Chaka Khan, both of whom they listened to during their youth; Smith said that this inspired them to offer help to new artists themself.[81] They called Taylor Swift a "role model" and praised her "soulfulness" as well as her "honesty".[81]
Smith stated that the story of Lady Gaga's career beginnings encouraged them to move to London in order to start their own career.[15] [82] They also credited her with helping them come out as non-binary.[83] Smith described Robyn as a major influence on Love Goes and said that they listened to her "nonstop" while making the album because they "could dance and be sad at the same time and feel empowered".[84] They further cited Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera as sources of inspiration and empowerment.[82] [84] Speaking to Rolling Stone in January 2016, Smith named Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey as the greatest R&B voices.[85] [86] Smith's other influences include Britney Spears[87] and Brandy.[88]
In an October 2017 interview for Attitude magazine, Smith spoke of the impact of their close friend Ed Sheeran's success: "It makes you push yourself. Watching him this past year has just been incredible, but yeah, of course it makes me hungry."[89] They had previously mentioned to GQ in January 2015 that they "envy the competition that people like [Frank] Sinatra would have ... because you could tell he was working off them".[81]
Vocal style
A VH1 profile of Smith's vocal coach Joanna Eden noted that Smith's vocal range "can soar from baritone to tenor for dramatic effect".[90] Smith places a lot of emphasis on their voice and stated they tried to make it the main element of their debut album In the Lonely Hour.[15] Following the release of the album, their vocals were often compared to those of Adele.[91] [92] Jessica Robertson of The Fader considers that Smith represents "a return of the virtuosic vocalist in popular music", in the vein of Whitney Houston and Luther Vandross.[15] Jim Farber wrote for The New York Daily News that Smith is "utterly unafraid to sound feminine";[93] Mary J. Blige thought that Smith was a black woman when she first heard them sing on Disclosure's "Latch".[82] Asked about the "diva quality" of their voice, Smith remarked in January 2014:
Personal life
In May 2014, Smith came out to the public as gay and acknowledged they had been in a brief relationship with actor and model Jonathan Zeizel.[94] [95] In 2015, at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards when "Stay with Me" won an award for Record of the Year, they said, "I want to thank the man who this record is about, who I fell in love with last year. Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys!"[96] In October 2017, Smith stated that their latest album, The Thrill of It All, showed "the gay guy I've become".[97] In September 2017, Smith revealed a relationship with actor Brandon Flynn in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In June 2018, it was announced that Smith and Flynn had split after nine months of dating.[98]
In October 2017, Smith came out as genderqueer,[99] saying, "I feel just as much a woman as I am a man" and speaking of a period in their youth where they "didn't own a piece of male clothing and would wear full makeup while attending school".[100] [101] In September 2019, they came out as non-binary and changed their pronouns to they/them, stating, "After a lifetime of being at war with my gender I've decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out..."[102] [103]
Smith has struggled with body image issues since preteen years and been open about this in interviews. They identify as a feminist.[104]
Smith is the godparent of close friend and collaborator Jimmy Napes's son.[105]
Discography
See main article: Sam Smith discography.
Tours
Filmography
Awards and nominations
See main article: List of awards and nominations received by Sam Smith.
See also
External links
- Profile, samsmithsinger.com; accessed 14 February 2015.
- Smith profile, MTV.com; accessed 14 February 2015.
Notes and References
- Web site: Sam Smith announces debut album In the Lonely Hour, shares tour dates. 16 December 2013. Fact. 19 December 2013. 11 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160411021308/http://www.factmag.com/2013/12/16/sam-smith-announces-debut-album-in-the-lonely-hour-shares-tour-dates/. live.
- Web site: 'Money on My Mind' – EP by Sam Smith. January 2013. iTunes (UK). 19 December 2013. 19 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141119111600/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/money-on-my-mind-ep/id775088328. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith's new album 'Love Goes' will arrive October 30; listen to "Diamonds" now – Music News – ABC News Radio. 18 September 2020. abcnewsradioonline.com. en. 20 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920093203/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/9/17/sam-smiths-new-album-love-goes-will-arrive-october-30-listen.html.
- News: McEvoy . Colin . Beyoncé Made History at the 2023 Grammy Awards. She Wasn't the Only One. . . February 6, 2023 . February 11, 2023 . 11 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230211210133/https://www.biography.com/musicians/a42780435/2023-grammy-award-winners-who-made-history . live .
- News: Ed Sheeran named 'artist of the decade' . 11 December 2019 . . 29 November 2023 . 11 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191211082444/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50732153 . live .
- News: The UK's Official Top 100 biggest albums of the decade 2010 - 2019 . 29 November 2023 . Official Charts Company.
- Web site: Songwriter/Composer: Smith, Samuel Frederick . https://archive.today/20140131205650/http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&querytype=WriterID&keyid=1481472&keyname=SMITH+SAMUEL+FREDERICK&CAE=686735199&Affiliation=PRS . 31 January 2014 . . 17 May 2014 .
- News: 25 January 2007 . Sam Smith: What I've Learned as a Part Jew . Scoop News . 2024-07-18.
- Web site: Artist Biography . James . Wilkinson . AllMusic.com . 28 May 2014 . 8 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140608163750/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sam-smith-mn0002509942/biography . live .
- Web site: Banker claims she was sacked for promoting son's pop career. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4445012/Banker-claims-she-was-sacked-for-promoting-sons-pop-career.html . 11 January 2022 . subscription . live. Daily Telegraph reporter. 3 February 2009. Telegraph.co.uk. 13 February 2015.
- Web site: Saffron Walden's Sam Smith wins Oscar. 29 February 2016. 25 April 2021. 25 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210425181757/https://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/saffron-walden-s-sam-smith-wins-oscar-5336550. live.
- News: Wong . Curtis M. . Sam Smith Opens Up About Gender Identity, Body Image in Candid Interview . 17 March 2019 . HuffPost . 15 March 2019 . 29 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190329011029/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sam-smith-gender-identity-interview_n_5c8bf783e4b0d7f6b0f34199 . live .
- Web site: Alumni Youth Music Theatre UK. 17 December 2013. 17 December 2013. 25 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140425224513/http://www.youthmusictheatreuk.org/alumni.
- Web site: Sam Smith: "Every day I think about how insane this is". The Line Of Best Fit. 14 February 2014. 24 November 2014. 14 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114142808/http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/sam-smith-every-day-i-think-about-how-insane-this-is-145738. live.
- Web site: Cover Story: Sam Smith Opens up About Life and Love. The Fader. Jessica. Robertson. 28 May 2014. 28 May 2014. 14 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160414144917/http://www.thefader.com/2014/05/28/sam-smith-cover-story-interview/. live.
- Web site: Former Stortford schoolboy Sam Smith gears up for tonight's Brit awards. 19 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140531131254/http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/News/Bishops-Stortford/Former-Stortford-schoolboy-Sam-Smith-gears-up-for-tonights-Brit-Awards-20140219164127.htm. 31 May 2014.
- Web site: Home – cantate.co.uk. Cantate.co.uk. 13 February 2015. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141223002611/http://www.cantate.co.uk/. live.
- Web site: Roden . Ally . Sam Smith Shares Self-Penned "Queer Love Hymn," "Gloria" . Music Mayhem Magazine . 2023-01-21 . 2023-02-06 . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206222312/https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/sam-smith-shares-self-penned-queer-love-hymn-gloria/ . live .
- Book: Joe Allan. Sam Smith - The Biography. John Blake Publishing Limited. 2015. 978-1-78418-772-9.
- Web site: New: Sam Smith – Safe With Me. Crack in the Road. 24 July 2013. 24 July 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006123254/http://www.crackintheroad.com/music/23303-new-sam-smith-safe-with-me. 6 October 2014.
- Web site: iTunes – Music – Nirvana – EP by Sam Smith. iTunes. 17 September 2013. 27 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141027133213/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/nirvana-ep/id708375165. live.
- Web site: Brits announce Critics' Choice 2014 shortlist. BBC. 5 December 2013. 19 December 2013. 13 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213023305/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25216850. live.
- Web site: Sound of 2014 Profile: Sam Smith. BBC. 10 January 2014. 28 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140228151148/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01ky6g6/profiles/samsmith. live.
- News: Brits Critics' Choice Award 2014: Sam Smith announced as winner. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/brit-awards/10511427/Brits-Critics-Choice-Award-2014-Sam-Smith-announced-as-winner.html . 11 January 2022 . subscription . live. The Daily Telegraph. 12 December 2013. 19 December 2013.
- Web site: BBC Sound of 2014: Sam Smith . BBC . 10 January 2014 . 10 January 2014 . 10 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140110164557/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25635440 . live .
- Web site: The Angel of Cambridge: Sam Smith. Sound of Boston. Ollman. Jonah. 28 March 2014. 29 March 2014. 30 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160330013345/http://soundofboston.com/angel-cambridge-sam-smith/. live.
- News: Keith. Caulfield. Official: Taylor Swift's '1989' Debuts With 1.287 Million Sold In First Week. 4 November 2014. 4 November 2014. 20 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210120232630/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6304536/official-taylor-swifts-1989-debuts-with-1287-million-sold-in. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith's debut album on track to knock Coldplay-off Number 1. Official Charts Company. 6 November 2014. 29 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140529084805/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/sam-smiths-debut-album-on-track-to-knock-coldplay-off-number-1-3042/. live.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30641372 "UK album chart for 2014 dominated by British artists"
- Web site: I've Told You Now (Live at St Pancras Old Church, London): Sam Smith. Amazon UK. 27 December 2013. 11 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160402175656/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Told-Live-Pancras-Church-London/dp/B00HG1ANVM. 2 April 2016.
- Web site: iTunes – Music – Make It To Me – Single by Sam Smith. iTunes. 13 January 2014. 13 January 2014. 2 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140602222427/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/make-it-to-me-single/id785860884. live.
- Web site: Meet Sam Smith: The British Bartender Set To Take The 'Saturday Night Live' Stage. MTV. Montgomery. James. 27 March 2014. 29 March 2014. 31 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140331102509/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1724912/meet-sam-smith-british-bartender-set-take-saturday-night-live-stage.jhtml.
- Web site: Get To Know Sam Smith Before He Plays Saturday Night Live – Music News + Gossip – VH1 Music. VH1. Exton. Emily. 28 March 2014. 29 March 2014. 10 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150510071205/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2014-03-28/sam-smith-saturday-night-live/.
- Web site: Is Sam Smith The World's Next Great Male Diva? / Queerty. Queerty. Tharrett. Matthew. 27 March 2014. 29 March 2014. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001742/http://www.queerty.com/is-sam-smith-the-worlds-next-great-male-diva-20140327. live.
- https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20140525/7501/ "2014 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive (31 May 2014)"
- https://www.billboard.com/artist/5811918/Sam+Smith/chart?f=379 "Sam Smith Album & Single Chart History"
- News: Sam Smith Is Performing at the 2014 VMAs And Tears Are Unavoidable. 20 August 2014. 8 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160408181854/http://www.mtv.com/news/1902436/sam-smith-vma-perfomer/?utm=share_twitter.
- News: Band Aid 30: One Direction among celebrity line-up. Singh. Anita. The Daily Telegraph. 11 November 2014. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/11220735/Band-Aid-30-line-up-revealed.html. 11 January 2022. subscription. live. 6 December 2014.
- Web site: Update: Tom Petty awarded songwriting royalties for Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" – Consequence of Sound. Consequence of Sound. 29 January 2015. 16 August 2015. 18 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151218235728/http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/01/tom-petty-awarded-songwriting-royalties-for-sam-smiths-stay-with-me/. live.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31164562 "Grammy Awards: Sam Smith wins four prizes"
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30839967 "Brit Awards 2015: Winners list"
- News: Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars Lead Hot 100; Sam Smith, Fetty Wap Hit Top 10. Billboard. Gary. Trust. 18 March 2015. 20 March 2015. 21 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150321000012/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6502503/mark-ronson-bruno-mars-hot-100-sam-smith-fetty-wap. live.
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/31902835 "Sam Smith scores double number one in the UK charts"
- Billboard Music Awards 2015: See the Full Winners List. 17 May 2015. Billboard. 22 August 2015. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108105456/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/bbma/6568580/billboard-music-awards-2015-winners-list. live.
- Web site: Disclosure and Sam Smith Connect On "Omen". Complex Networks. 27 July 2015. 27 July 2015. 29 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150729233556/http://www.complex.com/music/2015/07/disclosure-new-song-and-video-omen-f-sam-smith. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith records Bond's Spectre theme tune. BBC News reporter. 8 September 2015. bbc.co.uk. 8 September 2015. 8 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150908190220/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34176304. live.
- News: Sam Smith's Stay With Me named song of the year. BBC. 20 October 2015. 21 June 2018. 27 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181127143748/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34571560. live.
- News: Golden Globes 2016: The Revenant wins top three awards. BBC. 11 January 2015. 21 June 2018. 27 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181127203505/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35267777. live.
- News: Oscar Nominations: The Complete List . The Hollywood Reporter . Ford . Rebecca . 14 January 2016 . 22 January 2016 . 21 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160121121016/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/oscar-nominations-complete-list-855398 . live .
- News: Brit Awards 2016: The nominations . BBC News Online . 14 January 2016 . 22 January 2016 . 17 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160117215320/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35319213 . live .
- Web site: Sam Smith wins Oscar for his James Bond Spectre theme song. Copsey. Rob. 29 February 2016. Official Charts Company. 6 March 2016. 2 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160302011319/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/sam-smith-wins-oscar-for-his-james-bond-spectre-theme-song-writings-on-the-wall__13954/. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith Gaffes at Oscars with Misinformed Acceptance Speech, Shaky Performance. 29 February 2016. Music Times. 1 March 2016. 1 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160301100127/http://www.musictimes.com/articles/66393/20160229/sam-smith-mistakenly-thought-first-openly-gay-man-win-oscar.htm. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith, the Only Openly Gay Oscar Winner? Not Really . . Yonette . Joseph . 29 February 2016 . 2 March 2016 . 2 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160302001014/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/arts/sam-smith-the-only-openly-gay-oscar-winner-not-really.html . live .
- Web site: White. Jack. Sam Smith scoops his sixth UK Number 1 single with Too Good at Goodbyes. Official Charts Company. 15 September 2017. 15 September 2017. 18 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118062119/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/sam-smith-scoops-his-sixth-uk-number-1-single-with-too-good-at-goodbyes__20436/. live.
- News: Sam Smith Hits No. 1 on Billboard Artist 100, Thanks to 'The Thrill of It All' Debut. Billboard. 15 November 2017. 15 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171115025243/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8038264/sam-smith-billboard-artist-100-the-thrill-of-it-all. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith's The Thrill Of It All debuts at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart: "This is a dream come true". Official Charts Company. Rob Copsey. 10 November 2017. 10 November 2017. 13 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171113191512/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/sam-smith-s-the-thrill-of-it-all-debuts-at-number-1-on-the-official-albums-chart-this-is-a-dream-come-true-__20979/. live.
- Web site: Calvin Harris & Sam Smith Debut "Promises". www.thenocturnaltimes.com. 17 August 2018. en-US. 2 December 2018. 19 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180819084251/http://www.thenocturnaltimes.com/calvin-harris-sam-smith-debut-promises/. live.
- News: Calvin Harris Ties Rihanna for Most Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart No. 1s With 'Promises'. Billboard. 2 December 2018. 5 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181005124044/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8478334/calvin-harris-ties-rihanna-dance-mix-show-airplay-chart-toppers. live.
- 19 July 2019 . Sam Smith Dances His Feelings Away in 'How Do You Sleep?' Video . 1 May 2023 . Rolling Stone . 1 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501181921/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-sam-smith-how-do-you-sleep-video-860975/ . live .
- Web site: MTV. Trey Alston. 13 February 2020. 13 February 2020. SAM SMITH TEASES NEW ALBUM WITH A (LITERALLY) GRABBY PHOTO. 13 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200213180349/http://www.mtv.com/news/3156531/sam-smith-to-die-for-album-announcement/.
- Sam Smith Finally Released Their Emotional Cover of Coldplay's 'Fix You'. Billboard. Kaufamn. Gil. 6 July 2020. 9 July 2020. 11 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200711031044/https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/pop/9413785/sam-smith-releases-cover-coldplay-fix-you. live.
- Sam Smith & Demi Lovato Announce New Collaboration. Billboard. Peters. Mitchell. 13 April 2020. 12 April 2020. 17 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235716/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9356689/sam-smith-demi-lovato-tease-upcoming-song-collaboration. live.
- Spanos. Brittany. Brittany Spanos . 17 September 2020. Sam Smith Dances Solo in Electrifying 'Diamonds' Video. 13 February 2021. Rolling Stone. en-US. 28 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128202006/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sam-smith-diamonds-video-love-goes-1061100/. live.
- Brooks . Dave . Sam Smith Announces Virtual Concert From Abbey Road Studios . Billboard . 29 September 2020 . 14 April 2021 . 14 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414154126/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9457033/sam-smith-concert-abbey-road-studios . live .
- Blistein . Jon . Watch Sam Smith Cover Cyndi Lauper's 'Time After Time' at Abbey Road Studios . Rolling Stone . 19 March 2021 . 14 April 2021 . 10 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410020726/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sam-smith-time-after-time-cyndi-lauper-cover-1144650/ . live .
- Web site: Sam Smith Set To Release Abbey Road Livestream As Album. abbeyroad.com. 9 March 2021. 18 March 2021. 9 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210309150913/https://www.abbeyroad.com/news/sam-smith-set-to-release-abbey-road-livestream-as-album-2931.
- Web site: Dear Evan Hansen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Ben Platt, SZA, Sam Smith & Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. 24 September 2021. 31 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827084843/https://music.apple.com/us/album/1582547856. live.
- Sam Smith Teases Their 'Unholy' Collab With Kim Petras Is 'Coming Soon'. Billboard. Daw. Stephen. 25 August 2022. 26 August 2022. 25 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220825234700/https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/sam-smith-kim-petras-collab-unholy-coming-1235131010/. live.
- News: Sam Smith and Kim Petras set for fourth consecutive week at Number 1 with Unholy . 25 October 2022 . . 25 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025050011/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/sam-smith-and-kim-petras-set-for-fourth-consecutive-week-at-number-1-with-unholy__37595/ . live .
- Sam Smith & Kim Petras' 'Unholy' Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100. Trust. Gary. Billboard. 25 October 2022. 25 October 2022. 24 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221024180152/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sam-smith-kim-petras-unholy-number-one-hot-100-1235160237/. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith shares 'Night Before Christmas'. Iahn. Buddy. 18 November 2022. The Music Universe. 18 November 2022. 18 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221118185428/https://themusicuniverse.com/sam-smith-shares-night-before-christmas/. live.
- Web site: Gloria by Sam Smith review: Entire album feels slipshod and confused. Metro. Madden. Emma. 27 January 2023. 27 January 2023. 27 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230127060641/https://metro.co.uk/2023/01/27/gloria-by-sam-smith-review-entire-album-feels-slipshod-and-confused-18169798/. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith – 'Gloria' review: the most vital work of their career. NME. Levine. Nick. 27 January 2023. 27 January 2023. 17 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317012953/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/sam-smith-gloria-review-the-most-vital-work-of-their-career-3387484. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith: Gloria album review – well crafted but oh so sensible. Evening Standard. Smyth. David. 27 January 2023. 27 January 2023. 30 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230130011954/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/sam-smith-gloria-review-brits-song-of-the-year-unholy-b1055590.html. live.
- Kim Petras Makes History As First Openly Trans Woman to Win a Grammy. Jessica. Nicholson. Billboard. February 5, 2023. February 6, 2023. 6 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230206134113/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/kim-petras-2023-grammy-win-makes-history-sam-smith-1235213081/. live.
- Web site: Calvin Harris & Sam Smith Team Up for New Song "Desire" . 2023-08-27 . pm studio world wide news . ja . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927150538/https://www.pmstudio.com/music/20230728-20466 . live .
- Web site: Calvin Harris Teases New Sam Smith Collaboration [Listen] - That Grape Juice ]. 2023-08-27 . thatgrapejuice.net . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927150637/https://thatgrapejuice.net/2023/06/calvin-harris-teases-new-sam-smith-collaboration-listen/ . live .
- Calvin Harris . 2023-08-27 . Billboard . en-US . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220130150429/https://www.billboard.com/artist/calvin-harris/ . live .
- Web site: "I Look Up To Her" – Sam Smith On Being Inspired By Adele. 12 December 2014. 23 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160323185806/http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/sam-smith/news/adele-inspiration/. live.
- "This Week's Fresh Music" (17 May 2014). 4Music. Retrieved 28 July 2015
- Wallace. Amy. Sam Smith: The New Face of Soul. 6 January 2015. GQ. 7 March 2021. 14 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414131215/https://www.gq.com/story/sam-smith-new-rat-pack. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith on Lady Gaga, Tom Petty, Boy George ... and his next album. Adams. Cameron. 15 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207070048/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/sam-smith-on-lady-gaga-tom-petty-boy-george-and-his-next-album/news-story/9e8a23f4c7d8d17f4089fb1a1f10856f. 7 February 2018. News Corporation Australia. 11 February 2022.
- Web site: Sam Smith credits Lady Gaga as the reason they came out as non-binary: "She gave me permission to be proud of my queerness". 28 October 2020. 4 June 2021. PinkNews. Josh. Milton. 4 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210604225332/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/28/sam-smith-lady-gaga-non-binary-come-out-makeup-vogue/. live.
- Why 'Love Goes' Is Sam Smith's 'First Proper Heartbreak Album'. 26 October 2020. 4 June 2021. Billboard. Stephen. Daw. 1 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201101021313/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9473046/sam-smith-love-goes-apple-music-interview. live.
- Sam Smith Breaks Down 10 Great R&B Voices. Rolling Stone. 13 May 2014. 21 January 2016. 18 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140518064227/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sam-smith-breaks-down-10-great-r-b-voices-20140513. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith: 5 Fact Facts About The 2015 Grammy Winner. 8 February 2015. 21 January 2016. International Business Times. Rebecka. Schumann. 28 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160128150048/http://www.ibtimes.com/sam-smith-5-fact-facts-about-2015-grammy-winner-1809396. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith Talks How Britney Spears Inspired their New Album, Love for Normani, & More [Watch]]. That Grape Juice. 12 August 2020. 10 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200810055943/https://thatgrapejuice.net/2019/09/sam-smith-talks-new-music-love-for-normani-britney-spears-inspired-their-new-album/. live.
- Web site: Brandy: I look forward to seeing SA through my daughter's eyes. 21 November 2017. 4 June 2021. News24. Graye. Morkel. Young artists like Rihanna, Sam Smith and Ariana Grande have credited her as an inspiration.. 4 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210604204459/https://www.news24.com/channel/music/news/brandy-i-look-forward-to-seeing-sa-through-my-daughters-eyes-20171121. live.
- News: Sam Smith: Watching Ed Sheeran makes me push myself. 13 September 2017. 29 June 2021. Belfast Telegraph. 29 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629160200/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/sam-smith-watching-ed-sheeran-makes-me-push-myself-36130631.html. live.
- Web site: Meet The Woman Who Taught Sam Smith How To Sing. VH1. Benjamin. Smith. 5 February 2015. 29 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20151014203259/http://www.vh1.com/news/54655/sam-smith-vocal-coach-joanna-eden-team-celeb. 14 October 2015.
- In the Lonely Hour (Album Review). 17 June 2014. 29 June 2021. Rolling Stone. Caryn. Granz. 15 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210515085815/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/in-the-lonely-hour-126709/. live.
- Web site: Review: Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour. 18 June 2014. 29 June 2021. Slant. Sal. Cinquemani. 30 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210830213921/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/sam-smith-in-the-lonely-hour/. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith's 'In the Lonely Hour' album review. The New York Daily News. Jim. Farber. 17 June 2014. 29 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20151014203259/http://www.vh1.com/news/54655/sam-smith-vocal-coach-joanna-eden-team-celeb. 14 October 2015. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith Opens Up About Being Gay, Reveals Album Is About a Guy Who Didn't Love Him Back. Malec. Brett. 29 May 2014. E!. 28 May 2014. 18 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151218013135/http://www.eonline.com/news/546310/sam-smith-opens-up-about-being-gay-reveals-album-is-about-a-guy-who-didn-t-love-him-back. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith confirms break-up on stage in Toronto. BBC. 22 January 2015. 22 January 2015. 23 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123173059/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/30931139. live.
- http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Sam-Smith-Grammys-Acceptance-Speeches-2015-36819757#photo-36819757 Sam Smith's acceptance speeches
- Web site: Sam Smith: 'I feel just as much a woman as I am man'. 24 October 2017. news.com.au. 25 October 2017. 8 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190308083125/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/sam-smith-i-feel-just-as-much-a-woman-as-i-am-man/news-story/1ffc1d95c5d053b246c89d80bd3887b5. live.
- News: Sam Smith and 13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn have split up after nine months. Glass. Jess. 28 June 2018. PinkNews. 28 June 2018. 28 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180628153734/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/06/28/sam-smith-brandon-flynn-split-entertainment-13-reasons-why/. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith Comes Out as Genderqueer: 'I Feel Just as Much Woman as I am Man'. Towle. Andy. 23 October 2017. Towleroad. 8 April 2018. 5 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190605033420/http://www.towleroad.com/2017/10/sam-smith-genderqueer-feel-just-much-woman-man/. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith Comes Out As Gender-Nonbinary. Voss. Brandon. Brandon Voss. 22 October 2017. www.newnownext.com. Logo TV. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190608111805/http://www.newnownext.com/sam-smith-comes-out-as-gender-nonbinary/10/2017/. 8 June 2019. 8 June 2019.
- News: Sam Smith Comes Out As Gender Queer. Firer. Alex. 23 October 2017. What's Trending. 18 March 2019. 2 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190902042540/http://whatstrending.com/pop/24989-sam-smith-comes-out-as-gender-queer/. live.
- Web site: Sam Smith changes pronouns to they/them . Hunte . Ben . 14 September 2019 . 14 September 2019 . BBC News . 14 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190914110655/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49688123 . live .
- Web site: Blackmom . Michael . Sam Smith Announced That Their Gender Pronouns Are They/Them . . 13 September 2019 . 14 September 2019 . 13 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190913215623/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/michaelblackmon/sam-smith-announced-that-their-preferred-gender-pronouns . live .
- Web site: The Interview: Grammy winner Sam Smith. Iannacci. Elio. 16 January 2015. Maclean's. 20 November 2015. 13 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190213065608/https://www.macleans.ca/culture/arts/the-interview-sam-smith-on-why-hes-a-feminist/. live.
- Web site: Instagram. Smith, Sam. 15 March 2015. 15 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407172116/https://www.instagram.com/p/0QED0yR2Tm/. 7 April 2016.
- Sam Smith Opens Up About Female Alter Ego 'Karamel' After Revealing Gender-Fluid Identity . . 3 November 2022 . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103153818/https://people.com/music/sam-smith-on-the-record-apple-music-documentary/ . live.
- Inside the Elton John Post-Grammys Tribute Concert, With Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, SZA and More (Watch) . . 13 March 2018 . 3 November 2022 . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103153818/https://variety.com/2018/music/news/inside-the-elton-john-post-grammys-tribute-concert-with-ed-sheeran-lady-gaga-miley-cyrus-sza-and-more-watch-1202725695/ . live.
- Fraser . Kristopher . 'And Just Like That' Season Two, Episode 10 Recap: Charlotte Sells Art to Sam Smith, Miranda Confronts Che and Carrie Goes to Coney Island . . 17 August 2023 . 19 August 2023 . 27 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927150538/https://wwd.com/pop-culture/culture-news/and-just-like-that-season-two-episode-ten-recap-1235769621/ . live .