sam smith: another adele/emeli sandé or something more interesting?

lol I just realized I live near a Sam Smith Park ;_;

Good thread.

Also I hadn't realized that "Latch" had become a hit in the U.S.! I think I noticed that it had debuted at #99 but missed its ascendance. Haven't heard it on the radio yet.

The thing about White Noise is a that it has a massive nagging hook that's nothing to do with the vocals, which Latch conspicuously lacks.

I've no idea what plays well on American radio, mind. Do they even play much massive stadium EDM?

― Matt DC, Monday, June 16, 2014 4:20 AM (5 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Lots of big hits in the US in recent years have been those dance tracks where a lot of the hook is a long instrumental riff. I seriously doubt anything from Disclosure would be a pop hit right now if not for Sam Smith's career taking off, though, "Latch" entered the charts here right on the heels of "La La La" and his SNL booking.

"latch" is def riding the sam smith wave to US radio but i think that song helped legitimize him -- even here -- to the point where it could even circle back like that in the first place

also this is a loose anecdotal hypothesis but based on having seen some disclosure and EDM shows, there is more audience crossover than you might think and i think there was a slow groundswell from that base that elevated "latch" in america finally as well

Yeah that def seems true. I think the dance features did a lot to set up his album

It makes zero sense that Ed Sheeran's album is more upbeat, and at times, dancier than Sam Smith's, considering the latter has built up his rep on dance numbers (not incl. "Stay With Me", I guess).

"restart" is incredible, i'm really mad that sam smith isn't trying to be millennial darryl hall or something

Yeah, we got stuck with chromeo dude

Update: Just heard "Latch" on the radio yesterday afternoon.

it's been getting radio play across the country.

Update: Just heard "Latch" on the radio yesterday afternoon.

― jaymc, Monday, June 23, 2014 5:50 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

fascinating and important update in the career of a major label artist

lol

I heard Ed Sheeran yesterday and it wasn't a pleasant experience.

there's some Ed Sheeran song getting play on VH-1 that is an uncanny Timberlake impersonation, it's kind of incredible

fascinating and important update in the career of a major label artist

No, it was an update on my post from Saturday in which I said I hadn't heard it on the radio yet.

good, i was dying for an update on that post

lexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

they def play "latch" on z100 all the time

where would ilm be without americans saying "I heard a thing on the radio"

very true, it's in the board's dna

ya interrupting the other vital work that goes on like

American radio only plays like 5 songs at any one time so it is a big deal when a new one is given the nod -- and noteworthy when one is inducted into the mainstream pop landscape months after its release. Also major label or not, non-Calvin Harris UK dance on the US charts is a new, interesting development, imo. Like what's next, Rudimental?

Anyway thank you for giving me a chance to explain myself on the I Love Music board's Sam Smith thread. Best wishes.

"restart" is incredible, i'm really mad that sam smith isn't trying to be millennial darryl hall or something

― le goon (J0rdan S.),

http://replygif.net/thumbnail/639.gif

where would ilm be without americans saying "I heard a thing on the radio"

I'm more a fan of "I heard this blasting from cars that drive past my place really slowly at night".

just swinging by right quick to say that id like to thank you all for reminding me of the name of the dude from saturday night live that bored the living shit out of me.

vocally he reminds me of antony without the high notes or range

music made by running a regression model on what would sell

I'm more a fan of "I heard this blasting from cars that drive past my place really slowly at night".

― MarkoP, Tuesday, June 24, 2014 10:21 AM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

"heard 'axel f' from a passing lorry whilst in the loo at halftime of the footy match"

sorry ill get me coat *goes to the back of the queue*

can I join you for a fag?

Tried to give more of this album a proper listen and I had to give up. I think I'm actively repulsed by something in his voice, but that causes more of a reaction in me than whatever else is going on in this mostly boilerplate collection of stately, predictable ballads.

I FUCKING LOVE THIS ALBUM AND FUIUD

I think his voice only really works on "Latch" and "Stay With Me". The other songs I've heard him sing have been super boring.

"Restart" is so sweet

i do like "restart" a lot but zzzzz for most of the rest

undeniably he works a narrow range of moods on this but that seems quite deliberate and he works them beautifully imo

lol I was talking to my coworker and he called Sam Smith "the male Adele" and I was like "...yes", except he meant it as a compliment

he's Bobby Darin.

He's the male Bobby Darin.

bobby darin never resembled a Goth frog so hurdle #1 says no

Kevin Spacey....as Sam Smith

Adele is not all that great but she's still so so so much better than Sam Smith

look, i said FUIUD

Wrote a big check to Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne.

http://www.factmag.com/2015/01/26/tom-petty-now-gets-songwriting-royalties-for-sam-smith-stay-with-me/

For all the zillion times I've heard "Stay," that never leapt out at me. But totally obvious now that they mention it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiWYmjBzx7s

as the people's wizard i will now let you kids in on the smart play

"latch" is a great song but fuck his solo stuff

restart is the jam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGzHgo7n4jM

It's not like "Stay" is such a remarkably original melody, I'll bet the similarity was completely accidental. Still, serves you right for coming up with such a lazy tune.

Yeah, so many songs sound like bits of other songs that it's kind of mysterious to me which ones get singled out as violators.

the ones that make a shitload of money