Sam Smith hurting more in The Thrill Of It All
Misery loves company and millions of miserable souls in the world today have found a kindred one in Sam Smith. The British singer made quite a splash three years ago with his debut album In The Lonely Hour. His singing was not only superb, he also had oodles of soul pouring out of every note. People unwittingly found themselves in his songs. They felt every word. Stay With Me, I’m Not The Only One and Like I Can could have been created for them.
I am sure that there are many more who now feel the same way about the music of Sam after listening to his latest, The Thrill Of It All. In The Lonely Hour was a good album but it had tentative moments where it seemed like Sam was thinking of going the pop or the EDM route. That does not happen in The Thrill Of It All. It feels like Sam has now totally accepted the truth that he was made to sing for the broken-hearted.
Truth to tell, the new album reminds me of Frank Sinatra during his In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning and I’m A Fool To Want You Days. Those songs were total commitments to misery. And now here is Sam going the whole hog in The Thrill Of It All, wallowing in heartbreak with songs like the hit single Too Good At Goodbyes. Why Too Good? Because he had already seen too many goodbyes. Ouch! Or Scars from too many times a heart is broken and One Day At A Time, because that is the only way one can cope, learning to live without him or her, One Day At A Time.
Sometime, in the future I would like to hear Sam do other stuff. That incredible voice of his must be capable of other types of songs. For now though, let him stay this way, mired in pain, in the sort of delicious agony that only the lovelorn can empathize with.
And now here is a look at the hit charts. The Top 20 tracks in the Top 100 Songs listing of Billboard Magazine are: Rockstar by Post Malone feat. 21 Savage; Havana by Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug; Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) by Cardi B; Too Good At Goodbyes by Sam Smith; Thunder by Imagine Dragons; 1-800-273-8255 by Logic feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid; Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man; Perfect by Ed Sheeran; What Lovers Do by Maroon 5 feat. SZA; Mi Gente by Ja Balvin & Willy William feat. Beyoncé.
Sorry Not Sorry by Demi Lovato; Gucci Gang by Lil Pump; No Limit by G-Eazy feat. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B; I Get The Bag by Gucci Mane feat. Migos; Bank Account by 21 Savage; Unforgettable by French Montana feat. Swae Lee; What About Us by Pink; Despacito by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber; Attention by Charlie Puth; and Bad At Love by Halsey.
The Top 20 albums are: The Thrill Of It All by Sam Smith; Red Pill Blues by Maroon 5; Heartbreak On A Full Moon by Chris Brown; Texoma Shore by Blake Shelton; Without Warning by 21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin’; Live In No Shoes Nation by Kenny Chesney; Unapologetically by Kelsea Ballerini; Sweet Southern Sugar by Kid Rock; Stoney by Post Malone; Divide by Ed Sheeran.
Luv Is Rage 2 by Lil Uzi Vert; Now 64 by Various Artists; Evolve by Imagine Dragons; Beautiful Trauma by Pink; American Teen by Khalid; Lil Pump by Lil Pump; Damn by Kendrick Lamar; Meaning of Life by Kelly Clarkson; Tell Me You Love Me by Demi Lovato; and Mr. Davis by Gucci Mane.
This tally is expected to be Sam’s final one at the top. Reputation by Taylor Swift has been released and you know how Swiftie is when it comes to her albums, she never settles for beginnings of less than No. 1.
Enjoy the week Sam. You can always make another trip to the top later. Besides, one can only cry so much. It is now time for a change of tempo, time to take the fighting stance and babble out the recriminations. And as her fans already know for sure, these are things that Taylor does very well.