- Title: UK: Pop sensation Sam Smith proud of reaction to coming out
- Date: 22nd July 2014
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 18, 2014) (REUTERS) SOMERSET HOUSE SUMMER SERIES STAGE SINGER, SAM SMITH, WALKING VARIOUS OF SMITH, AND TEAM, WATCHING SOUND CHECK SMITH WALKING SIGN READING "SAM SMITH" PANNING TO SMITH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER, SAM SMITH, SAYING: "I mean in my gut I was like, I feel like I've listened to music, American music my whole life, and
- Embargoed: 6th August 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA30099CCLMDZBS6ZI53MBE5Q30
- Story Text: British pop singer, Sam Smith, reflects on the success of his debut album and how it felt to come out to his fans, ahead of a live performance at Somerset House in London.
Story: British singer Sam Smith is riding a tidal wave of success on both sides of the Atlantic with "In the Lonely Hour" high on the British and American charts, but the 22-year-old Londoner says it was all inspired by a failed affair with a man.
Having previously not commented on his sexuality, Smith recently revealed in an interview with The Fader online music website that his album was about a man whom he loved, but who did not love him in return.
Asked by Reuters if the man in question knew the album was about him, Smith said, "I told him before the album came out and it gave me a lot of closure actually.
"It made, made the whole, it just put a book end at the end of the record. It was amazing. I'm so happy I did it."
Regarding his sexuality, Smith said, "I'm proud of the world and the people in the world for the way that they've reacted because they've hardly reacted which is exactly what we wanted."
When asked why he had only just come out Smith said, "You know, if you go through my record collection they're all straight people. They're all straight guys, straight women singing and I can still relate to their music, if you know what I mean.
"I hate the idea of just relating to one type of person, you know. I wanted, my dream from a young age, was the world to sing my music, you know, so I will forever make...that promise to myself that my music will, will hopefully, everyone will be able to relate to it. That's my aim."
Judging from the the critical reception and sales, people are relating to Smith's music in a big way.
The music trade publication Billboard recently listed "In the Lonely Hour" among its top 10 albums of the year so far, adding that "the U.K. singer's debut album met all expectations, as Smith showcased his various vulnerabilities over sumptuous production and with a magnetic vocal presence".
Regarding the British sales, Smith said, "I mean 100,000 records, that's, that's, do you get what I mean? I do the maths and it's really insane and I'm just so, just happy people like it.
The album went on to achieve record-breaking success in the United States, selling 166,000 copies in its opening week, which is more than any other debut album by a British male artist.
It charted at No. 2, pipped to the post by Lana Del Rey's 'Ultraviolence' which sold 182,000 to take the No. 1 spot. Smith's U.S. success has been propelled his performance on "Saturday Night Live", and the success of his single "Stay With Me" which has sold more than 1 million copies in the U.S.
Asked if his U.S. success came as a surprise, Smith said, "I mean in my gut I was like, I feel like I've listened to music, American music my whole life, and the album's been influenced by so many American artists that in my gut I was hoping that they would cling on to the, to the album but I, I honestly didn't think it would be like this.
"When I go over there it is just insane."
Smith begins a sold out tour of North America in September before returning to tour Britain in October. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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