It's been 16 years since Sam Smith released their debut single, "Bad Day All Week," launching what would soon become a successful career full of iconic moments. The artist quickly rose to prominence in 2012 after being featured on Disclosure's hit song "Latch," setting Smith up to capture hearts with their 2014 debut album, In The Lonely Hour. To celebrate several years of Sam Smith blessing our ears with their mesmerizing vocals, here are our top picks for the Best Songs by Sam Smith.
1. "Stay With Me"
Starting off our list, it's only natural that we include Sam Smith's "Stay With Me." The track is from the artist's debut studio album and has become one of Smith's most popular songs to date. "Stay With Me" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has since accumulated over 2 billion streams on Spotify. Originally credited as being written by Smith and James Napier (aka Jimmy Napes), Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne later received co-writer credits on "Stay With Me" due to the song's similarities to Petty's "I Won't Back Down."
2. "Unholy (ft. Kim Petras)"
Dark and seductive, Sam Smith's "Unholy (ft. Kim Petras)" quickly became a standout hit from the artist's fourth studio album, Gloria. The track was released in 2022, featuring a sexually charged soundscape that's a heavy mix of dance-pop, electropop, and synth-pop. A commercial success for the collaborators, "Unholy (ft. Kim Petras)" went on to top charts and win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, making Petras the first openly transgender artist to win a major category at the Grammys.
3. "I'm Not The Only One"
Another hit from In The Lonely Hour, Sam Smith's "I'm Not the Only One" has had the pop world in a chokehold since its 2014 release. The track was a huge commercial hit for Smith, charting at number one in South Africa, in the top 3 in the UK, and in the top five in the US. Grappling with themes of infidelity, "I'm Not The Only One" is a poignant, emotional piano ballad inspired by the marriage of someone Smith and Jimmy Napes knew.
4. "Latch (Acoustic)"
Originally a song by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith, "Latch (Acoustic)" is a reimagined version of the dance-pop hit, turning the upbeat track into something soft and vulnerable. Smith's tender rendition of the song was included on the deluxe edition of their debut album and shows off their impressive vocal prowess over a simplistic background. While the Disclosure version of the track is extremely popular, "Latch (Acoustic)" has been a fan favorite, garnering over 385 million streams on Spotify.
5. "Fire On Fire"
Written and recorded for the 2018 Netflix adaptation of the 1972 novel Watership Down, Sam Smith's "Fire On Fire" is a powerful ballad for an equally powerful story. The track features Smith's commanding vocals backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, creating a dramatic and compelling pop soundscape. Also appearing on Smith's third studio album, Love Goes, "Fire On Fire" was a mild commercial success, charting in the top 40 in Sweden, Hungary, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, and Ireland.
6. "I Feel Love"
Originally a 1977 hit by Donna Summer, Sam Smith released their cover of "I Feel Love" in November of 2019. Smith described the track as a queer anthem and planned to include it on their third studio album, Love Goes, but later removed it due to the album's delayed release. The artist stayed to true to Summer's recording, only adding a slight modern flair to the disco/synth-pop chart topper.
7. "Lay Me Down"
Serving as the lead single from their debut album, Sam Smith's "Lay Me Down" was released February 15, 2013, peaking at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 25 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles in 2014. The track is a soulful, vulnerable ballad, exploring a longing for connection and the pain of being separated from a loved one. "Lay Me Down" has left a lasting impression on Smith's fanbase, having garnered over 319 million streams on Spotify.
8. "Dancing With A Stranger (with Normani)"
An addictive blend of disco, R&B, and pop, Sam Smith's "Dancing With A Stranger (with Normani)" is another iconic collaboration that became a huge commercial success. The track was released as a single in 2019, later appearing on Smith's third studio album, Love Goes. "Dancing With A Stranger" topped charts globally, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Still a significant part of Smith's catalog, "Dancing With A Stranger" has garnered over 1.4 billion streams on Spotify since its release.
What are your favorite songs by Sam Smith? Did you find any new favorites on our list? Let us know on our socials!
Written By Cheyenne Johnson
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