Sam Smith sounds like a simple, common name, but this musical artist is far from ordinary. His name has blown up recently and pop music, in my opinion, has changed for the better because of him.
Besides the fact that his music is beautiful and 2 of his songs (Stay With Me and Latch) are currently in the Top 10 songs in America, he happens to be gay. The media is making a big deal out of his sexuality, but he seems to think it’s no biggie whatsoever. Smith told Fader Magazine earlier this summer, “Why is [my sexuality] a talking point? I'm singing, I'm making music, I'm performing my music — that's what should be the talking point. [...] It shouldn't be an issue, but it will be an issue. It's always an issue." Smith thinks his music is all anyone should be worrying about, but it is really exciting for pop culture, and our culture in general that a gay star is rising to the top of the charts.Â
While in the car this summer, I was listening to the American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest and Sam Smith was going to be on the show. I was excited and intrigued to hear him talk about his music. At that time, I had no idea he was gay. Once he was on the air with Ryan Seacrest and started talking about the album, he straight up said that his album was about being in love with a guy that didn’t love him back. I couldn’t believe what my ears had heard, and I just smiled.
His album, In The Lonely Hour is meant for everyone who has gone, or is going through heartbreak, no matter his or her sexual orientation. Smith explained, "I've tried to be clever with this album, because it's also important to me that my music reaches everybody. I've made my music so that it could be about anything and everybody — whether it's a guy, a female or a goat — and everybody can relate to that."Â
How awesome is that? Finally, an artist that makes music that everyone can relate to. While I do love listening to rap music, it seems that most of the lyrics and song meanings are all about the same thing…and are sometimes even kind of offensive. Like I said, I am the typical 21-year-old girl who screams when Lil Wayne comes on in the bar, but it just gets kind of old sometimes. Sam Smith’s music is so versatile and soulful; I don’t know how anyone wouldn’t love it.
I am so happy Sam Smith is using his musical talent to normalize sexuality, and I believe he is impacting more lives than he may think. If you haven’t listened to Sam Smith’s new album, In The Lonely Hour, give it a listen as soon as you can!
* quotes from mic.com...photos from rollingstone.com, latimes, and mtv *