Grammy and Oscar-winning singer Sam Smith and producer Jimmy Napes discuss the creation journey of 'Stay With Me,' highlighting emotional inspirations and choir-like effect in chorus. They reflect on hit songs and vulnerability in lyrics, capturing feelings of loneliness and longing for connection.
Sam Smith's emotional vulnerability and longing influenced the creation of 'Stay With Me'.
Evolution of 'Stay With Me' showcased personal growth and self-acceptance in Sam Smith's journey.
Deep dives
Sam Smith's Journey to Writing 'Stay With Me'
Sam Smith, a Grammy and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter, shared the story of creating 'Stay With Me'. Smith recalled the challenging time while working in a bar in London, hoping to break into the music industry. Meeting Jimmy Napes, their collaborator, led to the creation of their first successful song, 'Lay Me Down'. The collaboration continued, leading to another hit, 'Latch', with Disclosure, changing their career.
The Emotional Creation of 'Stay With Me'
The genesis of 'Stay With Me' highlighted Smith's emotional vulnerability and desperation for love. The simplicity of the three-chord structure resonated deeply with Smith, capturing feelings of loneliness and longing. The iconic chorus was enhanced by layering Smith's vocals to create a choir-like effect, evoking powerful emotions. Smith's personal journey and experiences significantly influenced the emotional depth of the song.
Evolution of 'Stay With Me' and Personal Reflections
The evolution of 'Stay With Me' extended to live performances and personal growth. Smith's self-discovery journey as a non-binary individual prompted a change in the lyrics. The song's impact on Smith's life was profound, leading to healing and newfound love experiences. Embracing personal authenticity, Smith replaced the word 'man' in the song with 'baby', reflecting growth and self-acceptance.
Sam Smith is a Grammy and Oscar-winning singer and songwriter from London, England. Their first album, In the Lonely Hour, came out in 2014. It went quintuple platinum in the US, and the biggest hit from that album is the song “Stay With Me,” which has over 2 billion streams on Spotify alone. For this episode, in honor of the song’s 10th anniversary, I talked to Sam about how “Stay With Me” was made. I also talked to Sam’s frequent collaborator, Jimmy Napes, who is an award-winning producer and songwriter as well. The two of them tell the story of how the song began, and how it turned into the hit that it became. And then, years later, how it changed again.
For more, visit songexploder.net/sam-smith.
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