Sam Smith is the darling of the hour in his home country of England and there’s no denying his vocal qualities. But it’s interesting to observe the path of “Stay With Me” as it forges its way through the world’s charts. The single was initially released in April of this year and was immediately well received in English-speaking countries such as the UK, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand (interestingly, it never peaked in Australia though). This week it finally reached the top spot in the Billboard charts. And now that the US have given it their stamp of approval, the song is inching up the charts in other countries as well, currently holding 8th place in Switzerland, 15th in Germany and 18th in Austria, for instance. And Smith’s performance of the song at this year’s VMAs (Sunday, 24 August) is bound to further boost its success.
So “Stay With Me” obviously strikes a chord with English-speaking nationalities, but what is it about this song, exactly? I’m personally not a big fan of this song – frankly, I find it a bit dull and generic, and definitely one of the weaker tracks on what is otherwise quite a decent debut album – but I’m going to try to find those qualities that make the song appealing to so many people.
Thanks for the song, Tom Petty!
The first thing that struck me about “Stay With Me” is the chorus’s blatant similarity with “I Won’t Back Down” (1989) by that American icon Tom Petty. I’m actually surprised there haven’t been any legal ramifications as yet. Just this week Shakira was found guilty of plagiarism, so we’ll see if Petty objects. But the thing is, taking advantage of familiarity is a clever strategic move. For inhabitants of English-speaking countries, “I Won’t Back Down” is a golden oldie that everyone knows, so what better marketing ploy than to reference (read: copy) that tune. Where “Stay Like Me” consists of the three chords vi – IV – I (Am – F – C), Tom Petty uses vi – V – I, a negligible difference overall, especially considering that the melody in the chorus is practically identical. In the 3rd line, Sam Smith’s melody does take a softer, more melismatic approach, while Tom Petty offers us harmonic variety by way of an unexpected IV – but let’s face it, they’re essentially the same. So it stands to reason that many people would respond to the familiarity of “Stay With Me”.
NOT a love song
The entry of a Hammond organ and gospel-inspired backing vocals are also a nod to American culture, and there are many people who relate to gospel music on a deep level. But for me, the use of these elements is plain bizarre. As a general rule, a gospel choir instantly adds power to a song because, after all, it’s not just one person telling you something, but 20, so you’d better believe it. Their job is to confirm and reinforce what the lead singer is saying, just as they would in the traditional church setting. But here’s the thing: “Stay With Me” is about a guy who feels an immense sense of emptiness and loneliness after a one-night stand, so the idea of having a whole choir underlining the idea of loneliness is just absurd to me. I think the arrangement is also misleading as to what the song is actually about. I’m pretty sure there are ill-informed brides out there who are requesting this song at their wedding in the erroneous belief that it’s a love song. I’d recommend reading through the entire lyrics. “Oh, won’t you stay with me? / ‘Cause you’re all I need” sounds sweet enough, but then “This ain’t love, it’s clear to see” shatters all illusions.
Ultimately, it is Sam Smith’s voice that carries the song, although I personally appreciate him more on songs like the soulful “I’m Not the Only One”, “Not In That Way”, or the 80s-inspired “Restart”.
Tough enough?
Sam Smith has said that his debut album, aptly titled “In The Lonely Hour”, was written for lonely people. And, for me, he generally has an aura of sadness about him. This is possibly what makes his voice so special. But when I see him in interviews, I feel kind of scared for this sweet, melancholy, vulnerable boy and sincerely hope that he can stand his ground in the music business and live to tell the tale.
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