Sam Smith is the only one

Sam Smith looks shy. However, when something raw comes up, he laughs out – really, really, really-- loud.

Who knows if he is shy at all? But you have to think as much after watching him when he is not singing. May be you haven’t seen him on CBS’ Ellen Show some time ago. That was just amazing. The host Ellen, herself at her best, gave him an unimaginable gift. That was a toilet brush encased in a glassbox. Along with his image inside was a message:

“Presented to Sam Smith to commemorate the hundreds of toilets you have scrubbed, and to certify that you will never have to do so again. Congratulations, Ellen”

Sam Smith read it aloud, breaking into peals of laughter. There might have been tears at the edges of his eyes. Yes, he scrubbed toilets in a bar two years ago. He is what people could otherwise say, “from toilet-scrubbing to Grammy”.

Samuel Frederick, now famous as Sam Smith, exploded onto limelight in 2012. Thanks to the hit single “Latch”. The song on the UK Singles Chart hovered at eleven. Soon there came more riveting piece, ‘La La La’, where he gave life to an old Bolivian legend of an abused boy quitting home and ending up in the company of a stray dog. The music and theme has been welcome relief from metallic, disturbing, kinky and hip- jutting stuff today. He has thus come close to where you find artists like Adam Lambart singing soulfully.

This time Sam Smith is the most talked-about name at Grammy awards, winning Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Song of the Year. All are chanting his hit number “Stay with Me”. He was long coming or many expected as much, when Time magazine collected last year’s best songs. Sam’s fourth single, “I am Not the Only One” ranked high there. The song about trust, love and cheating hit the nerves of people across the world, reaching top five in the USA and UK charts.

Born in London, this 23-year-old first tried hand in Jazz bands, picked up singing and writing skills from noted pianist Joanna Eden. His journey to stardom is not an easy one. Earlier in an interview, Sam described his difficulties with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He used to check taps home frequently to ensure they were not dripping.

Coming to his music, he stands away from the crowd of male singers today, may be because of his polished voice, tonal beauty, and of course, virtuosity to hit all varying notes. Listen to “Money On My Mind’, the second song from his 2014 debut album, for example. “ When I signed my deal I felt pressure.” It may be tellingly of the pressure he felt singing his debut album.

He simply flows, with the ease and flexibility only notable in female singers including Taylor Swift.

Sam is among the few singers today who render songs soulfully. We have enough of singers crying mouthful of curses, and walking rhythm of rap numbers with four-letter-word rattling at every beat. Many labels and singers shovel out just the stuff for dance halls. Yes, Sam treads a different path, at least for now. For evidence, listen to “Stay With Me” How sonorously emotional he gets here!

“Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand
But I still need love 'cause I'm just a man
These nights never seem to go to plan
I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand?”

Greatly influenced by great vocalist like Adele and Amy Winehouse, Sam spent most time listening to only female voices, until about two years ago. It did, indeed, shape his voice, let’s say. Although the major album to his credit is “The Lonely Hour” released in 2014, Sam now stands as a force for future.

(Some of the other articles of the columnist: Has Yoga got side effects?, A Michael Jackson in the making?, and The singer for all times)