"Like I Can" is a song by English singer Sam Smith. It was released as a digital download on 5 December 2014 as the fifth single from their debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour (2014). The song was written by Smith and Matt Prime and produced by Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes and Mojam. It debuted and peaked at number 9 in the United Kingdom, becoming Smith's fifth UK top 10 single.
On 24 October 2014, Smith announced via Twitter that they would be releasing "Like I Can" as the fifth single from their debut album In the Lonely Hour. They posted, "Incredibly happy to announce that my next single will be LIKE I CAN!!".[2]
The song was used to describe painful, loneliness that love back to a man's unavoidable desire for love and minimise the painful emotion was throughout this song.
"Like I Can" is a power pop song written in the key of G♯ minor (sheet music originally published in G minor) at 100bpm. Smith's vocals span from F4 to D6.[3]
Commercial performanceedit
"Like I Can" peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, giving Smith their fifth UK top 10 single. It was the 100th biggest-selling song of 2014 in the United Kingdom,[4] as well as the 58th biggest in 2015. It has also charted at number 19 in New Zealand, number 20 in Australia, and number 99 in the United States.
Music videoedit
The music video is in black and white and features Smith and several men on what appears to be a stag party.[5]
On October 12, 2015, Jordan Smith and Regina Love covered as a duet battle through song choice selection in The Voice.
On February 25, 2016, Trent Harmon covered the song during the Top 10 round on the fifteenth season of American Idol.
On October 24, 2016, Dave Moisan sang this song during the knockout rounds in The Voice.
On April 4, 2023, Jerome Godwin III and Talia Smith covered as a duet battle through song choice selection in The Voice.
Appearances in mediaedit
In mid-August 2021, the song went viral on TikTok, appearing in more than 2.4M videos as of September 25, 2021 at 6:59 PM EDT.[7][8] This song also previously went viral over there back in May 2020.[9]
^"Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Sam Smith Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
^"Sam Smith Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
^"Sam Smith Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
^"Sam Smith Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201510 into search. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201508 into search. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Sam Smith – Like I Can". Tracklisten. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
^"Sam Smith: Like I Can" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
^"Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 14, 2015" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Sam Smith – Like I Can". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Sam Smith – Like I Can". VG-lista. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201514 into search. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201508 into search. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^"SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
^"New Zealand single certifications – Sam Smith – Like I Can". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^"Norwegian single certifications – Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Spanish single certifications – Sam Smith – Like I Can". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^"Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20, 2015 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 8 September 2017. Scroll to position 49 to view certification.
^"Like I Can - EP by Sam Smith". iTunes. January 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^"Like I Can - EP by Sam Smith". iTunes. January 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^"Like I Can - EP by Sam Smith". iTunes. January 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^"Like I Can - EP by Sam Smith". iTunes. January 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^"SAM SMITH - Like I Can (Universal) - Radio Date 27/02/2015". radioairplay.fm. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
^"FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2015.