Love Goes is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Sam Smith. It was released on 30 October 2020 through Capitol Records. The album serves as a follow-up to Smith's second studio album The Thrill of It All (2017).[4] The album was originally planned to be titled To Die For and was due for release on 1 May 2020 but was delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith also felt it was insensitive to use the word "die" due to what many people were going through. The album won a GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Music Artist category in April 2021.[5]
In an interview with Zach Sang in October 2019, Smith confirmed that their third album would be released in 2020, and said it would feature "fewer ballads and plenty of poppier tracks" than their previous albums, which they called an "acoustic-y, soulful version of pop music". Smith went on to explain that the reception to their recent songs had "almost given me permission to kinda do what I've always dreamed of doing but I was always scared to do, which is pop music."[6] Smith described the album as their "first proper heartbreak album". In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Smith said
"I'd say [this was] the first proper time I've been actually heartbroken. That feeling of they're gone, you can't sleep, the really, really bad feeling. The others were the idea of it and it was pure unrequited love. This, I would like to say that we loved each other. So, I definitely, definitely loved him. So yeah, it was proper."
On 15 July 2021, the title track of the album was featured in the final episode of season 2 of the Netflix series Never Have I Ever.
Release and titleedit
Originally planned to be titled To Die For, Smith's third album was due to be released on 1 May 2020, but was then pushed back to 5 June 2020.[8] By the end of March, Smith had confirmed that they had decided to delay the album till later in the year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] On their social media account, they posted the following message: "I have done a lot of thinking the last few weeks and feel that the title of my album and imminent release doesn't feel right ... I have to come to the decision to continue working on the album and make some important changes and additions. I will be renaming the album and pushing back the release date—both of which are to be confirmed at this time".[4]
On Friday 17 April, Smith explained the reasons for changing the album during an interview with Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2, stating that the "album had the word 'die' in the title, which I just felt really uncomfortable with, with what's happening [coronavirus] and it's so important for me to be sensitive to my fans and to people listening to my music. This has been a really sad and awful time for us, so I've changed the album title, I'm going to change the album cover."[10] The original cover art depicted Smith facing head-on with hands all around them. The hands on the album cover belong to Smith's "chosen family", Shea Diamond, Alok Menon, Jeff Hova, and Madison Phillips.[11] Upon postponing the album, Smith announced that a new cover art would be produced.[10]
"My Oasis" featuring Burna Boy was released as the lead single from the album on 30 July 2020, followed by the second single "Diamonds" on 18 September 2020. With the release of the album, the music video for "Kids Again" was released. It serves as the third single.[3]
On Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, Love Goes received an average score of 64 based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]Alexis Petridis's review for The Guardian described Love Goes as a "heartbreak album [that] plays it safe in hard times", noting that "Smith attempts to mix despair with euphoria on an album that delivers plenty of gloom but not much glitter". In terms of production, Petridis said the album did differ from Smith's previous work in that it swapped "retro-soul afflictions" for "misty pop-facing electronics, gentle tropical house shadings and Auto-Tuned backing vocals".[21] Robin Murray of Clash awarded the album six out of ten, calling it "a tale of heartbreak that could benefit from focus", noting that the track listing contained 17 songs and although there were some "exemplary pop moments", "it struggles to maintain momentum".[19] Similarly, The Independent's Fiona Sturges referred to Love Goes as one of the "reasonable break-up albums you're likely to hear" and that you would "long for it to land a few punches". Elsewhere in the review, Sturges said "For the most part, the mood here is pensive, the ballads plentiful and the pace glacial, with little evidence of the wild abandon that the singer supposedly longs for. It's to Smith's credit, but also their undoing, that they are just too damned nice."[25] In her review for NME, Ilana Kaplan said that although Smith said the album would have "fewer ballads and plenty of poppier tracks", "at its core its Smith's knack for sap and soul – and their singular, chilling vocals – that forms the base of the record. When it comes to songwriting, Smith oscillates towards what they know."[22]
In writing a review for The New York Times, Jon Pareles was more complimentary, focussing on Smith's voice, calling it "a prodigious instrument: a pearly, androgynous croon, at once powerful and defenseless." Noting Smith's work with familiar collaborators (Jimmy Napes, Guy Lawrence and Stargate, amongst others), Pareles said "they built neatly structured, immediately legible pop tracks that open up arena-sized reverberations and sometimes beckon toward the dance floor. Many of Smith's new songs also stir in a strong new emotion: the resentment of a lover betrayed. The bile and the beat cut through the self-pity, though it wouldn’t be a Sam Smith album without a good wallow or five.".[1]Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt was also complimentary of the album, saying "the record remains rooted in a sort of open-vein vulnerability; the bruised, tender manifesto of a Kid Who Cares Too Much." She praised the album's ballads: "it's the prettily composed ballads — wounded, swooning, steeped in regret — that tend to lead", particularly picking out "For the Lover That I Lost" and "Breaking Hearts".[20]
Commercial performanceedit
Love Goes debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 41,000 album-equivalent units (including 18,000 copies as pure album sales) in its first week.[26] This became Smith's third US top-ten album.[26] The album's songs also accumulated a total of 29.66 million on-demand streams that week.[26] In May 2021, Universal Music UK has stated that Love Goes has reached 4.5 million in global units.[27]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
In a weekly round-up of LGBT+/queer releases for Billboard that week, Stephen Daw said "regardless of what's being sung, Love Goes: Live at Abbey Road Studios shows off Smith's phenomenal vocal talent yet again."[78] Smith's cover of "Time After Time" was called "faithful" by Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein.[79]
Love Goes: Live at Abbey Road Studios was released on Netflix on 22 May 2021.[80]
Track listingedit
Love Goes: Live at Abbey Road Studios track listing
^ abPareles, Jon (28 October 2020). "Bile and the Beat Fight Heartbreak on Sam Smith's 'Love Goes'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^ abKellman, Andy (4 November 2020). "Love Goes – Sam Smith". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^ abcDaw, Stephen (26 October 2020). "Why 'Love Goes' Is Sam Smith's 'First Proper Heartbreak Album'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^ abDaw, Stephen (30 March 2020). "Sam Smith Pushes Back & Renames New Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
^"Disclosure, Schitt's Creek, Sam Smith, Happiest Season, I May Destroy You, CHIKA, Veneno, Star Trek: Discovery, The Boys in the Band, The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo among award recipients at the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
^Ramli, Sofiana (10 October 2019). "Sam Smith confirms new pop-driven album is coming in 2020". NME. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
^White, Jack (10 February 2020). "Sam Smith is teasing the release of their new single To Die For". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
^Murphy, Lauren (April 2020). "Sam Smith is changing the title of their new album because of the coronavirus". Entertainment.ie. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
^Shaffer, Claire (30 March 2020). "Sam Smith to Change Album Title, Push Back Release Date Due to COVID-19". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
^ abOwoseje, Toyin (17 April 2020). "Sam Smith renames their new album, saying 'To Die For' felt uncomfortable during a pandemic". CNN. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
^Street, Mikelle (13 February 2020). "Sam Smith Postpones Album, Changes Name of Project". Out. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
^Dinges, Gary (17 April 2020). "Sam Smith, Demi Lovato go glam as they sing about love struggles in new single, 'I'm Ready'". USA Today. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^Aniftos, Rania (16 April 2020). "Sam Smith & Demi Lovato Conquer the Olympics in Powerful 'I'm Ready' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^Delago, Sara (17 April 2020). "Sam Smith, Demi Lovato Created a Literal Drag Race in "I'm Ready" Music Video". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^Lotter, Judah Charles (16 April 2020). "'I'm Ready' Review: Sam Smith and Demi Lovato create magic in Olympic-inspired beautifully infectious video". Meaww. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^Whyte, Woodrow (24 April 2020). "Sam Smith reveals how Demi Lovato made them feel 'femme, queer and confident'". PopBuzz. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
^"Love Goes by Sam Smith reviews". Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^ ab"Critic Reviews for Love Goes – Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
^ abMurray, Robin (28 October 2020). "Sam Smith – Love Goes". Clash. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^ abGreenblatt, Leah (28 October 2020). "Sam Smith embraces pain on the lush 'Love Goes'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^ abcPetridis, Alexis (28 October 2020). "Sam Smith: Love Goes review – heartbreak album plays it safe in hard times". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^ abKaplan, Ilana (28 October 2020). "Sam Smith – 'Love Goes' review: pop balladeer leans even further into heartbreak than before". NME. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^Howard, Jackson (5 November 2020). "Sam Smith – Love Goes". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
^"Sam Smith Dances Through Sorrow on 'Love Goes'". Rolling Stone. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^Sturges, Fiona (28 October 2020). "Sam Smith review, Love Goes: A heart-on-sleeve breakup album that's just a little too nice". The Independent. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^ abcKeith Caulfield (8 November 2020). "Ariana Grande Claims Fifth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Positions'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
^"Universal's international marketing president Nickie Owen on streaming opportunities for UK artists". musicweek.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
^ ab"Sam Smith – Love Goes (Target Exclusive, Vinyl)". Target Corporation. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
^ ab"ラヴ・ゴーズ [CD]" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
^"Sam Smith – Love Goes – Credits". Samsmithworld.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
^"Australiancharts.com – Sam Smith – Love Goes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
^"Austriancharts.at – Sam Smith – Love Goes" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
^"Ultratop.be – Sam Smith – Love Goes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
^"Ultratop.be – Sam Smith – Love Goes" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
^"Sam Smith Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
^"Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 46.Týden 2020 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
^"Danishcharts.dk – Sam Smith – Love Goes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
^"Dutchcharts.nl – Sam Smith – Love Goes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
Cassette: "Love Goes Cassette". Sam Smith Official Store. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
CD: "Signed Love Goes CD". Sam Smith Official Store. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
Vinyl: "Love Goes Vinyl". Sam Smith Official Store. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
^Daw, Stephen (19 March 2021). "First Out: New Music From Mykki Blanco, Sam Smith, Starrah & More". Billboard Pride. Retrieved 18 April 2021 – via Billboard.
^Blistein, Jon (19 March 2021). "Watch Sam Smith Cover Cyndi Lauper's 'Time After Time' at Abbey Road Studios". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
^"Sam Smith brings Love Goes: Live At Abbey Road Studios to Netflix". Front View Magazine. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
^"Lescharts.com – Sam Smith – Love Goes - Live at Abbey Road Studios". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
^"Chart History - Sam Smith". Billboard. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
^"Music - Sam Smith Official Store". samsmithworld.com. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^"Sam Smith Discography". universal-music.co.jp. Retrieved 18 March 2021.