Sam Smith ended Live Lounge Month with a special gig for a tiny audience
There's surely no better way to end Live Lounge Month 2017 than with the No.1 artist in the UK. Sam Smith performed an intimate 9-song show for fans in the BBC's Radio Theatre as his song Too Good At Goodbyes started its third week at the top of the charts.
He's one of the biggest pop stars in the UK, but he was worried his return wouldn't work out quite as well as it has.
"I was really scared that people wouldn't want to hear my voice again and I’m really thankful that they do, for now," he told Radio 1 online backstage before his performance.
"That was my biggest fear. I love what I do, I love my fans, I love singing. I feel very lucky to do what I do and I don't take that for granted."
Sam opened with Lay Me Down. So many feels
He performed hits such as Stay With Me, Like I Can, I'm Not The Only One and (of course) Too Good At Goodbyes. But with a new album on the horizon, Sam says he was keen to perform more new tunes in his Live Lounge performance.
"I wish I was performing more," he said.
"It feels exciting and it's just weird singing this song now that it's out there and people know it because I’ve listened to Too Good At Goodbyes so many times."
I'm Not The Only One sounded especially marvellous
Sam has made his name with songs about heartbreak, but says that during performances like this, he's never troubled by the emotions that inspired the songs.
I really enjoy singing these songs, there's no sadnessSam Smith
"Sometimes things come back but the songs from In The Lonely Hour, they don't even feel like my songs any more, they feel like other peoples," said Sam.
"When I sing them, I can't help but just feel happy now because I look back on my life and I feel like I’m in a much better place than I was when I wrote them. I really enjoy singing them, there's no sadness."
Leave Your Lover made us question our relationship status
But what's a Live Lounge performance without the cover versions? Sam covered Father Figure by George Michael and Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart by Alicia Keys and he says her song helped him get through his most recent heartache.
"That Alicia Keys song, that got me through my break up last year," he said.
"I used to just walk down the street and pretend to be Alicia Keys all over London, listening to it.
"It's so empowering to me, it just gives me goosebumps."
Here's Sam Smith living his best Alicia Keys daydream
And while many people aspire to be like Sam Smith, for him, appearing in the Live Lounge is a chance for him to escape and play out his celebrity fantasies while he performs.
"Live Lounge for me is a chance to pretend to be other artists and get out of my own head," he told us.
"My music is so personal that it's really nice to escape and be someone else.
"My first memory of Live Lounge is Adele singing a Cheryl Cole cover, Promise This, but there are so many songs I remember people singing that I think are so special."
Stay With Me is still a song of EPIC proportions
He's been especially moved by hearing other artists sing his songs when they've performed for us.
"Hearing Ed Sheeran sing Stay With Me was an amazing moment," he said.
"When I think of Live Lounge I think of freedom to become and sound like anything you want."
Sam covered George Michael, his favourite artist of all time
Sam has performed for Radio 1 several times during his career, but this is arguably the most special. He still remembers his first experience with Radio 1 when he first heard his music played on the station.
I love how Radio 1 showcases musicSam Smith
"My first memory of Radio 1 is me working in a bar in St Pauls and Annie Mac played Latch," he said.
"I was working in the bar, listening to Latch on Radio 1 while serving customers and it was one of the most magical experiences.
"Radio 1's support from the very beginning really changed my life. Not only that, I love how Radio 1 showcases music.
"I feel safe with Radio 1."
