Sam Smith's most iconic performances for Radio 1 ever
It feels like forever ago since Sam Smith sweetly serenaded us out of Radio 1's Live Lounge Month 2017 and left us wanting more (OK, we're being dramatic; it was a little over a month ago).
Thankfully, our record-based prayers have been answered because A NEW SAM SMITH ALBUM IS UPON US! We'd cry but we're going to save our tears for the songs. You know how it is.
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Sam Smith ended Live Lounge Month with a special gig for a tiny audience
Listen to the glorious gig in its entirety here...
Yup, The Thrill Of It All is Sam's second studio album and officially graces our ears right about NOW. Very soon you'll find us crying in a corner somewhere, mourning the invisible love we're yet to lose. Again: you know how it is.
To commemorate this epic moment in our emotional calendar, Sam himself is swinging by Grimmy's studio today to play his favourite tracks from the new album. (Tune in here to catch it!)
But if that's not enough Sam Smith for you, why not indulge yourself thoroughly with these major Sam Smith moments from Radio 1 appearances past...
Sam performed for Radio 1 when he was a baby-faced newcomer
Money On My Mind was Sam's first solo UK No.1 single and he performed it for Radio 1 at our Future Festival in 2014, saying he hoped it would be the "beginning of what will hopefully be an incredible career." Well, so far so good.
He blew us away with Stay With Me at Radio 1's Big Weekend
Stay With Me was one of the biggest songs of 2014 and Sam brought his soulful sounds to Glasgow to perform for a huge audience of Radio 1 fans.
He left the gospel choir at home, but when you've got a tent packed with thousands of fan singing your hit back to you, who needs 'em?
He returned to the Live Lounge in 2016 as a global superstar
In two short years, Sam became one of the most successful young stars in the world, but returned to perform a spectacular version of his song Lay Me Down, which was released three times before eventually (deservedly) reaching No.1 in 2015 when it became the year's Red Nose Day release.
Sam visited Radio 1 with some of his professional BFFs
Sam Smith's first big hit was on Disclosure's iconic hit Latch and their relationship didn't end there. He performed their second hit Omen with the dance duo in a Live Lounge special in 2016 and the Lawrence brothers also produced his Oscar winning song, The Writing's On The Wall.
From one superstar to another
Way back when (2013 to be more precise) a fledgling Sam Smith showed us a flash of his pop ambitions when he performed a flawless cover of Bruno Mars' hit, When I Was Your Man in the Live Lounge.
He also does a very lovely Fast Car
You might know Fast Car from the Jonas Blue version (very lovely it is too) but the original, by Tracy Chapman, was much more soulful and much more - well - like the version Sam dropped for us in 2016.
Sam does not move like Drake
Drake's dancing in his Hotline Bling was almost as much a phenomenon as the song. Fortunately (perhaps) Sam kept the movements to a minimum when he performed a single-worthy cover of the Canadian superstar alongside Disclosure.
And other stars have shown Sam some serious love in the Live Lounge
Sam's songs have proven very popular with other major names when they've visited Radio 1.
Pink covered Stay With Me this year
"There are songs that come out once in a while that you wish you wrote, and that is one of them," said P!nk, when she performed as part of Live Lounge Month in 2017. She may not have written the song, but she absolutely smashed it.
Hozier put a bit of funk into Lay Me Down
Sam Smith does love a ballad but what would life be if we only listened to slow songs? Hozier took Lay Me Down and did what guests in the Live Lounge do best - flip a song we all know and totally re-imagine it. Consider this weepy completely reinvented.
Even Ed Sheeran has had a crack at Stay With Me
Ed Sheeran performed a faithful cover of Stay With Me in 2014, reminding us that he's not only a top notch songwriter but when he strips things back, he's one of the UK's most powerful vocalists too.
Listen to Sam Smith's Live Lounge special from 6pm on Friday 29 September
