Sam Smith has revealed that they have re-recorded ‘Stay With Me’ for its 10th anniversary.
In a letter to their fans, the singer-songwriter revealed that ‘Stay With Me’ will follow in the veins of other tracks on their seminal debut album ‘In The Lonely Hour’, which is being re-recorded from the ground up to mark 10 years since its release.
However, the breakout hit ‘Stay With Me’ isn’t just being re-recorded, it’s also being rewritten. Smith wrote: “When me, Jimmy and Tourist wrote this song, none of us would’ve expected it to become what it has in the world. I will never forget Will (Tourist) playing those three chords on the piano. I stopped everything I was doing and said ‘what is that’. Those chords and this song still stir me in the same way to this day. I’ve never once got sick of singing it.”
They continued: “The meaning of this song changes for me whenever I sing it. The words ‘Stay With Me’ can mean a million different things and follow me throughout my life like an old friend.”
In 2019, Smith came out as non-binary, and has since been performing the track live with several reworks, changing line’s like “I’m just a man” to “baby understand“. These changes are also reflected in the new re-recordings.
Smith concluded: “This song is truly so special to me, so for the 10 year anniversary I re-recorded the track, which will be available on all platforms & physical. Including the updated lyric ‘but I still need love, baby understand’ which felt really important to me. It’s beautiful to know that sometimes, we can change the past.”
Sam Smith’s 10th anniversary edition of ‘In The Lonely Hour’ is due for release on August 2 – you can pre-save the record on digital platforms now. Until then, you can listen to the original version of ‘Stay With Me’ below.
Smith’s latest album ‘Gloria’ scored a four-star review upon its release in January 2023, with Nick Levine writing for NME: “Smith’s soulful voice is stunning throughout, and it’s surely a sign of confidence that several songs feature such prominent and intricate backing vocals… on an album that’s rich musically, thematically and above all, emotionally. Sam Smith has never sounded better because they’ve never been more themselves.”
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