Sam Smith Sings Sweetly

Courtesy+of+Live+Nation

Courtesy of Live Nation

Grace Rector '17, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Section Editor

Sam Smith performed at the Forum on Thursday, January 29 and Friday, January 30. On the night of his Thursday performance there was excitement in the air as thousands of people flooded the forum. The crowd was incredible including people aging from 8 years old to 80 years old, same sex couples, heterosexual couples, dancers, singers, extroverts, introverts, and more! The diverse environment itself was evidence to how appealing and inspiring Sam Smith is as a person and artist.

George Ezra opened for Sam Smith and he took everyone by surprise. He performed for around 30 minutes and everyone seemed to enjoy his songs including “Budapest.” Sam Smith’s entrance began with flashing lights and echoes of his voice as the curtains dropped to reveal a silhouette. He emerged on a pedestal and let his flawless voice pour out into the thirsty ears of thousands of audience members.

The show went by too quickly. Every song made one feel like he was singing directly to them. In between songs Sam Smith shared a bit about his personal life and about some of the heartbreaks he had been through. He told the audience, “Many think I am a depressing person because I only write about heartbreak, but I am actually quite an enjoyable person.” He showed vulnerability and smiled throughout the entire concert.

On his Friday performance, there was a significant increase in the number of teenage girls, so the energy level increased greatly. At the end of his show, he sang an extra song and began to tear up. According to attendees of the concert, “Sam Smith makes you feel like you’re not ‘The Only One.’