As reported here, Sam Smith lays claim to his first Billboard 200 chart-topper thanks to his sophomore album, ‘The Thrill of It All.’
The critically acclaimed set, which spawned the the hit singles ‘Too Good at Goodbyes’ and ‘Pray,’ saw the singer/songwriter step into new sonic territory by enlisting the help of hitmaking producers Timbaland, Jimmy Napes, and many others. The result? A #1 debut to the tune of 237,000 SPS shifted its first week [his best opening numbers to date].
The project’s riskiness was also found in its lyrical content. Smith says there’s one person to thank for that: fellow chart-topper Rihanna…
“She inspires me a lot because I think she’s just unapologetically herself and that’s something that I’m trying to do. I want to be a role model, but I don’t want to be a perfect role model. Like, I go and have mad nights out, just like she would. And, like, I’m completely human, I’m going to make mistakes, and I say the wrong thing, and I’m quite dumb sometimes and say random (expletive) I shouldn’t say,” he said.
“I think we need (people like Rihanna) more because no one’s a robot,” he added.