'I'm truly overwhelmed': Sam Smith defies critics as new album Gloria tops the UK charts

Editor Katie Watkin's 4th Feb 2023

Pop Singer Sam Smith has bagged his third Number 1 album on this Friday as their latest record, Gloria, which topped the UK officials charts.  

The singer-songwriter, 30, who is come out as  non-binary and uses the  they/them pronouns, was left 'overwhelmed' with the success of the album, which was released just one week prior, on January 27.  

Talking with Official Charts, Sam Smith shared: 'Thank you to all my amazing sailors who have made Gloria this week's Number 1 album. 

'I'm truly overwhelmed and could not have done this without you. I love you all, this is for us'.  

And the nod comes amid a wave of controversy surrounding Sam and the raunchy music video for Not Here To Make Friends, a song which appears on the album.

The video has been a subject to backlash from critics, with many calling for it to be age restricted on platforms such as YouTube due to its controversial content.   

Smith dances alongside a large number of performers wearing corsets, suspenders and nipple tassels during the video in question.  

 In other scenes, the dancers are filmed slowly thrusting on a bed wearing only black leather underwear and later surrounding the artist, while dancing provocatively.   

The video has sparked many to people to question on social media to whether it was too much, as some said the video needs to be kept away from children and is akin to a Playboy photo shoot.   

One person  tweeted: 'It is vulgar...Sam Smith has a great voice, but his video is offensive. I certainly don't want my child to see it..'  'Less is more Sam. 

How can this been seen as 'empowering' is beyond me. A sign of this crazy times if someone thinks that's good!'   

While others were quick to defend the singer and point out how similarly risqué videos have been released by global artists such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax. Madonna's Like a Prayer, Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball and Queen's I Want to Break Free.   

Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain to debate the music video and defend the singer, radio presenter Shivani Dave also highlighted how past stars such as Madonna would not have received similar criticism if they had released such a video

For myself I love the video if artistic , creative and just beautiful and those who find the video offensive need to open their mind to what creativity is and I think the difference here is that Sam Smith was assigned male at birth and small closed mind are not used to seeing people who are assigned male at birth dancing around in lingerie and corsets and things like that.

'Either way, the chart success is yet another win for the star, who also reached Number 1 with 2014 record In The Lonely Hour and 2017's The Thrill Of It All, as 2020's Love Goes peaked at a respectable Number 2.