Music video and single released for the duet’s “Lay Me Down”
by Bradley Donalson
Out British singer Sam Smith is fresh off of his record-setting first album, and he’s decided to give back. Smith’s first album, In the Lonely Hour, netted him four Grammys last month, the most ever won by a debut Brit, and now he’s teaming up with American “All of Me” crooner John Legend. The duo of smooth-voiced singers are offering up a variation of Smith’s “Lay Me Down” for U.K. charity Comic Relief.
The video provides behind-the-scenes moments from the song’s recording at Capitol Studios, as well as images of the children that are being helped by Comic Relief. Smith remarks, “‘Lay Me Down’ holds a very special place in my heart. Not only did I perform it at the Brits, I’m now going to perform it live on the Red Nose Day show with the extremely talented John Legend, which is so exciting.” And the feeling seems mutual with Legend commenting, “Sam is such a talented artist. We’ve been looking forward to working together for a while now. I’m so glad we could collaborate on such a great song and for such a great cause.”
The song beautifully mixes Smith’s plaintive vocal styling with Legend’s warmth to create something greater than its parts. Together they transform a song that might seem slightly melancholy into something that is ultimately hopeful and forward-looking.
This may have been done on purpose to better reflect the reason this twosome came together. This version of “Lay Me Down” has been designated the official single of Red Nose Day, a charity fundraising day offered biannually by Comic Relief. Comic Relief is an organization that works to affect the lives of poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged people in the U.K. and Africa. To date, they have raised over 950 million pounds for this goal. Smith recalls, “I recently visited a Comic Relief-funded project in my home town, which supports the young LGBT community in London. I’m extremely proud that my single will help raise money for projects like this and many others in the U.K. and across Africa.” As part of their dedication to this project, all the profits for this song will go directly to Comic Relief, and both Smith and Legend have waved any royalties in connection with the single. Smith and Legend will perform this ballad together live for the first and only time on March 13 for the BBC One broadcast from the Palladium in London for Comic Relief: Face the Funny.
The song is available for sale on all digital retailers.
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