Sam Smith already has one career milestone asterisk next to his name after he shelled out big money to Tom Petty for misappropriating the rocker’s “I Won’t Back Down” solo debut for his own breakout hit, “Stay With Me.”
Now the English crooner is risking another funny dot with the later King of Pop, Michael Jackson himself.
Smith’s much talked about James Bond theme song, “Writing’s on the Wall” was released earlier today, to instantaneous negative reviews. The Atlantic titled their scathing critic of the record, “Sam Smith’s Radically Wimpy James Bond Theme” and Twitter hasn’t been any less brutal.
One particular takeaway that has been gaining traction however, is the similarities to MJ’s 1995 “Earth Song.” The pro-green anthem was popular for its somber buildup and explosive crescendo courtesy of a furled orchestra, much like Smith’s James Bond theme blunder. A couple of weeks ago, he told his Instagram followers that the song was “one of the highlights of my career” but the people are letting him know otherwise.
MGM and Columbia Pictures probably should have just recruited Tyrese.
Look at BBC Radio 1 with the burn.
And there is plenty more where that can from.
https://twitter.com/wiggywalsh/status/647360640630308865
Check out even more critiques in the gallery.
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Photo: Capitol Records
