If Sam Smith’s GLORIA tour could be summed up in one word, it would be: glorious.
On their final stop of the Asia leg of the tour, Smith graced the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 24 October with a night to remember. From the stunning stage designs to the high-octane choreography complementing the crooner’s hauntingly soulful vocals, the show was nothing short of magical.
The last we saw the English singer-songwriter in the Lion City was in 2018 and much has evolved since then. Over these five years, Smith has experienced a profound personal transformation.
On their return to Singapore, Smith felt sentimental: “It’s been five years since I’ve been here in Singapore and I just want to say to all of you, in this room right now, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for sticking by my side after all these years”.
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The GLORIA tour marked the ‘Stay With Me’ singer’s milestone in celebrating their newfound individuality as gender non-binary. “Tonight is about freedom, it’s about accepting who you are and loving yourself, loving your friends, loving your family, and I really just want you to feel the love. So please, Singapore, enjoy yourselves tonight, have fun, make some friends, stand up if you to, and dance if you want to, let’s have a good time,” Smith said.
Right from the moment we entered the stadium, we knew the show would be a feast for the eyes and ears. Not only did the enormous golden statue sprawled on stage caught our attention, but about a quarter of fans donned blinking red horns in light of Smith’s hit single ‘Unholy’.
Just as the stadium lights wiped out, Smith emerged on stage and cleverly categorised the show into three chapters – Love, Beauty, and Sex. Here are some highlights of the show.
SMITH SERENADES THE CROWD WITH TIMELESS TRACKS
The first chapter brought us back to Smith’s early days, as we were treated to the timeless tracks from the albums In The Lonely Hour, The Thrill Of It All, and Love Goes.
The 31-year-old opened the show with an astounding vocal display of ‘Stay With Me’, accompanied by an ensemble of backing singers which resulted in uproarious applause and cheers from fans. It’s safe to say that Smith’s vocal range still remain as powerful as ever, given the 20-track setlist prepared for the night.
In the stadium, it was a place for us to stay in touch with our emotions and connect with others who experienced romance and heartache. Through the beginning of the night, Smith encouraged fans to carry the choruses for ‘I’m Not The Only One’, ‘Like I Can’, ‘Too Good At Goodbyes’, and other classics.
Before moving on to the next chapter of the set, Smith dedicated ‘Dancing With A Stranger’, to fans who were “a little bit heartbroken”. This time, everyone got up to dance, which marked the start of an electrifying night.
SMITH SHARED THE STAGE WITH DEAR FRIENDS
In the second chapter, Smith shared a story behind the fourth studio album, Gloria: “I was thinking about this moment at that time when I made this album. It was a very, very different time in the world and when I made this record, we couldn’t do what we’re doing right now, together. It was the first time that I had stopped singing on stage since I was eight years old”.
Upon being away from music and missing dear friends, Smith took the time to appreciate the people who have been pushing the artist beyond comprehension.
“They are the reason why I keep doing what I’m doing, and why I love what I do so much. So, I promised myself back then that I’ll use this time and this tour, that I would take the time to properly celebrate those friends of mine. So Singapore, please, can you say hello to one of my best friends, and one of the most incredible talents that I’ve ever known,” Smith continued before calling upon LaDonna on stage.
Together, the stunning performers took our breath away as they joined forces for ‘Lay Me Down’. Following this, Smith also graciously invited Patrick to share the stage for ‘Love Goes’.
SMITH TURNS UP THE HEAT IN THE FINAL CHAPTER
On to the grand finale of the set, there’s no doubt that Smith left us spellbound. As the stadium was lit with deep crimson lighting, we knew we were in for the full-on theatrics. Smith came into view with the ethereal choral soundscapes blaring in the background and flawlessly served ‘Gloria’.
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As the anticipation grew closer to the epic performance of ‘Unholy’, everyone rose to their feet in preparation for the final showdown. Dressed in horned headwear and a sparkling pitchfork, the night intensified as Smith emerged on stage with a stellar display of dramatic choreographies and powerful vocals. The performance of 'Unholy' was a profound blend of music, theater, and raw emotion, that certainly had an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. The screens at the side of the stage briefly showcased German singer-songwriter Kim Petras, which garnered cheers from the crowd.
Setlist for Sam Smith: Gloria The Tour 2023 In Singapore:
- Stay With Me
- I’m Not The Only One
- Like I Can
- Too Good At Goodbyes
- Perfect
- Diamonds
- How Do You Sleep?
- Dancing With A Stranger
- Kissing You
- Lay Me Down
- Love Goes
- Gimme
- Lose You
- Promises
- I’m Not Here To Make Friends
- Latch
- I Feel Love
- Gloria
- Human Nature
- Unholy
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