Last Sunday he performed to a capacity crowd at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Scotland prior to topping the singles charts with the beautiful Stay With Me. The next day saw him release In The Lonely Hour, a flawless debut album which has received amazing reviews, it will probably be sitting at number one in the album chart tonight then on Friday he performed his biggest headline show to date at Camden's Roundhouse, which is a big deal but it played an even more important role as it was streamed live, part of the relaunch for Google Play (is there anything Google can't excel at?) and to top it off, during Alan Carr's Chatty Man the first ever live advert took place as he sung Stay With Me directly from the gig to the viewers. Impressive, right?
But, the mega talented Londoner created a needless distraction for himself as he stated in one interview that the debut album was about a boy. Firstly, who cares. Secondly, I'm pretty sure everybody knew anyway. And thirdly, he said that he just wanted to get it out there and not make it a big deal, which made it a big deal as headlines stated 'Sam Smith comes out as gay but doesn't want to make it a big deal', completely missing the point and taking the focus away from the release of one of the best records of 2014. Sexuality shouldn't be making the headlines, it's non of our business. Yes, you might argue that he is reaching out to others who are afraid of 'coming out' but it isn't comparable, I'm sure his family and friends knew, the general public don't really need to, it doesn't affect them. We should be living in a world where the day that sexuality isn't newsworthy.
And the other one is equally not newsworthy involving members of the best boy band around and some leaked footage regarding drugs. Obviously I'm taking about THAT video of One Direction's Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik smoking marijuana/dope/cannabis/whatever kids call it these days, on tour in Peru where it is legal. The fuss it has caused is crazy.
The band might have a young, influential fan base but do they, and their parents really expect this five twenty-somethings to be clean cut? They have grown up in prison-like circumstances and have done remarkably well not to screw up in the public eye so far, this is private footage, they aren't going on stage and lighting up on stage like Miley Cyrus or injecting heroin into the arm of fans like Pete Doherty, they are merely doing something that a lot of young lads do.
Their life consists of private flights, hotels and venues, it might sound like a dream lifestyle but there's no freedom. I question why the tabloid paper paid for the footage, it hasn't done anybody any good. When you are trying to ruin the career of the biggest band in the world, managed by one of the most powerful people in music it might not end pretty. One Direction are currently touring the UK's biggest stadiums, this isn't great timing as the number of tickets being resold on sites like Seatwave rose 79% since the footage was released which, if that was the parents 'protecting' their children from these bad boys then they'll be some unhappy kids out there. Some fans have turned against the band too, claiming their loyalty has gone because of this, Louis and Zayn aren't going out in public, shouting from the rooftops claiming drugs are good, in fact, in the footage they are making fun of what they are doing, knowing that it isn't the correct behavior but they are in their own space, imagine what else they get up to behind closed doors...
C'mon, let's get some perception here, it is hardly anything serious. No doubt, after the tour the boys will check themselves into rehab for some good PR, blaming it on exhaustion.
In other bits... Apple bought Dr Dre's headphones brand, Beats for $3 billion, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, Ed Sheeran features on their latest ad with his new heartbreak anthem Don't which can be watched below whilst his BFF Taylor Swift performed in China for the first time.
