"How Do You Sleep?" - Musical Analysis #2
"How Do You Sleep?"
Sam Smith
Sam Smith
Some Background
"How Do You Sleep?" was written by Sam Smith along with Savan Kotecha, Max Martin, and Ilya Salmanzadeh. It was released on July 19, 2019 and originated from England. "How Do You Sleep?" was also included on Sam Smith's third album, Love Goes, which was released in 2020 (Wikipedia). Additionally, Sam Smith announced that they identify as nonbinary in 2019, so I will be referring to Sam with them/their pronouns throughout this blog post.
My Feelings
I have been a big fan of Sam Smith for years, I admire their musical abilities and I love the style of music they produce.That being said, I don't really connect with this song emotionally regarding the lyrics, but I enjoy the composition of all the moving parts of the piece, including the music video I have linked in this post. I appreciate that this song was a result of a turning point in Sam Smith's life. As mentioned above, they came out as nonbinary soon before the release of "How Do You Sleep?" and the music video embodies their freedom from the restriction of gender norms and wholeheartedly embracing themselves as who they are for the world to see. In a statement about the release, Sam Smith said "this year, both personally and musically, I feel so Free," which exemplifies the singer's contentment with themself (Zemler). Struggling with self image is an issue that many can empathize with, so finding yourself and being confident in who you are is the best resolution anyone could ask for.
Lyrics
The lyrics tell of a tumultuous relationship between Sam and an ex-lover of theirs. The song begins with the first verse in which Sam finds themself on the verge of falling for their ex again after they reappear following a break in the relationship. However, the pre-chorus exposes the discovery of the fact that the ex was still talking to others and that Sam's love is just a game. The chorus questions how this person appears unbothered when the shame and pressure keeps Sam awake at night. The second verse expresses the realization of how the relationship has caused Sam to lose sight of who they are and act out of character. At the end of the verse, Sam concludes that the relationship is not worth losing their identity and character over (Moruz).
Form
The form of "How Do You Sleep?" follows a relatively common pattern for contemporary pop music. It has two verses, a pre-chorus, and the chorus. The song begins with the first first and is followed by a modified pre-chorus and the chorus. There is an instrumental break with some vocal interjections before the second verse. There is another pre-chorus and chorus before a second instrumental break/bridge which is followed by a final chorus.
Timbre
What I love about Sam Smith's voice is that it has a distinct rich sound with a touch of darkness. They generally sing with a lot of space in their mouth and with very open and wide vowels. In "How Do You Sleep?" Sam Smith deviated from their usual ballad style, for a more dreamy and upbeat piece. The use of the chiming synth at the beginning does well to convey a dreamy tone that aligns with the theme of the song. Sam also uses a lot of breath in their voice throughout the song which emphasizes the tone they are trying to express. There are also a handful of Christina Aguilera-esque vocal runs that are very clear and precise which gives the piece some attitude.
Tempo, Meter, and Rhythm
The tempo of the song falls within the average range of pop music which is anywhere between 100-130 bpm. "How Do You Sleep?" is in 4/4 or common time, which means there are four beats per measure. Sam Smith is known for incorporating long notes into their music and this song is no different. There aren't any long sustained notes, but there are plenty of words held for more than on beat. There is a steady percussion line that is maintained for nearly the entirety if the song with accents on the second and fourth beat.
Dynamics
It can be difficult to distinguish dynamics in the studio recording, but the dynamics can be implied by the timbre of Sam's voice. In both the verses, They are singing pretty quietly, which is can be determined by the amount of breathiness in their voice. It is very difficult to maintain that amount of air at a louder volume, not to mention it can be extremely damaging to your voice. The pre-chorus crescendos to a mezzo forte or moderately loud volume to build intensity. The chorus increases to the highest volume in the song, with the final chorus being the loudest and is accompanied by moderate belts.
Sources
Wikipedia. “How Do You Sleep? (Sam Smith Song).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 May 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Do_You_Sleep?_(Sam_Smith_song).
Zemler, Emily. “Sam Smith Dances His Feelings Away in 'How Do You Sleep?' Video.” Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2019, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-sam-smith-how-do-you-sleep-video-860975/.
Moruz, Alexandru. “Sam Smith Wonders How Do You Sleep In His Latest Single.” Lyreka, 8 Aug. 2019, www.lyreka.com/blog/sam-smith-wonders-how-do-you-sleep-in-his-latest-single.
This was a very thorough analysis. I cannot really think of anything to add other than agree that this is a high quality song from a high quality artist. I have always enjoyed Sam's music. Kudos on a great analysis.
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