Sam Smith & Mary J Blige • Stay With Me (Live)

It is tough to come up with anything witty or smart to say about a duet between Sam Smith and the wonderful Mary J. Blige. Sam seems to be the 'it' boy of the hour, but for once, the talented man lives up to the hype. And what more can be said about Mary J? I mean, that voice is so rich and sounds so damn sweet, and both connect to their material like few could. So when they came together to sing Smith's latest single, it was bound to be something special. When it happens on the stage of the famed Apollo Theater, because Mary J. Blige shows up unannounced to perform with Smith, well, that is just to great. This is the video from Mary J. Blige and Sam Smith singing "Stay With Me".

You can purchase "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith and featuring Mary J. Blige from iTunes. You can also find the song by Sam on his latest release, 'In the Lonely Hour'. You can purchase the album from iTunes and Amazon. For more about Sam Smith, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. For more about the incredible Mary J. Blige, visit her official website. You can also 'like' her on Facebook, and 'follow' her on Twitter.

Sam Smith • Stay With Me

Last month, I wrote about British soul singer Sam Smith, featuring music off his first EP, 'Nirvana'. (To read that post, click HERE) Following his amazing performance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend, he seems to be the name many are talking about. He performed two songs during the show, both to be tracks on his upcoming release, 'In The Lonely Hour'. The first song he performed was the stunning "Stay With Me", which also happens to have a brand new music video out. It was written by James Napier, William Phillips, and Smith. The soaring and dynamic ballad is so touching, and shows off the depth of Smith's voice. This is Sam Smith with his song "Stay With Me".

With his second performance, Sam took on the gorgeous "Lay Me Down". The song was written by James Napier, Elvin Smith and Smith. Napier had also co-written 'Latch', the song by Disclosure that brought featured vocalist Smith to the attention of many. The song is, at first listen, a simple song that shows off the versatility of Smith's talents, but a second listen will give much deeper understanding of the power and depth of his voice, and his ability to communicate an emotion-steeped performance. The song toys with moods and tempo, and is really amazing. This is Sam Smith with an acoustic version of "Lay Me Down".

It must be noted that in performing the two songs on 'Saturday Night Live', Smith delivered flawless vocals. The studio version of "Lay Me Down" is even more interesting, with the drums taking the lead in the musical landscape so beautifully painted by Smith. You can pre-order 'In the Lonely Hour' from iTunes, both the Deluxe Edition, as well as the Standard Edition. It is also available on Sam's online store. If you are too impatient to wait for the June 17th release, you can still find 'Nirvana' on iTunes and Amazon. For more about Sam Smith, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter

Great Music - Bette Midler in Las Vegas

Bette Midler, the Divine Miss M, is in the middle of a 2-year run in Las Vegas, at the Colosseum at Caesar's Palace. She does approximately 200 shows a year, and receiving a paycheck in the millions, and I am sure worth every penny. I have been a fan since the early 70s, with the Divine Miss M album, and the Clams on the Half Shell Revue. He voice is distinctive, and her humor biting at times, often raunchy. The show is a bit of a greatest hits presentation, including one of her early songs, Do You Wanna Dance?



As far as I am concerned Bette can [and has] sung any style she wants. From stylized period pieces to gorgeous ballads, she owns every song she sings. Another of the songs she sings is Stay With Me, which she sang in the movie The Rose. Her brilliance in singing this blues rock song is just amazing.



Bette has done so much during her career, it will take more than one post to handle it. She is a series in the making! But I thought I would kick it off with a Saturday night with Bette, as I can think of no better way to spend one than to fly to Las Vegas and catch the show. Ah, if dreams would come true. You can find out more about Bette at her website here. The show schedule and ticket purchases can be found here.