Sam Smith and Demi Lovato have teamed up to sing their hearts out in new Olympic-themed single ‘I’m Ready’.

Both the singers have faced struggles in the past two years but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they’re now ready to find love again. For starters, both Smith and Lovato both possess an insane vocal range; they can hit those unbelievable high notes in their sleep at this point. Thus, they do make use of this collaboration to show off their vocal chops and it’s completely suitable for the occasion. 

Sam Smith takes the first verse of the song, infusing it with their raw, needy energy. Their melody is tinged with heartbreak and desire, all the while maintaining a soft homage to a synth-based eighties feel. Their vocals are as layered and soothing as ever, which is why the chorus works as well as it does. The tempo simmers down and the piano chords strike hard, and Sam Smith handles the repetitive lines as well as they can. You’d think that Smith’s magnetic, touching voice would be enough to keep you going through the composition but Demi Lovato’s verse proves that the masterclass is only going to continue. She has one of the most authentic, herculean voices in the music industry, and the singer does her best to keep it in control. She graces the notes with ease and emotion, and she can’t help but go full-force into the vigorous vocal riffs we’ve seen from her in many of her previous works. 

Another thing to note about the accompanying music video is how it juxtaposes the thrill of training and competing in the Olympics to the transformative, life-changing experiencing of finding love. It’s a relevant comparison to make, and their lyrics just about sell the challenging but exhilarating journey of self-acceptance that eventually paves the way for finding romantic love. Both Lovato and Smith have had to work hard to love themselves in recent years — Lovato as a recovering addict and Smith as a gender non-conforming individual. But their personas in this video exemplify how they represent the modern musical artist: bold, unorthodox but deeply honest with themselves and the rest of the world. 

 Singer-songwriter     Pop 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.