I'm Not Here to Make Friends
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm Not Here to Make Friends
| cover = Sam Smith - I'm Not Here to Make Friends.jpeg
| alt = Golden uppercase text set against a black blackground that reads "Sam Smith – I'm Not Here to Make Friends", with the I in "Smith" being an anchor icon
| type = single
| artist = Sam Smith
| album = Gloria
| released = 27 January 2023
| genre = * Dance-pop
| length = 3:49 (album version)
3:14 (radio edit)
| label = Capitol
| writer = * Sam Smith
| producer = * Sam Smith
- Stargate
- Calvin Harris
| chronology = Sam Smith
| prev_title = Gimme
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title = Vulgar
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|hYjHhqLSiN4|"I'm Not Here to Make Friends"}}}}
}}
"I'm Not Here to Make Friends" is a song by English singer Sam Smith. It was released on 27 January 2023 by Capitol Records as the fourth single from Smith's 2023 studio album, Gloria. The song was produced by Calvin Harris, Stargate, and Smith, and features vocals by RuPaul and Jessie Reyez. Smith previously collaborated with Harris and Reyez on "Promises" in 2018.
Background
Sam Smith announced through a social media post their fourth studio album Gloria, attached with the official cover art, on 17 October 2022 after the release of the album's lead single "Unholy".{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=17 October 2022 |title=Sam Smith Announces Fourth Album 'Gloria': It 'Feels Like a Coming of Age' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sam-smith-announces-album-gloria-1234612540/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018072410/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sam-smith-announces-album-gloria-1234612540/ |url-status=live }}
The track was announced on 30 November 2022, via a clip on Smith's official social media platforms. In the clip, Smith is mouthing the lyrics to the song while clothed in a pashmina dress, but is slowly revealed to be solely wearing fishnets over underwear with exposed thighs.{{Cite magazine |last=Daw |first=Stephen |date=30 November 2022 |title=Sam Smith Is 'Not Here To Make Friends' in Pantless Song Teaser: Watch the Clip |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/sam-smith-im-not-here-to-make-friends-teaser-1235178783/ |access-date=21 January 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121181148/https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/sam-smith-im-not-here-to-make-friends-teaser-1235178783/ |url-status=live }}
Critical reception
The track received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Jamieson Cox of Pitchfork described the song as "a whirlwind of grown-up lust that evokes George Michael... circa 'Fastlove' and 'Outside.'"{{Cite web |title=Sam Smith: Gloria |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sam-smith-gloria/ |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212090651/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sam-smith-gloria/ |url-status=live }} Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times describes the song as "sleek, glittery... [and] taps into the pop-disco revival ignited by artists like Dua Lipa and Jessie Ware, taking its shout-along hook from a common reality show refrain."{{Cite news |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay |date=26 January 2023 |title=Sam Smith Seeks Self-Acceptance and Catharsis, and a Sound to Match |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/arts/music/sam-smith-gloria-review.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211142558/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/arts/music/sam-smith-gloria-review.html |archive-date=11 February 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}
Alexis Petridis of The Guardian refers to the track as one of the highlights of Gloria, describing it as a "disco-fied" track about "finding a one-night stand on the dancefloor."{{Cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=26 January 2023 |title=Sam Smith: Gloria review – so-called experimentation only offers more anodyne anguish |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/26/sam-smith-gloria-review-emi-fourth-album |access-date=3 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212060204/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/26/sam-smith-gloria-review-emi-fourth-album |url-status=live }} Petridis later states that "elsewhere, their voice proves a problem. If you sing about loving yourself or flirtation in the same disconsolate tone that you sing about being abandoned by your recent ex-partner... it’s going to have a levelling effect, making the material seem less varied."
= Year-end lists =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;"
|+Select year-end rankings of "I'm Not Here to Make Friends" ! scope="col" |Publication ! scope="col" |List ! scope="col" |Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" |Billboard
|The 100 Best Songs of 2023 (Staff Picks) |{{center|62}} |style="text-align:center" |{{Cite web |date=7 December 2023 |title=The 100 Best Songs of 2023: Staff Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-songs-2023/ryan-gosling-im-just-ken/ |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=www.billboard.com}} |
|---|
Music video
A music video for "I'm Not Here to Make Friends" was released on 27 January 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYjHhqLSiN4|title=Sam Smith - I'm Not Here to Make Friends|date=27 January 2023 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=4 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204022204/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYjHhqLSiN4|url-status=live}} It was directed by Tanu Muino. The video starts with Smith, wearing an enormous pink coat designed by Japanese fashion designer Tomo Koizumi, arriving at Ashridge, Hertfordshire, by helicopter. Once inside, dancers and drag queens surround the singer for a series of routines, with Smith wearing different outfits for each routine. It received controversy online due to its suggestive nature.{{Cite web |last1=Swash |first1=Rebecca |last2=Collins |first2=Riyah |date=31 January 2023 |title=What's behind the backlash to Sam Smith's video? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-64451510.amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206060800/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-64451510.amp |archive-date=6 February 2023 |access-date=6 February 2023}}
The video was nominated at the 2023 UK Music Video Awards for Best Pop Video – UK.{{cite web |last=Peacock |first=Tim |date=28 September 2023 |title=Stormzy, James Blake Among Nominees For 2023 U.K. Music Video Awards |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/stormzy-james-blake-2023-u-k-music-video-awards/ |accessdate=7 October 2023 |website=udiscovermusic}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col 2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "I'm Not Here to Make Friends" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|40|artist=Sam Smith, Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez|song=I'm Not Here to Make Friends|rowheader=true|access-date=10 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders|3|artist=Sam Smith, Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez|song=I'm Not Here to Make Friends|rowheader=true|access-date=26 March 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia|6|artist=Sam Smith, Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez|song=I'm Not Here to Make Friends|rowheader=true|access-date=2 April 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Canada|32|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|access-date=7 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadaac|26|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|access-date=8 April 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|18|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|access-date=1 April 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|19|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|access-date=1 April 2023}} |
| scope="row"| Croatia (HRT){{cite web|url=https://api.hrt.hr/media/f7/3e/arc-100-2023-05-08-20230510181425.pdf|title=HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1078 – Issue Date: May 8th 2023|publisher=HRT|access-date=12 May 2023|language=en|date=9 May 2023}}
| 2 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Czech Republic|9|year=2023|week=18|access-date=10 May 2023 |refname=Czech Republic |rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|France|178|artist=Sam Smith, Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez|song=I'm Not Here to Make Friends|rowheader=true|access-date=28 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|100|songid=2345775|artist=Sam Smith|song=I'm Not Here to Make Friends|rowheader=true|access-date=4 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|53|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|access-date=7 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Hungary|34|year=2023|week=17|rowheader=true|access-date=5 May 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Hungarysingle|30|year=2023|week=6|rowheader=true|access-date=16 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland4|32|date=20230203|rowheader=true|access-date=4 February 2023}} |
| scope="row"| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2023&month=02&day=13|title=Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of February 8, 2023|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=8 February 2023|archive-date=8 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208042512/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2023&month=02&day=13|url-status=live}}
| 5 |
| scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s5/|title=2023 5-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=AGATA|language=lt|date=3 February 2023|access-date=10 February 2023|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203121413/https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s5/|url-status=live}}
| 45 |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|31|year=2023|week=06|rowheader=true|access-date=11 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|64|artist=Sam Smith, Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez|song=I'm Not Here to Make Friends|rowheader=true|access-date=18 February 2023}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2023-02-03|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=6 February 2023|access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=4 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204015120/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5500|url-status=live}}
| 2 |
| scope="row"| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-airplay|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay|publisher=OLiS|language=Polish|access-date=6 March 2023|type=Select week 25.02.2023–03.03.2023.}}
| 12 |
| {{single chart|Portugal|68|artist=Sam Smith, Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez|song=I'm Not Here to Make Friends|rowheader=true|access-date=27 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Russiaradio|63|artist=Sam Smith feat. Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez|song=I'm Not Here To Make Friends|date=20230317-20230323|access-date=June 12, 2025|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"| San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50){{cite web |url=https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303040311/https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare |archive-date=3 March 2023 |title=Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 03/03/2023|language=it |publisher=San Marino RTV |date=3 March 2023 |access-date=25 July 2024}}
| 7 |
| {{single chart|Slovakia2|52|year=2023|week=10|rowheader=true|access-date=13 March 2023}} |
| scope="row"| South Korea (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=07&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=Digital Chart – Week 7 of 2023|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=23 February 2023}}
| 144 |
| scope="row"| Suriname (Nationale Top 40){{cite web|url=https://nationaletop40.sr/top-40-06-april-tot-13-april-2023/|title=Top 40 – 06 April Tot 13 April 2023|trans-title=Top 40 – April 6 to April 13, 2023|publisher=Nationale Top 40 Suriname|date=6 April 2023|access-date=5 July 2023}}
| 8 |
| scope="row"| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215?dspy=2023&dspp=6|title=Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 6|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=11 February 2023|archive-date=10 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210145411/https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215?dspy=2023&dspp=6|url-status=live}}
| 2 |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|50|artist=Sam Smith, Calvin Harris & Jessie Reyez|song=I'm Not Here to Make Friends|rowheader=true|access-date=12 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|UK|23|date=20230203|rowheader=true|access-date=4 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|71|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|access-date=7 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|25|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|access-date=25 February 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|24|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|access-date=25 February 2023}} |
{{col 2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Monthly chart performance for "I'm Not Here to Make Friends" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/russia/monthly/2023-03-01|title=Top Radio Hits Russia Monthly Chart March 2023|publisher=TopHit|access-date=31 March 2023|archive-date=18 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118172007/https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/russia/monthly/2023-03-01|url-status=dead}}
| 75 |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korea (Circle){{cite web |title=Digital Chart – February 2023 |url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=02&hitYear=2023&termGbn=month&yearTime=3 |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=Circle Chart |language=ko}}
| 152 |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "I'm Not Here to Make Friends" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2023|title=Jaaroverzichten 2023|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=7 January 2024}}
| 32 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2023|title=Rapports annuels 2023|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=7 January 2024}}
| 56 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "I'm Not Here to Make Friends"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=7 February 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2022|certyear=2025|artist=Sam Smith|title=I’m Not Here To Make Friends|access-date=22 May 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history and formats for "I'm Not Here to Make Friends" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| rowspan="2"| 27 January 2023 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | Capitol | {{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/3i0FkJYlU4MFfYkjFHXXAM|title=Spotify - I'm Not Here to Make Friends|publisher=Spotify|access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=4 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204093341/https://open.spotify.com/track/3i0FkJYlU4MFfYkjFHXXAM|url-status=live}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Italy |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| 30 January 2023 | rowspan="2"| Capitol |
| 31 January 2023
| Contemporary hit radio |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sam Smith}}
Category:Sam Smith (singer) songs
Category:Music video controversies
Category:Song recordings produced by Stargate (record producers)
Category:Song recordings produced by Calvin Harris
Category:Songs written by Sam Smith (singer)
Category:Songs written by Jessie Reyez
Category:Songs written by Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Category:Songs written by Tor Erik Hermansen
Category:Songs written by Calvin Harris