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Pray (Sam Smith song)#Sam Smith and Logic version

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Pray

| cover = Sam Smith Pray (promotional).png

| border = yes

| type = Promotional single

| artist = Sam Smith

| album = The Thrill of It All

| released = {{start date|2017|10|6|df=y}}

| genre = R&B, gospel

| length = {{duration|m=3|s=41}}

| label = Capitol

| writer = *Larrance Dopson

| producer = *Timbaland

}}

"Pray" is a song by English singer and songwriter Sam Smith. It was written by Smith, Larrance Dopson, Darryl Pearson,

Timbaland, Jose Valasquez and Jimmy Napes, with production handled by Timbaland, Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice. The song was released on 6 October 2017 through Capitol Records, as a promotional single from Smith's second studio album, The Thrill of It All (2017).{{cite news|first=Bianca|last=Garwood|title=Sam Smith Shares "Pray" and Announces 'The Thrill of It All'|url=http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/sam-smith-pray-thrill-of-it-all#axzz4vYT3OR4T|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Ebony|date=9 October 2017}}{{cite news|first=Jem|last=Aswad|title=Sam Smith Drops Song 'Pray,' Album Due Nov. 3|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/sam-smith-drops-new-song-pray-album-due-nov-3-1202582534/|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Variety|date=6 October 2017}}{{cite news|first=David|last=Renshaw|title=Sam Smith teams with Timbaland for "Pray"|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/10/06/sam-smith-timbaland-pray|access-date=15 October 2017|work=The Fader|date=6 October 2017}} A new version of the song featuring American rapper Logic was released as the third single from the album on 29 March 2018.

Background

On 4 October 2017, Smith teased the song on social media by posting a video, alongside the song's release date.{{cite news|first=Joshua|last=Espinoza|title=Sam Smith Announces Title of New Album, Releases Second Single "Pray"|url=https://www.yahoo.com/music/sam-smith-announces-title-album-042958492.html|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Complex|date=6 October 2017|archive-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411115912/https://www.yahoo.com/music/sam-smith-announces-title-album-042958492.html|url-status=dead}} They tweeted shortly after the song's release: "I hope you love 'Pray', I hope it becomes your friend in those deep dark nights of confusion and loneliness. Love you all so much."{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Lewittes|title=Watch Sam Smith Perform 'Pray' And 'Too Good At Goodbyes' On 'SNL'|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2017-10-09-watch-sam-smith-perform-pray-and-too-good-at-goodbyes-on-snl/|access-date=15 October 2017|work=iHeartRadio|date=9 October 2017}} They explained to Billboard that "Pray" was prompted by time spent in Iraq with the charity War Child, saying: "I spent five days in Mosul and came back embarrassed that I had known so little about the world and other people's lives. I went back to that great Nina Simone quote, that it is important to speak about the times you live in. I hadn't done that; I'd just written a bunch of songs about love. So I wanted to write about how I'm now starting to open my eyes, at 25, to what is going on in the rest of the world, and that it's not always pretty."{{cite news|last=Lynch|first=Joe|title=Sam Smith Brings 'Too Good at Goodbyes,' 'Pray' to 'Saturday Night Live'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7990431/sam-smith-snl-too-good-at-goodbyes-pray|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Billboard|date=8 October 2017}}

Critical reception

Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone called "Pray" a "gospel-inspired track" that is "bolstered by a textbook but understated Timbaland beat".{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|title=Sam Smith Details New LP 'The Thrill of It All,' 2018 Tour|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sam-smith-details-new-lp-the-thrill-of-it-all-2018-tour-w507482|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Rolling Stone|date=6 October 2017}} Winston Cook-Wilson of Spin deemed it a "half spare R&B, half gospel shuffle downbeat track".{{cite news|first=Winston|last=Cook-Wilson|title=Sam Smith – "Pray"|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/10/sam-smith-pray-listen/|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Spin|date=6 October 2017}} Nick Reilly of NME wrote: "The soul-infused track features Timbaland on production duties, and comes complete with powerful choral backing."{{cite news|last=Reilly|first=Nick|title=Sam Smith releases new single 'Pray' and announces second album|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sam-smith-teams-timbaland-new-single-pray-2147779|access-date=15 October 2017|work=NME|date=6 October 2017}} Alex Ross of Vice regarded it as "a soulful downtempo ballad that showcases Smith's vocal versatility and conjures a little more drama", writing that it is more interesting when compared with "Too Good at Goodbyes".{{cite news|last=Ross|first=Alex|title=Here's Sam Smith Performing "Too Good at Goodbyes" and "Pray" on 'SNL'|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/heres-sam-smith-performing-too-good-at-goodbyes-and-pray-on-snl/|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Noisey|date=8 October 2017}} Lauren O'Neill of the same publication wrote that the song "pretty much follows the structure" of "Too Good at Goodbyes", making Smith's voice "predictable", which he called "a shame when there's so much to work with".{{cite news|last=O'Neill|first=Lauren|title=Sam Smith is Peak Sam Smith on His New Song with Timbaland, "Pray"|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/sam-smith-is-peak-sam-smith-on-his-new-song-with-timbaland-pray/|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Noisey|date=7 October 2017}} Mike Wass of Idolator wrote that the song "introduces aspects of hip-hop into [Smith's] sound and finds [them] singing about world issues".{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Wass|title=Sam Smith Performs "Too Good At Goodbyes" & "Pray" On 'SNL'|url=https://www.idolator.com/7669648/sam-smith-too-good-goodbyes-pray-snl|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Idolator|date=9 October 2017}}

Live performances

On 7 October 2017, Smith performed "Pray" and "Too Good at Goodbyes" on Saturday Night Live.{{cite news|first=Abel|last=Shifferaw|title=Watch Sam Smith's Stunning Performance of "Pray" and "Too Good at Goodbyes" on 'SNL'|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2017/10/sam-smith-performs-on-snl-host-gal-gadot|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Complex|date=8 October 2017}}{{cite news|first=Tyler|last=Schmitt|title=Watch Sam Smith Perform Songs from New Album on 'SNL'|url=http://www.variancemagazine.com/sights/8469-sam-smith-snl-performance|access-date=15 October 2017|work=Variance|date=8 October 2017}}

Formats and track listings

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download

| title1 = Pray

| length1 = 3:41

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download

| title1 = Pray

| note1 = MK mix

| length1 = 6:22

}}

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|title=Pray / Sam Smith TIDAL|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/79367643|website=Tidal|access-date=15 October 2017}}

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

  • Sam Smith – songwriting, vocals
  • Larrance Dopson – songwriting
  • Darryl Pearson – songwriting, guitar
  • Timbaland – songwriting, production, drum programming, drums, percussion, programming
  • Jose Valasquez – songwriting
  • Jimmy Napes – songwriting, production
  • Steve Fitzmaurice – production, engineering, mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering engineering
  • Gus Pirelli – engineering
  • Darren Heelis – engineering, drum programming
  • Jodi Milliner – bass guitar
  • LaDonna Harley-Peters – background vocals
  • Vula Malinga – background vocals
  • The LJ Singers – background vocals
  • Vicky Akintola – background vocals
  • Patrick Linton – background vocals
  • Isabel Grundy Gracefield – assistant recording engineering
  • Steph Marziano – assistant recording engineering
  • John Prestage – assistant recording engineering
  • Will Purton – assistant recording engineering
  • Darren Heelis – engineering, drum programming
  • Earl Harvin – drums, percussion
  • Ben Jones – guitar
  • Reuben James – organ
  • Lawrence Dopson – piano
  • Simon Hale – string arranging
  • Richard George – strings
  • Bruce White – strings
  • Everton Nelson – strings
  • Ian Burdge – strings
  • Lawrence Johnson – vocal arranging

{{div col end}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for "Pray" by Sam Smith

! scope="col"| Chart (2017–2018)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|41|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 November 2017}}
{{single chart|Austria|71|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 November 2017}}
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|7|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=24 February 2018}}
{{single chart|Wallonia Tip|5|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 May 2018}}
{{single chart|Canada|44|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 October 2017}}
{{single chart|Czechdigital|40|year=2017|week=41|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 October 2017}}
{{single chart|Denmark|38|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 November 2017}}
{{single chart|France|126|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 November 2017}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|29|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 November 2017}}
scope="row"| Italy (FIMI){{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:digital/year:2015/id:2577/page:1|title=Classifica settimanale WK 45|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=Italian|access-date=10 November 2017}}

| 98

scope="row"| Latvia (DigiTop100){{cite web |date=11 December 2017 |title=Singles chart for the Week 48, 2017 {{ndash}} Ending November 30, 2017 |url=https://tv3cdn.lv/2017/12/kad-atskaidrosies-piekap-par-kadu-muziku-maksa-latvijas-iedzivotaji-5a325a5f5f909.xlsx |access-date=8 April 2025 |publisher={{Ill|TV3.lv|lv|tv3.lv|lt=Skaties.lv}} |language=en}}

| 69

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/sam-smith-10/pray-2-29660 |title=Top 40 NL: Sam Smith - Pray|language=Dutch|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|date=25 November 2017|access-date=26 June 2018}}

|10

{{single chart|Dutch100|47|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=18 November 2017}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|32|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 November 2017}}
scope="row"| Philippines (Philippine Hot 100){{cite web|url=http://billboard.ph/billboardph-hot-100-october-30/|title=BillboardPH Hot 100|work=Billboard Philippines|access-date=18 November 2017}}

| 78

{{single chart|Portugal|50|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=22 November 2017}}
{{single chart|Scotland|34|date=20171110|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 November 2017}}
{{single chart|Slovakdigital2|31|year=2017|week=45|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 November 2017}}
{{single chart|Sweden|42|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 November 2017}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|27|artist=Sam Smith|song=Pray|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 October 2017}}
{{single chart|UK|26|date=20171110|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 November 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|55|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 October 2017}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|23|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 February 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|34|artist=Sam Smith|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 June 2018}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=6 June 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2017|relmonth=10|certyear=2024|artist=Sam Smith|title=Pray|access-date=10 April 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Pray|artist=Sam Smith|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=28 February 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Pray|artist=Sam Smith|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2017|certyear=2019|id=8448|access-date=21 September 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|title=Pray|artist=Sam Smith|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2017|certyear=2019|certref={{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/CertificacionesAmprofon/photos/a.1314716715319603/1314760608648547/?type=3|title=Certificados Musicales Amprofon|publisher=Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|language=es|access-date=5 October 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|title=Pray|artist=Sam Smith|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=13 May 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Sam Smith|title=Pray|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2020|access-date=7 October 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|title=Pray|artist=Sam Smith|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|id=file_2023-08-11-15-58-12.pdf|access-date=3 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Pray|artist=Sam Smith|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2017|certyear=2021|access-date=6 August 2021|id=5192-3877-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Pray|artist=Sam Smith|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2017|certyear=2018|access-date=14 August 2018}}

{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|artist=Sam Smith|title=Pray|award=Gold|relyear=2017|certyear=2018|source=artist|access-date=16 October 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true|streamsonly=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! Region

! Date

! Format

! Version

! Label

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"| Various

| 6 October 2017{{efn|name="iTunes1"|Released as a promotional single preceding the album The Thrill of It All release.}}

| rowspan="2"| Digital download

| Original

| rowspan="2"| Capitol

|

27 April 2018

| MK mix

| {{cite web|title=Pray (MK Mix) – Single by Sam Smith|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/pray-mk-remix-single/1372184368|publisher=iTunes Store|date=27 April 2018|access-date=30 April 2018}}

Note

{{notelist}}

Logic version

{{short description|2018 single by Sam Smith featuring Logic}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Pray

| cover = Sam Smith Pray.jpg

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Sam Smith featuring Logic

| album = The Thrill of It All

| released = {{start date|2018|3|29|df=y}}

| genre = R&B, gospel{{cite web|last=DeVille|first=Chris|title=Lil Dicky Is Making A Career Out Of Being Charismatic And Problematic In Equal Measure|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1988541/lil-dicky-is-making-a-career-out-of-being-charismatic-and-problematic-in-equal-measure/franchises/the-week-in-pop/|website=Stereogum|date=29 March 2018|access-date=3 April 2018|quote=The moribund gospel ballad “Pray” was butt before, and a couple verses from Logic ain’t gonna stop the remix from being butt.}}

| length = {{duration|m=3|s=41}}

| label = Capitol

| writer = *Larrance Dopson

  • Darryl Pearson
  • Sam Smith
  • Timothy Mosley
  • Jose Velazquez
  • Bobby Hall II({{abbr|add.|additional}})
  • James Napier

| producer = *Timbaland

  • Steve Fitzmaurice
  • Jimmy Napes

| chronology = Sam Smith

| prev_title = One Last Song

| prev_year = 2017

| next_title = Baby, You Make Me Crazy

| next_year = 2018

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Logic

| type = single

| prev_title = Everyday

| prev_year = 2018

| title = Pray

| year = 2018

| next_title = Start Again

| next_year = 2018

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|8h--kFui1JA|"Pray ft. Logic"}}}}

}}

On 29 March 2018, a remix of the song featuring American rapper Logic{{cite tweet|user=samsmithworld|last=Smith|first=Sam|author-link=Sam Smith (singer)|number=978638206055931904|title=My new single is PRAY feat. @Logic301 I am so excited for you to hear this new version of one of my favourite tracks on the album. It was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with Logic to create this, such an incredible artist x Released Thursday|date=27 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2018/03/29/new-music-sam-smith-logic-pray-remix/amp/|title=New Music: Sam Smith feat. Logic – 'Pray (Remix)' | Rap-Up|website=www.rap-up.com}}{{cite news | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8271744/sam-smith-logic-pray-remix | title=Sam Smith & Logic Team Up for 'Pray' Remix: Listen | date=29 March 2018 | work=Billboard | first=Mackenzie | last=Cummings-Grady | access-date=4 June 2019 }} was re-released to digital download and streaming on 27 April 2018.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-logic-join-sam-smith-on-reverent-new-version-of-pray-630006/|title=Hear Logic Join Sam Smith on Reverent New Version of 'Pray'|first1=Elias|last1=Leight|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=29 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/sam-smith-announces-new-single-pray-featuring-logic__22408/|title=Listen to Sam Smith's new single Pray featuring Logic|website=www.officialcharts.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/logic-connects-with-sam-smith-for-an-updated-version-of-pray-new-song.1977945.html|title=Logic Connects With Sam Smith For An Updated Version Of "Pray"|website=HotNewHipHop|date=29 March 2018}} It was also sent to contemporary hit radio formats in Australia, Italy and the United Kingdom as the third single from Smith's second studio album The Thrill of It All.

=Music videos=

The music video for "Pray" featuring Logic was released on 9 May 2018, directed by Joe Connor.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8455283/logic-sam-smith-pray-video|title=Sam Smith Drops Luxe New Video For 'Pray' Featuring Logic: Watch|magazine=Billboard}}

=Track listings=

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download

| title1 = Pray

| note1 = featuring Logic

| length1 = 3:41

}}

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Canadian Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sam-smith/chart-history/cns/|title=Sam Smith Chart History: Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales|work=Billboard |access-date=23 April 2020}}

| 12

scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Tip){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/weekchart.asp?cat=st&year=2018&date=20180512|title=Dutchcharts.nl – Dutch Single Tip – 12/05/2018|language=Dutch|publisher=MegaCharts|access-date=12 May 2018}}

| 19

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Sam Smith feat. Logic|title=Pray|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|source=radioscope|access-date=28 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

=Release history=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"| Germany

| rowspan="2"| 29 March 2018

| {{hlist|Contemporary hit radio|Digital download}}

| {{hlist|Universal Music Germany|Capitol Records}}

| {{Cite web|url=https://www.universal-music.de/sam-smith/musik/pray-feat-logic-450885|title=Pray feat. Logic}}

scope="row"| United Kingdom

| Radio premiere

| Capitol Records

|

scope="row"| Australia

| 30 March 2018

| rowspan="3"| Contemporary hit radio

| Universal Music Australia

| {{Cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/charts/issues/1183/1183-singles-to-radio/|title=Singles To Radio - The Music Network|website=themusicnetwork.com}}

scope="row"| United Kingdom

| 13 April 2018

| Capitol Records

| {{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist|title=BBC - Radio 1 - Playlist|publisher=BBC Radio 1|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415065228/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist|archivedate=15 April 2018|date=13 April 2018|access-date=13 April 2018}}

scope="row"| Italy

| rowspan="2"| 27 April 2018

| Universal

|{{cite web|url=https://www.earone.it/news/sam_smith_pray_feat_logic_radio_date_27_04_2018_28630308/|title=SAM SMITH - PRAY (feat. LOGIC) (Radio Date: 27-04-2018)|website=EarOne|date=27 April 2018|access-date=30 March 2020}}

scope="row"| Various

| {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}}

| Capitol Records

| {{cite web|title=Pray (feat. Logic) – Single by Sam Smith|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/pray-feat-logic-single/1363910799|website=iTunes Store|date=29 March 2018|access-date=30 April 2018}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{YouTube|hhREiAarjVY|Audio}}
  • {{YouTube|h0xHxZpNAHw|Single version audio}}

{{Sam Smith}}

{{Logic (musician)}}

Category:2010s ballads

Category:2017 songs

Category:2017 singles

Category:Sam Smith (singer) songs

Category:Logic (rapper) songs

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:Songs written by Sam Smith (singer)

Category:Songs written by Timbaland

Category:Songs written by Jimmy Napes

Category:Song recordings produced by Timbaland

Category:Songs written by Darryl Pearson (musician)

Category:Soul ballads

Category:Songs written by Larrance Dopson