Sam Fender - album #3 "People Watching"

funky

funky

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Coming later this year, he’s started introducing new songs in his live sets

Album at least somewhat partly produced by The War On Drugs, which means it’s going to be more Springsteen style heartland rock, and judging by this track that’s absolutely true

It sounds AMAZING

 
I am absolutely on board with a Fender / War On Drugs crossover

ALREADY ALBAM OF THE YEAR
 
People Watching is OUT on Friday YAY



It's basically Seventeen Going Under by way of The War On Drugs (who produced the album) so naturally it sounds spectacular

Album of the same name out in February!
 
I love that he is using Tish Murtha’s pictures for his artwork.

New song is a tune. Excited to see him next month.
 
In at #4 on Spotify daily, very impressive. Based on the 3 songs above I assume “Taste”’is on ACR now so he could be looking at a Top 3 new entry. Nice to get in there before the Christmas songs take over.
 
funky said:
In at #4 on Spotify daily, very impressive. Based on the 3 songs above I assume “Taste”’is on ACR now so he could be looking at a Top 3 new entry. Nice to get in there before the Christmas songs take over.
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Although down to #16 on day two.
 
That’s not too bad a hold, given there’s the two big Xmas ones above and he’s only 5k from #13.

He has physicals as well, so he should be an easy top ten, probably likely top five.
 
If you want to look at it that way, he's only 8k from #20. Either way, he's down on streams about 45% overnight. What's important is how it stabilises.
 
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He’s also #2 on iTunes which, if the numbers stay close around him, could make a difference of a few positions.
 
I wouldn’t be too surprised if he is #1/#2 in tonight’s update that is more sales based.
 
I mean #4 is still good for him, isn't it? Wherever it ends up, it's just a question of it being able to hold on and not fade away entirely before silly season is over.
 
I like him, but this feels a bit *too* similar to Seventeen Going Under to my ears?
 
lolly said:
I mean #4 is still good for him, isn't it? Wherever it ends up, it's just a question of it being able to hold on and not fade away entirely before silly season is over.
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Yeah I’d say it’s a success. I think it’s still about #5 today considering ACR on Spotify, so if he can hang about where he is he will hopefully be ok for the chart.
 
VoR said:
I like him, but this feels a bit *too* similar to Seventeen Going Under to my ears?
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It’s very similar but that’s his sound. Heartland Rock has a very specific vibe and if The War On Drugs are producing the album, it was never likely to change
 
I just feel slightly aggrieved because if a pop act rehashed their biggest hit to that degree, they’d be torn to shreds! :D

The verses are almost identical!
 
I do like Sam Fender, and I like 80s dramatic pop, but I don't care for Boys of Summer.

8/10
 
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Yes, I see the Boys Of Summer comparison.

I do like this a lot though. The production is absolutely exquisite.
 
A good time for me to plug one of my favourite songs of recent years, by the team he’s working with on the new album.

The production qualities are indeed exquisite. There is something undeniably nostalgic about the sound, and so uplifting too.

 
I absolutely adored I Don't Live Here Anymore

I also got nostalgia from it; perhaps because the synths are quite reminiscent of "Bette Davis Eyes"
 
It fell to #20 on Spotify, but then rose to #15 yesterday. I'm guessing it may struggle to remain top 5 in the final chart, but should be good for top 10?
 
He was nearly 50% ahead of #5 yesterday so I reckon he may well hold on, given I think the majority above him on Spotify are on ACR? He should have a very good shot of staying top five anyway.
 
He's still at number 4 in the final midweeks sales flash and he's actually increased his lead on #5 considerably. ACR must really be on his side vs the other current songs.

The Christmas songs are still not Top 10 yet so I think he's heading for a big entry on Friday.
 
It is quite bold to bring out a major comeback single this close to the Christmas chart clearout, but even if the inevitable happens and he’s shoved down to #63 next week, he’ll probably rebound well in January.
 
Yes, it's an interesting approach, isn't it? It's obviously been done knowing that the single would be forced down the chart for 5 or 6 weeks after its initial placing. And it feels a little riskier putting a single out and hoping it rebounds healthily in week 7 or whatever it is, when there's a good chance it'll hit ACR a few weeks later anyway. They can't be that concerned about the singles chart run.

Does getting it out now make him eligible for The Brits as male act? Or would the album need to be released for that? I'm not sure I ever really understood the criteria.
 
Incidentally, for some reason yesterday (perhaps it's the weather changing) Wham! surged to #4 and Mariah #5, and the number of Christmas songs in the Spotify top 40 increased from 4 to 10. So it looks like next week is when the Christmas songs are going to really start making an impact.
 
Interestingly it's heading for a similar trajectory to Seventeen Going Under; that started to grow after being out for a few months around November time, and it was just about to peak when Christmas knocked it down the chart. It was one of the few songs to survive in the Top 100 over Christmas, and then it peaked at #3 in January after the clearout. Maybe it's entirely intentional. It has every chance of going to #1 now in January.
 
I never knew that - so it makes sense for them to try a similar strategy I suppose. Although in the case of Seventeen Going Under, I assume it was never the intention as it was released in July. Presumably it just had a really slow build originally. I doubt it will hold as high in the Christmas build up as SGU did, but however low it falls, that clear out in January will see loads of tracks moving up dozens of places, and he'll be in the mix.
 
OCC

The return of Sam Fender sees the Geordie hero secure this week’s highest new entry with People Watching (4). It becomes Sam’s third UK Top 10 single, following Seventeen Going Under (3) and Homesick with Noah Kahan (5).

This also makes People Watching the only alternative British track to debut in the Top 4 of the Singles Chart in over 10 years!
 
The OCC highlighting their own shortcomings there! Maybe you need a fucking alternative chart then at least!
 
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