I'm Not the Only One
"I'm Not the Only One" is a soulful piano ballad by English singer-songwriter Sam Smith, serving as the fourth single from their debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour, released in 2014.[1] The track, co-written by Smith and Jimmy Napes, delves into the emotional turmoil of discovering infidelity in a committed relationship, drawing from the perspective of someone aware of their partner's betrayal yet struggling to confront it.[1] The song achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart[2] and number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[3] It has been certified 7× Platinum by the RIAA in the United States for sales and streaming equivalent to over 7 million units.[4] The accompanying music video, directed by Luke Monaghan and featuring actors Dianna Agron and Chris Messina, portrays a dramatic narrative of marital deception, amplifying the song's themes of denial and heartbreak.[1] In 2024, to mark the 10th anniversary of In the Lonely Hour, Smith released re-recorded versions of the track as duets, including collaborations with Alicia Keys[5] and South Korean singer Taeyeon,[6] which were featured on the expanded edition of the album.[7] A remix featuring American rapper A$AP Rocky was also issued in 2014, blending the original's orchestral elements with hip-hop production.[1] The song's enduring popularity underscores Smith's early breakthrough in blending pop, soul, and R&B, contributing to the album's global sales exceeding 24 million equivalent units as of September 2025.[8]Background
Writing and inspiration
"I'm Not the Only One" was co-written by Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes (James Napier) in 2013. The track emerged from collaborative songwriting sessions that shaped Smith's debut album, In the Lonely Hour.[1] The song's inspiration stemmed from a close friend's experience with infidelity, where Smith observed the gradual realization of betrayal and the accompanying emotional turmoil. Smith aimed to portray the denial often experienced in such relationships, informed by personal observations of heartbreak among those around them. This perspective allowed Smith to empathize deeply, positioning the narrative from the viewpoint of the betrayed partner who grapples with the truth.[9][1] During the initial demo phase in 2013, Smith and Napes crafted a raw version that captured the song's pleading tone, with Smith later describing it as a desperate "plea" from the cheated individual urging their partner to acknowledge the damage. This emotional core reflected Smith's broader intent to highlight vulnerability and self-deception in love, setting the foundation for the track's development within the album's sessions.[10]Recording and production
The recording of "I'm Not the Only One" took place primarily at RAK Studios in London during 2013, with additional string sessions at Angel Studios, as part of the broader production for Sam Smith's debut album In the Lonely Hour. The track was co-written by Smith and Jimmy Napes earlier in the process, setting the foundation for its piano-driven arrangement. The sessions emphasized a live band feel, capturing the core instrumentation in a large live room at RAK to preserve natural dynamics and emotional intimacy.[11][12] Production was led by Jimmy Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice, who handled recording and mixing duties, with assistance from Darren Heelis and Mike Horner. Fitzmaurice, known for his work on organic-sounding pop records, focused on minimal processing to highlight Smith's vocal vulnerability, using a modified Neumann U67 microphone through a Neve 1066 preamp and LA-2A compressor for the lead vocals, avoiding heavy EQ to retain raw timbre. Instrumentation centered on a piano-led ballad structure, featuring Reuben James on piano, Jodi Milliner on bass guitar, Ben Thomas on guitar, and Sylvester Earl Harvin on drums and percussion, augmented by a Korg MS-10 synthesizer for sub-bass and string arrangements conducted by Simon Hale. Smith's vocals were recorded in a manner that captured subtle nuances like breaths and sibilance, requiring careful volume automation in post-production to balance intimacy with power.[11][13][9] Mixing occurred at Pierce Entertainment in West London, where Fitzmaurice employed a hybrid analog-digital approach, integrating demo stems from June 2013 with fresh recordings using outboard gear like the Manley Massive Passive EQ and Chandler Curve Bender limiter, alongside plug-ins such as SoundRadix Auto-Align for phase correction. The final mix accentuated the song's dynamic progression, building from sparse verses to a swelling chorus through layered strings and controlled vocal swells, culminating in mastering by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound to enhance clarity and emotional impact without over-compression. This process underscored the track's emphasis on vulnerability, allowing Smith's performance to drive the production's emotional arc.[11][13]Release
"I'm Not the Only One" was released as the fourth single from Sam Smith's debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour, on August 31, 2014, by Capitol Records.[14][15] The track followed previous singles "Lay Me Down" (2013), "Money on My Mind" (2014), and "Stay with Me" (2014), marking a key part of the album's promotional rollout in the UK and internationally.[14] The single received its initial radio airplay on BBC Radio 1Xtra during the week of August 25–31, 2014, building anticipation ahead of its official launch.[16] It was distributed in digital download format via platforms like iTunes and as a physical CD single, allowing accessibility across various markets.[17] For further promotion, the original version of the song was featured on the expanded reissue In the Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition), released on November 6, 2015, which included live recordings and additional tracks to extend the album's lifecycle.[18] Marking the song's 10th anniversary, a re-recorded collaboration version featuring South Korean singer Taeyeon was issued as a standalone single on August 29, 2024, by Capitol Records, blending Smith's vocals with Taeyeon's contributions in English and Korean.[19] This edition was part of broader celebrations for In the Lonely Hour's milestone, highlighting the track's enduring global appeal.[15] In 2025, a live version recorded at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall was released on April 11, 2025, by Capitol Records.[20]Composition and lyrics
Musical elements
"I'm Not the Only One" is classified as a pop/soul ballad with a duration of 3:59.[21][22] The song is composed in the key of F major, employing a 4/4 time signature and a moderate tempo of 82 beats per minute.[21][22][23] The arrangement centers on a repetitive piano chord pattern that evokes a Norah Jones-inspired style, gradually incorporating a heavier beat with elements like hand claps and snare drum for rhythmic emphasis.[1] Smith's vocal performance spans from F4 to C6, spanning about one and a half octaves, featuring secure transitions between chest voice and falsetto or head voice, particularly in expressive riffs and melismas.[24] The production, handled by Jimmy Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice, underscores the song's intimate yet building sonic structure.[9]Themes and interpretation
The song "I'm Not the Only One" centers on themes of betrayal and denial within a failing romantic relationship, where the narrator confronts their partner's infidelity while grappling with the emotional toll of deception. The lyrics depict a plea for honesty amid gaslighting, as exemplified by the line "You say I'm crazy / 'Cause you don't think I know what you've done," which illustrates the partner's attempt to undermine the narrator's suspicions.[1] Smith drew inspiration from a friend's experience with infidelity, placing themselves in the perspective of the deceived partner in a troubled marriage they observed. In an interview, Smith described the track as focusing on the woman's awareness of her husband's cheating yet her refusal to leave, highlighting elements of codependency and self-deception: "It’s about a marriage that I’ve been an observer of... It actually talks more about how the woman’s a mug… she’s never going to leave." This narrative critiques both the betrayer and the betrayed, emphasizing the complexity of staying in a dishonest union despite evident proof.[1] The song employs a verse-chorus structure, building tension through verses that detail accumulating doubts—"For months on end I've had my doubts / Of all the things that could come out"—before releasing into a repetitive chorus that reinforces isolation and reluctant acceptance: "I'm not the only one." This repetition amplifies the theme of shared human vulnerability to relational pain, positioning the narrator as one among many enduring similar heartbreak.[25]Critical reception
Initial reviews
Upon its release as the fourth single from In the Lonely Hour in August 2014, "I'm Not the Only One" garnered largely positive initial reviews from music critics, who highlighted Sam Smith's emotive delivery and the track's soulful balladry.[26] The Guardian's album review noted the song's intimate huskiness in lines like "When you call me baby, I know I'm not the only one."[27] Similarly, Billboard's track-by-track breakdown described the song as a "classic R&B ballad" that serves as an emotional turning point on the album, emphasizing its restraint and potential as a live staple with lines such as "I can't trust myself with anything but this."[10] Digital Spy's five-star album review called In the Lonely Hour a "fearlessly vulnerable debut" that masterfully balances intimacy and power.[28] Some critiques were more mixed, pointing to the track's familiarity within Smith's oeuvre. For instance, Rolling Stone's coverage of the accompanying music video portrayed it as a "gospel-tinged" exploration of infidelity by the "breakout soul singer," but their year-end pop albums list suggested the album's orchestral style positioned Smith as a "male Adele," implying a somewhat formulaic emotional template compared to standout hits like "Stay with Me."[26][29] The song's strong reception contributed to its recognition at major awards, including a nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015. Smith also performed the song at the 2015 BRIT Awards.[30]Retrospective assessments
In the years following its release, "I'm Not the Only One" has been reevaluated as a pivotal queer anthem, emphasizing themes of emotional vulnerability in unrequited love and infidelity. A 2024 retrospective on Sam Smith's debut album In the Lonely Hour, of which the song is a cornerstone, highlights its role in trailblazing LGBTQIA+ representation in mainstream pop by openly addressing same-sex longing and heartbreak without euphemism, cementing its status as an enduring expression of queer resilience.[31] This perspective underscores how the track's raw portrayal of personal pain resonated beyond its initial context, influencing subsequent discussions on authenticity in queer pop narratives. The 2024 collaboration with South Korean singer Taeyeon, released as part of the 10th anniversary edition of In the Lonely Hour, further revitalized the song's appeal through a K-pop crossover that blended English and Korean lyrics. Critics praised the duet for highlighting the vocal synergy between Smith and Taeyeon, infusing the original ballad with fresh emotional depth and global accessibility, which broadened its reach to new audiences in Asia and beyond.[32][33] This version was noted for refreshing the track's themes of relational betrayal in a contemporary multicultural framework, demonstrating its adaptability over time.[33] Cultural analyses have positioned "I'm Not the Only One" as influential in modern pop balladry, with its structure and delivery serving as a model for blending soulful introspection with commercial polish. By November 2025, the song had amassed over 2.3 billion streams on Spotify, a milestone cited in examinations of its sustained popularity driven by viral revivals on platforms like TikTok.[34] This longevity reflects its universal emotional resonance, outlasting initial trends to become a benchmark for heartfelt pop songwriting.[15]Commercial performance
Chart performance
"I'm Not the Only One" experienced strong chart performance following its August 2014 release, reaching top positions across multiple international markets and maintaining longevity on key singles charts. In the United Kingdom, the single debuted at number 93 on the UK Singles Chart on 7 June 2014, climbing to its peak position of number 3 during the week of 14 September 2014 before spending a total of 47 weeks on the chart.[2] On the US Billboard Hot 100, it entered the chart in June 2014, rose to its peak of number 5 during the week of 27 December 2014, and charted for 47 weeks overall. The song also performed well globally, peaking at number 2 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 11 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, where it spent 32 weeks.[35]| Chart (2014) | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 3 | 47 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 5 | 47 |
| Canada (Billboard) | 2 | 35 |
| Australia (ARIA) | 11 | 32 |
Sales and certifications
"I'm Not the Only One" has sold over 8 million units worldwide as of 2025, combining physical, digital, and streaming equivalents according to industry data from organizations like the RIAA and BPI.[8] In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single 7× Platinum in 2020, signifying 7 million units sold or streamed.[7] The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded it 4× Platinum certification, equivalent to 2.4 million units in the United Kingdom. In Australia, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) granted 10× Platinum (Diamond) certification, representing 700,000 units. Additional certifications include 8× Platinum in Canada (640,000 units) and Platinum in Denmark (90,000 units).[39][40] On streaming platforms, the track has amassed over 2.3 billion plays on Spotify as of November 2025, contributing significantly to its overall commercial impact.[41] A 2024 collaboration version featuring South Korean singer Taeyeon, released for the song's 10th anniversary, boosted its visibility in Asian markets but specific unit sales for this edition remain unverified in public reports.[19] The re-recorded duet with Alicia Keys also saw renewed streaming activity but did not result in new major chart entries. The single's strong certifications underscore its enduring popularity, following top-five peaks on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart.[42]Promotion
Music video
The music video for "I'm Not the Only One" was directed by Luke Monaghan and premiered on Sam Smith's official YouTube channel on August 1, 2014, approximately one month before the single's commercial release.[43][44] The video centers on a storyline of marital infidelity, with actress Dianna Agron cast as the deceived wife who discovers her husband, played by Chris Messina, is cheating on her with another woman.[45][46] It portrays her attempts to preserve the facade of a happy marriage amid growing emotional distress, intercut with performance shots of Smith singing in a stark, isolated setting.[26][47] Filmed in Los Angeles, the production emphasizes themes of betrayal and inner turmoil that parallel the song's lyrics about unfaithfulness and denial, using intimate close-ups and a narrative arc to convey the wife's gradual breakdown.[1][47] As of 2025, the video has amassed over 1.7 billion views on YouTube, underscoring its enduring popularity and visual impact.[43]Live performances
Sam Smith's debut live performances of "I'm Not the Only One" took place during the In the Lonely Hour Tour from 2014 to 2015, where the song was featured in 74 out of 122 shows, often delivered in acoustic arrangements that emphasized piano accompaniment to underscore its emotional ballad structure.[48][49] A standout early rendition occurred at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on September 3, 2014, where Smith performed the track solo, showcasing its raw vocal intensity in a stripped-back setting.[50][51] In 2024, collaborations brought fresh interpretations to the stage and studio. Smith joined Alicia Keys for a duet at Jungle City Studios in New York, capturing a soulful live session that blended their voices over piano for the song's 10th anniversary edition.[52][53] Similarly, a duet with South Korean singer Taeyeon was recorded and integrated into tour promotions for the 2024-2025 anniversary celebrations, incorporating bilingual elements to expand its global appeal.[33][54] More recent outings include an intimate one-take performance at Capitol Studios in August 2024, titled "1 Mic 1 Take," which highlighted Smith's unaccompanied vocals in a minimalist setup for the anniversary re-release.[55] The song reached a contemporary peak during the SOMBR Tour in 2025, with a full live rendition and surprise duet alongside Sombr at the Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York on October 9, 2025, energizing the crowd with its soaring chorus.[56][57]Legacy
Cover versions
"I'm Not the Only One" has been reinterpreted by numerous artists, often emphasizing its emotional themes of betrayal and heartbreak through diverse musical arrangements. In 2017, Dua Lipa delivered a stripped-down acoustic rendition during her iHeartRadio Live Sessions, showcasing a vulnerable, intimate take on the track that highlighted her vocal range.[58][59] Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox transformed the song into a lively New Orleans jazz style featuring vocalist LaVance Colley, released as part of their 10th anniversary tour edition in 2024, blending ragtime piano and brass elements for a retro flair.[60][61] Boyce Avenue released an acoustic guitar-driven cover in 2015, featured on their album Cover Sessions, Vol. 3, which stripped the production to essentials like fingerpicked guitar and harmonious vocals to underscore the song's raw emotion.[62][63] YouTube artist Sam Tsui paired the track with Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" in a 2015 mashup alongside Casey Breves, creating a seamless blend of the two hits that contrasted themes of love and infidelity through layered harmonies and piano accompaniment.[64] The song has also fueled viral reinterpretations on TikTok throughout the 2020s, with user-generated covers gaining millions of views; for instance, singer Shelby Blue's emotive a cappella performance in October 2025.Remixes and re-releases
Several official remixes of "I'm Not the Only One" were released to appeal to dance and club audiences. A remix featuring American rapper A$AP Rocky was issued in 2014, blending the original's orchestral elements with hip-hop production.[1] The Armand Van Helden Remix, produced in 2014, transforms the original ballad into an upbeat house track with pulsating beats and layered synths, extending its play in electronic music sets.[65] Similarly, the Grant Nelson Remix from the same year infuses garage influences, emphasizing funky basslines and vocal chops for a soulful club vibe.[66] In 2015, the Asino Club Mix offered a deeper, progressive house interpretation, suitable for extended DJ mixes.[67] The song appeared on re-release editions that expanded its availability. The 2015 Drowning Shadows Edition of the album In the Lonely Hour included the original version alongside new tracks and acoustic renditions, boosting streams during a period of renewed interest in Smith's debut work.[68] For the 10th anniversary of In the Lonely Hour in 2024, Smith released re-recorded duet versions, including collaborations with Alicia Keys and South Korean singer Taeyeon of Girls' Generation. The Taeyeon version blended pop with K-pop elements through her added harmonious vocals and subtle ad-libs, marking a cross-cultural fusion with contributions in both English and Korean-inflected phrasing, released as part of the expanded edition.[69][33][5] This collaboration notably extended the song's global reach, topping iTunes charts in multiple Asian markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam upon release as of August 2024, introducing Smith's work to new K-pop audiences.[70] Special live and stripped-back recordings further highlighted the song's versatility. A live rendition from Sam Smith's 2022 performance at the Royal Albert Hall was included on the 2023 Gloria (Special Edition) album, capturing an orchestral arrangement with full band accompaniment and audience interaction.[71] In 2024, for the 10th anniversary celebrations, Smith recorded a minimalist "1 Mic 1 Take" version at Capitol Studios, emphasizing raw vocal delivery and piano, evoking the intimacy of the original demo.[55]Use in media
Television and film
"I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith has been synchronized in various television series, often to underscore moments of emotional vulnerability and relational tension, aligning with the song's exploration of betrayal and unrequited love.[72] The song first appeared in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy during season 10, episode 16, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," which aired on March 20, 2014. It plays amid scenes of personal heartbreak and loss, amplifying the episode's themes of grief.[73] The Netflix comedy-drama Uncoupled includes the song in season 1, episode 1, "Chapter 1," released on July 29, 2022. It supports a narrative beat focused on post-breakup reflection and self-discovery.[74] Additionally, the song was used in the UK reality series Love Island during season 1, episode 2, which aired on June 8, 2015, providing background for interpersonal dynamics in the show's romantic challenges.[75] While the track has seen limited use in feature films, its poignant lyrics have made it a recurring choice for television sync licenses emphasizing emotional betrayal.Other media appearances
The song "I'm Not the Only One" experienced a resurgence in popularity on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, starting around 2020 and continuing through 2025. Users frequently incorporated the track into viral challenges and trends, often overlaying it with personal narratives about infidelity, heartbreak, and relationship betrayals to emphasize the lyrics' themes of emotional pain and realization.[76] These videos, which included duet challenges, lip-sync performances, and storytelling montages, amassed significant engagement, with the song sound appearing in over 57,000 TikTok videos by late 2025.[76] This digital revival reinforced the track's cultural relevance a decade after its initial release.Formats and track listings
Standard editions
The standard edition of "I'm Not the Only One" was released as a digital download single consisting of a single track, the album version of the song, with no B-side.[77]| Track | Title | Duration | Writers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I'm Not the Only One | 3:59 | Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes |
| Track | Title | Duration | Writers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | I'm Not the Only One | 3:59 | Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes |
Remix and special editions
In 2014, a digital remix package for "I'm Not the Only One" was released, featuring the Grant Nelson Remix at 6:47 and the Armand Van Helden Remix at 6:35, both emphasizing dance-oriented production elements.[79] The Drowning Shadows Edition of the album In the Lonely Hour, issued digitally in 2015, included a special bundle with bonus tracks and remixes, among them the version featuring A$AP Rocky (3:43), which incorporates rap verses over the original instrumentation.[80][18] For the song's 10th anniversary in 2024, collaborations were released as digital singles, including versions featuring Alicia Keys (3:59) and South Korean singer Taeyeon (3:59), both adding duet vocals while retaining the core structure of the original track.[5][81][33] Live recordings include the Royal Albert Hall performance from 2022 (released November 2022, 3:54), captured during a full orchestral set,[82] and the intimate 1 Mic 1 Take session at Capitol Studios (released August 2024, 4:02), emphasizing stripped-down vocals.[55]Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 31 August 2014 | Digital download | Capitol Records |
| United States | 3 September 2014 | Digital download (EP) | Capitol Records |
| Worldwide | 10 September 2014 | Digital download (remix feat. A$AP Rocky) | Capitol Records |
| United States | 24 September 2014 | Triple A radio | Capitol Records |
| United States | 1 October 2014 | Hot AC, CHR radio | Capitol Records |
| Worldwide | 2 August 2024 | Digital download (10th anniversary edition, incl. duet with Alicia Keys) | Capitol Records |
| Worldwide | 29 August 2024 | Digital download (duet with Taeyeon) | Capitol Records |