Nobody likes a wedding crasher. Unless his name is Sam Smith. Back in 2017, the British pop icon rocked up to an LGBT wedding in London’s Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church for a legendary, emotional performance of his hit “Latch.” But by the looks of it, the moment was far more moving for Sam than for the newlywed brides!
This clip, originally aired as part of Sam Smith’s TV special, “Sam Smith at the BBC,” has since gone viral on YouTube, amassing over 7.1 million YouTube views since reaching the site seven years ago. Music Man readers can check out the magical moment in the video below!
From the get-go, Sam melts hearts with his down-to-earth personality, first chatting to the priest and being visibly touched when he learns that this will be the first lesbian wedding in the Bloomsbury church’s history.
Amping up the pressure even more, only one wedding guest knew about Sam Smith’s surprise appearance before the matter – the niece of one bride and best woman, Katie. She even told Sam before his set, “This is the hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep in my life,” with Sam admitting to his nerves before hitting the stage.
But before his set, viewers are treated to some wholesome footage of brides Bec Baran and Lisa Best exchanging their vows, with Sam Smith looking on smitten through a concealed window.
Then, it was time to give the brides “the wedding present they’d never forget,” Sam Smith taking deep breaths backstage before walking out in the midst of their reception party with mic in hand. He congratulates the brides and promptly stuns the reception with his flawless vocals.
However, his song choice, “Latch,” (originally a collaboration with Disclosure) sounds completely different from the original. For this wedding performance, Sam slows his club anthem love song to a piano ballad, making it sound completely unrecognizable. He laces his chorus with some chillingly epic high notes, admitting to the cameras, “Just being a part of someone’s day like that means the world to me. And they’re so in love! It’s just incredible… and it’s so beautiful.”
This clip hasn’t just been spurring love for Sam Smith, but has got international fans feeling thankful for British pop stars in general, with one top commenter writing, “Thank you UK for Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Coldplay and Adele” to the tune of 5900 likes.
Another top commenter drew attention to how Sam Smith seemed more nervous than the brides on their own wedding day, writing, “What’s funniest and amazing, is that Sam plays for thousands of people on his shows, but he was obviously nervous and sweating while playing on their wedding, gotta love this man.”
One Sam Smith fan stole the show when they wrote, “If Sam Smith ever comes to my wedding… they’ll have to celebrate a funeral later on cause I’ll be deceased.”
Sam Smith’s unexpected yet heartfelt appearance at the Bloomsbury church solidified his status as not just a pop icon, but a beloved figure in the LGBTQ+ community. His genuine warmth and emotional performance continue to resonate, as evidenced by the viral success of the clip. For those eager to delve deeper into this unforgettable moment, the links below offer a window into the magic of that day.