Like I Can

"Like I Can" is a song by English singer Sam Smith. It was released as a digital download on 5 December 2014 as the fifth single from his debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour (2014). The song was written by Smith and Matt Prime and produced by Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes and Mojam. It debuted and peaked at number 9 in the United Kingdom, becoming Smith's fifth UK top 10 single.

For a similarly titled song from Secret Machines, see Secret Machines § Discography.

"Like I Can"
Single by Sam Smith
from the album In the Lonely Hour
Released	5 December 2014
Recorded	2013
Genre	Pop soul blues
Length	2:47
Label	Capitol Method
Songwriter(s)	Sam Smith Matt Prime
Producer(s)	Steve Fitzmaurice Jimmy Napes Mojam
Sam Smith singles chronology
"I'm Not the Only One" (2014) "Like I Can" (2014) "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (2014)

Background and inspiration

On 24 October 2014, Smith announced via Twitter that he would be releasing "Like I Can" as the fifth single from his debut album In the Lonely Hour. They posted, "Incredibly happy to announce that my next single will be LIKE I CAN!!".[1]

The song was used to describe painful, loneliness that love back to a man's unavoidable desire for love and minimise the painful emotion was throughout this song.

Commercial performance

"Like I Can" peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, giving Smith his fifth UK top 10 single. It was the 100th biggest-selling song of 2014 in the United Kingdom,[2] as well as the 58th biggest in 2015. It has also charted at number 19 in New Zealand, number 20 in Australia, and number 99 in the United States.

Music video

The music video is in black and white and features Smith and several men on what appears to be a stag party.[3]

Live performances

Smith performed the song on 9 November 2014, on the fifth live results show of series 11 of The X Factor.[4]

Track listing

Digital download – EP

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Like I Can" (Radio Mix)	2:47
2.	"Like I Can" (Artful Remix)	4:34
3.	"Like I Can" (Jonas Rathsman Remix)	7:00
4.	"Like I Can" (iLL BLU Remix)	6:30

Covers

12 October 2015, Jordan Smith and Regina Love covered as a duet battle through song choice selection in The Voice.

25 February 2016, Trent Harmon covered the song during the Top 10 round on the fifteenth season of American Idol.

24 October 2016, Dave Moisan sang this song during the knockout rounds The Voice.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2014–15) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 20 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 18 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[7] 7 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[8] 9 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] 53 Canada AC (Billboard)[10] 14 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 41 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[12] 18 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[13] 84 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[14] 17 Denmark (Tracklisten)[15] 12 Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[16] 17 Finnish Airplay (Radiosoittolista)[17] 33 Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 45 Hungary (Single Top 40)[19] 19 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[20] 4 Iceland (RÚV)[21] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[22] 11 Italy (FIMI)[23] 59 Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20)[24] 14 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[25] 15 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 19 Norway (VG-lista)[29] 30 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[30] 8 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[31] 38 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[32] 20 Slovenia (SloTop50)[33] 16 South Africa (EMA)[34] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 25 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[36] 9 US Billboard Hot 100[37] 99 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[38] 17 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[39] 26 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[40] 5 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[41] 27

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[2] 100 Chart (2015) Position Denmark (Tracklisten)[42] 45 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[43] 46 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] 33 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 71 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[46] 58 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[47] 43 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[48] Platinum 70,000^^ Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[49] Platinum 60,000^^ Italy (FIMI)[50] Gold 25,000 New Zealand (RMNZ)[51] Gold 7,500^* Sweden (GLF)[52] Platinum 40,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Platinum 600,000 United States (RIAA)[54] Platinum 1,000,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Australia[55]	5 December 2014	Digital download	Capitol Method
Ireland[56]
United Kingdom[57]	7 December 2014
Belgium[58]	8 December 2014
Italy[59]	27 February 2015	Mainstream radio	Universal
United States[60]	19 May 2015	Mainstream radio	Capitol
		Rhythmic radio

References

1. Mansfield, Brian (24 October 2014). "Sam Smith's new single: 'Like I Can'". USA Today. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
2. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
3. Sam Smith - Like I Can. YouTube. 12 December 2014.
4. Mohan, Isabel (9 November 2014). "The X Factor review, One Direction and Sam Smith perform". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
5. "Australian-charts.com – Sam Smith – Like I Can". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
6. "Austriancharts.at – Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
7. "Ultratop.be – Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
8. "Ultratop.be – Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
9. "Sam Smith Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
10. "Sam Smith Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
11. "Sam Smith Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
12. "Sam Smith Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
13. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201510 into search. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
14. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201508 into search. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
15. "Danishcharts.com – Sam Smith – Like I Can". Tracklisten. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
16. "Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
17. "Sam Smith: Like I Can" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sam Smith – Like I Can". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
19. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
20. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
21. "Sam Smith Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
22. "Chart Track: Week 5, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
23. "Top Digital - Classifica settimanale WK 15 (dal 2015-04-06 al 2015-04-12)". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
24. "Olt20.com: Artist Sam Smith". The Official Lebanese Top 20. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
25. "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
26. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 14, 2015" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 8 September 2017.
27. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
28. "Charts.nz – Sam Smith – Like I Can". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
29. "Norwegiancharts.com – Sam Smith – Like I Can". VG-lista. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
31. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201514 into search. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
32. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201508 into search. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
33. "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
34. "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2015-02-03". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
35. "Swedishcharts.com – Sam Smith – Like I Can". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
37. "Sam Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
38. "Sam Smith Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
39. "Sam Smith Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
40. "Sam Smith Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
41. "Sam Smith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
42. "Track Top-100, 2015". Hitlisten.NU. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
43. "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 - 2015" (in Hungarian). Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
44. "Jaarlijsten 2015" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
45. "Jaaroverzichten - Single 2015". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
46. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
47. "Adult Contemporary Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
48. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
49. "Danish single certifications – Sam Smith – Like I Can". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
50. "Italian single certifications – Sam Smith – Like I Can" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 22 September 2015. Select "2015" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Like I Can" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
51. "New Zealand single certifications – Sam Smith – Like I Can". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
52. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20, 2015 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 8 September 2017. Scroll to position 49 to view certification.
53. "British single certifications – Sam Smith – Like I Can". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 September 2015. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Like I Can in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
54. "American single certifications – Sam Smith – Like I Can". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 August 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
55. "Like I Can - EP by Sam Smith". iTunes. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
56. "Like I Can - EP by Sam Smith". iTunes. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
57. "Like I Can - EP by Sam Smith". iTunes. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
58. "Like I Can - EP by Sam Smith". iTunes. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
59. "SAM SMITH - Like I Can (Universal) - Radio Date 27/02/2015". radioairplay.fm. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
60. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)