1 March 2019
I have a bit of time for Lewis Capaldi. He clearly has a sense of humour; the video for his 2022 single ‘Forget Me’ is an unlikely shot-for-shot recreation of the video for Wham!’s ‘Club Tropicana’. He’s had to deal with a crushing public episode of mental health difficulties while onstage at Glastonbury but seems to be on the way to recovery while reshaping his career on his terms. And his brand of acoustic singer-songer folk-pop has a more robust sound than Ed Sheeran’s milquetoast naffness or Dermot Kennedy’s contrived maudlinia.
‘Someone You Loved’ is the first of three number ones in Ireland for Lewis Capaldi in 2019. Yes, it’s a pained and forlorn ballad. However, the plaintive piano, the strong melody and Capaldi’s unaffected singing style make this feel genuine, heartfelt and likeable. We’ll have a couple more opportunities shortly to consider the Capaldi catalogue and compare it to those of his peers, especially the dreaded Dermo.
The video (below) for ‘Someone You Loved’ stars Lewis’s cousin Peter Capaldi in a storyline about domestic love, illness, loss, sadness, consolation and hope. It will resonate even more the following year.
