When John Newman released Love Me Again, it completely blew up and everyone was talking about the new solo male singer from the UK. US celebs were attending gigs and raving about him. Lots of buzz.

Now, Sam Smith is blowing up and again, everyone is talking about him. US celebs again raving about him and attending his gigs. Lots of buzz.

John Newman is virtually unheard of now. Has Sam Smith came along and stole his thunder lol?

Not really, they came on the same practically within a month of each other. John being on 'Feel the Love' and Sam being on 'Latch'.

Tbh, I've heard much more about Sam over the past two years than about John. Personally, I don't find John's album particularly 'good' but something about Sam's voice is just gorgeous. He really emotes when he sings and some of the ways that he sings lines just breaks my heart. I just don't really connect with John at all (and I've listened to the album plenty of times).

I just think it's purely down to coincidence that they're both male singers that arrived at the same time, but apart from his first two singles, John's not really made that much impact. I've read that he's released 3 singles since 'Love Me Again' and I couldn't even tell you how they sound.

John Newman's singing is just awful.

I agree. I really dislike his voice

Johns voice is terrible live can barely hold a tune and is unaudible. Sam on the other hand is in a different league his voice is perfection it moves me, he delivers each word with so much emotion also his album is beautiful.

I had high hopes for John Newman when he first came through. I had the pleasure of seeing an early live show and he was rather good then, so I don't hold with this idea he cannot sing live. Check out his performances solo and with Rudimental on Later if you doubt this.

He just seems to have gone progressively downhill and faded away since initially coming to fame. I don't think his album really had a big follow up single and when he did interviews after initially coming across as the down to earth guy he perhaps started to show off a less likeable more arrogant side so I guess people got fed up of him. I don't think its directly linked to Sam Smith though. See what he does on his next album for if he has any staying power.

Sam Smith is the Radio 1 boy of the moment. We'll see how long he lasts, could end up the same as John Newman, but he's doing alright at the mo. He's always got his brewery business and pubs to fall back on. OK sorry that joke is getting old isn't it?

I would say it's more to do with Newman never being popular in the first place, aside from one song of course. Mainly due to being a budget Plan B.

That and he's unattractive, now yes you may call me shallow, Actually doesn't bother me, but I think he has a very unlikable look about him that turns the public off, Sam looks endearing and approachable and just a whole lot warmer.

They're both terribly overrated IMO
Lets see how they do on their second albums and if they can stay relevant

Sam Smith reminds me of ( Louis Walsh voice!!!) a young Boy George. Certainly when I saw him talking on something recently. Unfortunately his music, like most of the chart music at the moment, is dull.

I have found Sam smith's material better to be honest.
The fact that Mary J Blige loves him, says a lot, as you never hear her rave about many new talent at all, especially from the UK.

I reckon James Arthur has got voodoo dolls of both of them as they've definitely stolen his thunder

I saw Sam Smith on the Norton Show and wondered what all the hype was for. He just looked like a record company android with an irritating voice. I've never heard of the other bloke.

Did James Arthur really have any thunder to steal? All XF winners ride a wave of publicity for a short time, but I've never got the sense he was being talked up in the way John Newman and Sam Smith are or were.

They remind of the Male Adele and Duffy. 60's throwback, a bit of bland neo-soul voila Adele and duffy cloned.

John was pretty much a one hit wonder with Love Me Again. I never felt any buzz around him as an artist outside of that song. Long before Sam blew up.

Sam has massive industry backing in terms of radio and general hype, history is littered with artists that get this treatment. He's very lucky and was always going to do well because of this.

Sam put out an EP last year which was fantastic, however the material from his actual album is so middle of the road. Not bad, just a bit too safe and average.

I don't think John Newman ever really had much of a thunder to steal, Love Me Again was his only real solo hit wasn't it? It was a great song but I've heard his follow up singles and they were all rather samey. I'm hearing similar things about Sam Smith's album, that it's all a bit dreary and similar, but Stay With Me is a fantastic song and just blows anything John Newman's done out of the water.

I wouldn't really be certain that Sam Smith won't go the same way as John Newman but he seems to have a bit more hype behind him. It's nice to see a few male popstars having success anyway, they seem to be outnumbered in the past few years.

I agree. So is Sam Smith's.

I thought they were the same person.....

They're both pretty cringe-worthy.

Sam's voice isn't bad compared to John's and Sam's vocals on La La La were really good.

I think it was Tom O Dell's thunder that was stolen first by John Newman to then have his stolen by Sam Smith.

so what ur saying is there is only room for one successful male artist in the UK ?

Where did I say that? I meant that at one time, each one of them were the most popular male artists in the UK.

This. I have to say although John Newman is a good singer there's something about the way he sings certain words I find intensely irritating.

Love sams voice and glad he's doing better than john because john comes acress as arrogant and all of his songs sound the same