Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent
Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 19 May 2023 | |||
Length | 43:10 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Lewis Capaldi studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent | ||||
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Singles from Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent (Expanded edition) | ||||
Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent is the second studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, released on 19 May 2023 through Vertigo Records and Capitol Records.[2] It was preceded by three singles—the UK number ones "Forget Me", "Pointless" and "Wish You the Best", as well as the promotional single "How I'm Feeling Now"—and promoted with a 2023 world tour as well as a Netflix documentary titled Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now.
The album received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted atop the charts in the UK—where it became the fastest-selling album of 2023—as well as Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland and New Zealand.
Background and recording
[edit]Capaldi stated that his inspiration for writing the album was "go[ing] out and look[ing] out at the world and what's shit, and then [he] would write songs pertaining to that".[3] In a press release at the time of the lead single "Forget Me", Capaldi explained that he did not want to make a "new sound" for nor "reinvent" himself, and that "The songs [he] want[s] to write are emotional songs, about love or loss".[4]
The album was recorded with a simple set-up, "only a small interface, laptop, speakers, and a Shure SM7B vocal mic", and songwriters and producers who worked on Capaldi's first album—TMS, Phil Plested, Nick Atkinson and Edd Holloway—with Capaldi stating "at least one of them's on almost every song". Capaldi commented that he "felt like [he] was sounding better because [he] was just chilled out in [his] own gaff".[4]
The album was released on 19 May 2023, with an extended edition being surprise-released on 1 January of the following year.[5]
Promotion
[edit]The album was announced on 18 October 2022,[6] following the September release of the lead single "Forget Me", which debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart.[7] It was followed by the second single, "Pointless", on 2 December 2022,[8] which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart the following month.[9]
A trailer for Capaldi's Netflix documentary Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now, was released on 16 March 2023,[10] followed by the promotional single "How I'm Feeling Now" a day later.[11] The documentary premiered on 5 April.[10] The third single,[12] "Wish You the Best", was issued on 13 April 2023[13] and debuted at number one in the UK the following week.[14]
In August 2024, the album track “Love The Hell Out Of You” resurged in popularity over a year after its original release after its feature in the film It Ends With Us.[15] As a result, the song was retitled “Love The Hell Out Of You (From The Motion Picture ’It Ends With Us’)” on streaming and digital platforms, and an EP featuring the original version of the song, alongside the piano and guitar acoustic versions and the string version of the song, was released on the same day as the film.
Critical reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 5.9/10[16] |
Metacritic | 61/100[17] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Clash | 6/10[18] |
Evening Standard | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Hot Press | 6/10[21] |
i | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[24] |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 4.0/10[26] |
Rolling Stone UK | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent received a score of 61 out of 100 based on eight critics' reviews at review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favourable" reception.[17] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian felt that Capaldi has "a powerful voice" and that he is "better at misery than soaring happiness" but that "there are moments where the Hey Jude-by-way-of-Coldplay piano intros and wounded, roaring choruses merge into one long heartbroken ballad – and occasionally points up his limitations".[20] Kate Brayden of Hot Press wrote that the album "sticks largely to familiar terrain, but emphasises the talent's jaw-dropping vocal prowess on numerous tracks", particularly "Any Kind of Life" and "How This Ends". Brayden also felt that the "gargantuan weight of expectations" affects the music, as the "results" of Capaldi's writing sessions with London- and Los Angeles-based songwriters "are mixed, with a boatload of raw piano ballads referencing original sin, angels, hell, heaven, undying love and the rest".[21] Reviewing the album for The Line of Best Fit, Caitlin Chatterton described the album as "a triumphant return from Capaldi", calling "Heavenly Kind of State of Mind" one of its best tracks as it "encourages listeners to put down the tissues and stand up for a boogie", and "Love the Hell Out of You" and "Any Kind of Life" as "tender piano ballads [that] relish, and then anguish over the 'during' and 'after' of falling in love".[24]
Robin Murray of Clash wrote that on the album, Capaldi "plays it safe, doubling down on the formula that made his debut so beloved by fans, while making only subtle changes" and with a "lack of daring" it "certainly delivers on fan-pleasing trickery". Murray concluded that it "feels slightly too close to his debut to be truly considered a further chapter".[18] Reviewing the album for NME, Thomas Smith opined that the album "occasionally shows steady growth" as with the groove on "Forget Me", the "tinge" of Americana on "Heavenly Kind of State of Mind", the "'80s power ballad-indebted" guitar solo on "Leave Me Slowly", as well as Capaldi's irony and "candid" lyrics on "How I'm Feeling Now", but that "this potential remains largely untapped".[25] David Smyth of the Evening Standard noted that "although these songs do nothing new – the back-and-forth piano notes of Wish You the Best, Haven't You Ever Been in Love Before and Any Kind of Life all strongly recalling his huge hit Someone You Loved – any cynicism is undetectable".[19]
Kate Solomon of i found the music to be "inoffensive and unremarkable" but that Capaldi's "true talent is his relatable lyrics" and that she "found this album moving – when it wasn't trying too hard to be sweet".[22] The Independent's Annabel Nugent judged that "these gorgeously sung laments turn into a ballad soup of sorts", and that the album lacks Capaldi's "personable charm" and "variety". Nugent felt that the album's "best moment" is the closing track, "How I'm Feeling Now", on which Capaldi "sounds most like himself, instead of a singer striving for something".[23] Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Laura Snapes wrote that the album as a whole is "unlistenable" as it feels "like watching a play in which every scene is acted as if it were the emotional climax", explaining that "nearly every song starts gently, with Capaldi's voice in its appealing conversational mode—a little boyish and uncertain, as if trying to reach someone—before a chorus smashes in like a wrecking ball". She also felt that the "ceaselessly wet, antiseptic piano proves entirely the wrong foil for a voice forever on the cusp of unraveling".[26]
Neil McCormick of The Telegraph described the album as "absolutely stuffed to the rafters with another round of big, weepie ballads about how miserable [Capaldi's] love life is", and stated that he "can't help but like Capaldi, even while [he] question[s] whether anyone really needs to hear twelve melodramatic weepies in a row".[28] Nick Reilly of Rolling Stone UK wrote that, "In leaning too heavily on the balladeering side of things to deliver a sure-fire hit, Capaldi risks neglecting the subtle moments of experimentation on show that hint at an altogether more exciting future" and "a more varied and interesting musical future could still be his. You just wish he'd dare to try that route."[27] Ben Devlin from musicOMH called the album "sonically and thematically repetitive" and wrote that the lack of Capaldi's sense of humour in his music is "a failure of imagination, and the weaker points on [the album] are unfortunately testaments to that unimaginative approach".[29]
Commercial performance
[edit]Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart dated 26 May 2023, outselling the rest of the top 10 combined, with 95,000 chart sales, making it the fastest selling album of the year in the UK and the largest opening week of Capaldi's career.[30] The album debuted at number one in Australia, becoming Capaldi's first number-one album there.[31]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Forget Me" | 3:23 | ||
2. | "Wish You the Best" |
| 3:30 | |
3. | "Pointless" | Mac | 3:51 | |
4. | "Heavenly Kind of State of Mind" |
|
| 3:21 |
5. | "Haven't You Ever Been in Love Before?" |
|
| 3:50 |
6. | "Love the Hell Out of You" |
|
| 3:25 |
7. | "Burning" |
|
| 3:36 |
8. | "Any Kind of Life" |
|
| 3:15 |
9. | "The Pretender" |
|
| 3:40 |
10. | "Leave Me Slowly" |
|
| 3:43 |
11. | "How This Ends" |
|
| 3:46 |
12. | "How I'm Feeling Now" |
|
| 3:46 |
Total length: | 43:10 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Pointless" (unplugged) | 4:30 |
14. | "Wish You the Best" (acoustic) | 3:48 |
Total length: | 51:32 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "How I'm Feeling Now" (orchestral version) | 3:45 |
14. | "Burning" (orchestral version) | 3:34 |
Total length: | 50:29 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
15. | "Strangers" | 3:34 |
16. | "A Cure for Minds Unwell" | 3:24 |
17. | "Someone I Could Die For" | 3:26 |
18. | "The Ancient Art of Always Fucking Up" | 4:03 |
19. | "Old Navy Blue" | 3:08 |
Total length: | 68:04 |
Note
- ^[a] signifies an additional producer
Personnel
[edit]Musicians
- Lewis Capaldi – vocals (all tracks), guitar (tracks 1, 3, 11, 12), background vocals (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12), synthesizer (4), piano (5)
- Benjamin Kohn – background vocals (1, 6, 8), synthesizer (1), organ (2), keyboards (6), shaker (12)
- Nick Atkinson – background vocals (1, 4, 5, 7–9, 11)
- John Garrison – bass guitar (1)
- Jonathan Gilmore – drum programming (1, 11), programming (1)
- Freddy Sheed – drums (1, 11)
- Tom Barnes – drums (1, 12), synthesizer (2), drum programming (6), piano (8)
- Leo Abrahams – guitar (1)
- Philip Plested – guitar (1, 6), background vocals (6, 11)
- Vern Asbury – guitar (1, 7, 8)
- Peter Kelleher – keyboards (1), bass guitar (2, 6, 8, 12)
- Michael Pollack – piano (1, 6)
- Neil Cowley – piano (2)
- Dave Eggar – double bass, cello, viola, string arrangement (3, 8, 12)
- Phil Faconti – double bass (3, 8, 12)
- Chuck Palmer – string arrangement (3, 8, 12)
- Tanner Perry – string arrangement (3, 8, 12)
- Diego Núñez – violin (3, 8)
- Jessica Ryou – violin (3, 8)
- Xavi Morató – violin (3, 8)
- Steve Pearce – bass guitar (3)
- Chris Laws – drums (3)
- John Paricelli – guitar (3)
- Edd Holloway – bass guitar, drum programming (4, 5, 7, 9, 11); synthesizer (4, 5, 7), piano (4, 7, 9), guitar (5, 9), background vocals (7), strings (9), keyboards (11)
- Jamie Hartman – guitar (4)
- Jerry McPherson – guitar (4)
- Aiden Halliday – piano (5)
- Wired Strings[a] – strings (5)
- The LJ Singers[b] – choir (6, 8)
- Lawrence Johnson – vocal arrangement (6, 8)
- Fat Max Gsus – background vocals, bass guitar, drums, guitar, keyboards, programming (10)
- Max Martin – background vocals, piano, programming (10)
- Oscar Holter – bass guitar, drums, keyboards, programming (10)
- Robert John "Mutt" Lange – background vocals (10)
Technical
- Robert Vosgien – mastering
- Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
- Chris Laws – engineering (3)
- Dan Pursey – engineering (3)
- Jonathan Gilmore – engineering (11)
- Chris Bishop – vocal engineering (1, 8, 12), additional engineering (1, 2, 6, 12)
- Matt Barnes – vocal engineering (2)
- Edd Holloway – vocal engineering (3)
- Mike Stephenson – additional engineering (3, 8, 12)
- Tanner Perry – additional engineering (3, 8, 12)
- The LJ Singers – additional engineering (6)
- Matt Wolach – mixing assistance
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Version | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 19 May 2023 | Standard edition | [61] | ||
Various | 1 January 2024 | Extended edition |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Wired Strings consists of arranger and cellist Rosie Danvers, cellist Jane Oliver, double bassist Richard Pryce, violists Meghan Cassidy and Nick Barr, and violinists Charis Jenson, Ellie Stanford, Hayley Pomfrett, Natalie Klouda, Patrick Kiernan, Sally Jackson, Steve Morris, and Zara Benyounes.
- ^ The LJ Singers consists of Lawrence Johnson, Brendan Guyatt, Candice Johnson, Lorrain Briscoe, Nia Johnson, Nyasha Mutsonziwa, Patrice Copeland, Patricia Scott, Priscilla Jones-Campbell, Tehillah Daniel, Travis Cole, Wayne Hernandez, and Wendy Rose.
References
[edit]- ^ Farnè, Alessandro (3 January 2023). "Lewis Capaldi - Strangers (Radio Date: 05-01-2024)". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ Thraves, Lucy (18 October 2022). "Lewis Capaldi announces new album Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Music Week. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Mylrea, Hannah (11 February 2023). "Lewis Capaldi on new album Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent: 'I'm sick of hearing it!'". NME. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (19 October 2022). "Lewis Capaldi Announces New Album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent". Clash. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Williams, Katie (31 December 2023). "West Lothian's Lewis Capaldi issues health update to fans after cancelling UK tour". MSN. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Smith, Carl (18 October 2022). "Lewis Capaldi announces Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent: New album release date, artwork, tour dates and more". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Major, Michael (18 October 2022). "Lewis Capaldi Announces Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent Album". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (2 December 2022). "Lewis Capaldi Drops New Single 'Pointless' Co-Written by Ed Sheeran". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Ainsley, Helen (13 January 2023). "Lewis Capaldi scores fourth Official Number 1 single with Pointless: "The support has been incredible"". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Lewis Capaldi's How I'm Feeling Now Documentary: How To Watch, Release Date & What It's About". Capital FM. 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Lewis Capaldi Releases New Song "How I'm Feeling Now" & Trailer for Documentary Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now". 17 March 2023. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023 – via PMStudio.
- ^ Peacock, Tim (14 April 2023). "Lewis Capaldi Shares New Anthem-In-Waiting 'Wish You The Best'". UDiscoverMusic. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ @lewiscapaldi (11 April 2023). "my brand new song 'wish you the best' is yours this thursday at midnight!" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 April 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Griffiths, George (21 April 2023). "Champion! Lewis Capaldi a knockout with fifth Number 1 single with Wish You The Best". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason; Unterberger, Andrew (14 August 2024). "Phoenix, Billie Eilish & More Up in Streams and Sales Following Olympics Closing Ceremonies". Billboard. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent by Lewis Capaldi reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent by Lewis Capaldi Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (18 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Clash. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ a b Smyth, David (18 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent album review: the Scot shows his sincere side". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (18 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi: Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent review – hits and grit from the new pope of mope". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b Brayden, Kate (12 May 2023). "Album Review: Lewis Capaldi, Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hot Press. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b Solomon, Kate (18 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi, Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent, review: Grating and unremarkable yet somehow still moving". i. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b Nugent, Annabel (18 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi review: New album is more of the same from Britain's favourite heartbroken crooner". The Independent. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b Chatterton, Caitlin (18 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi: Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent review – proves he had nothing to worry about | Lewis Capaldi". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ a b Smith, Thomas (18 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent review: overwrought and frustrating". NME. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b Snapes, Laura (19 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi: Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ a b Reilly, Nick (19 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent review: frustrating flashes of brilliance define familiar second album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ McCormick, Neil (19 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi is weepier than ever, Paul Simon goes to church – the week's best albums". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Devlin, Ben (19 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". musicOMH. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Smith, Carl (26 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi scores biggest opening week of his career so far with Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Farnsie makes it 20". Australian Recording Industry Association. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "ブロークン・バイ・ディザイア・トゥ・ビー・ヘヴンリィ・セント". Tower Records Japan. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Lewis Capaldi Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Lewis Capaldi: Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Top Albums (Week 21, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "2023 21-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 19.05.2023–25.05.2023 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Lewis Capaldi Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2023" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2023". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2023". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "End of Year Albums Chart – 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "British album certifications – Lewis Capaldi – Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Lewis Capaldi Store". Lewis Capaldi Store. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.