"Promises" is a song by the Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris and the English singer and songwriter Sam Smith. It was released by Columbia Records and Sony Music on 17 August 2018, and included on Smith's third studio album Love Goes (2020), and Harris' first compilation album, 96 Months (2024). Both artists co-wrote the song with Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez, who also provided additional vocals to the song, while the song's production was handled solely by Harris. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on 7 September 2018, having debuted at number four two weeks earlier. It became Harris' tenth British chart-topper and Smith's seventh. In the United States, the single became Harris' twelfth and Smith's first number-one on Billboards Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart in its 6 October 2018 issue."Calvin Harris Ties Rihanna for Most Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart No. 1s With 'Promises'" from Billboard (4 October 2018)

Release Both artists announced the song via Twitter on 13 August 2018. "Very excited about this one", Harris wrote. Smith added: "Surprise! I'm so excited for you all to hear this song." The announcement was accompanied by a Japanese-inspired retro single artwork, which depicts a lone tree rising up in front of the ocean against a faded pink backdrop. The song marks Smith's third foray into electronic dance music, after being featured on Disclosure's singles "Latch" and "Omen" in 2012 and 2015, respectively. On 15 August, Smith posted a promotional photo on Twitter ahead of the single's release, showing them and Harris relaxing on a rooftop while sharing a bottle of wine and a pizza. The single was released alongside a lyric video.

Composition "Promises" is a house and dance-pop song recorded in the key of D minor with a tempo of 123 beats per minute in common time. It follows a chord progression of Bmaj7–Dm7–Csus2, and Smith's vocals span from C3 to A4.

Critical reception Brandy Robidoux of Hollywood Life called the song "a music match made in heaven", writing that Smith's "smooth vocals" provides a "soulful vibe", while retaining the "classic Calvin thumping beat". Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger named it the second best UK number-one hit of 2018, writing: "People sometimes look back on a golden age when record labels let talent develop at its own pace and kept the faith. Those times are gone, but we have all collectively spent a decade watching Calvin Harris gradually evolve from a massive irritant to a reliable delivery mechanism for pleasant pop-garage."

Music video The music video for "Promises" was released on 4 September, directed by Emil Nava, and it honors the LGBT community with references to the ball scene and voguing.

Track listing Digital download "Promises" – 3:33 12-inch single Side A: "Promises" – 3:33 Side B: "Promises" (extended mix) – 8:27 Digital download – remixes "Promises" (David Guetta remix) – 3:10 "Promises" (MK remix) – 4:19 "Promises" (Sonny Fodera remix) – 3:57 "Promises" (Illyus & Barrientos remix) – 4:42 "Promises" (Franky Rizardo remix) – 4:26 "Promises" (Mousse T.'s Disco Shizzle remix) – 3:30 "Promises" (Offaiah remix) – 3:09 "Promises" (Sonny Fodera Disco mix) – 3:57 Digital download – extended remixes "Promises" (David Guetta extended remix) – 7:53 "Promises" (MK extended remix) – 8:01 "Promises" (Sonny Fodera extended remix) – 6:19 "Promises" (Illyus & Barrientos extended remix) – 6:00 "Promises" (Franky Rizardo extended remix) – 7:13 "Promises" (Mousse T.'s extended Disco Shizzle remix) – 6:26 "Promises" (Offaiah extended remix) – 7:02 "Promises" (Sonny Fodera extended disco mix) – 7:05 "Promises" (extended mix) – 8:27

Personnel Credits adapted from Tidal. Calvin Harris – production, mix engineering, record engineering Sam Smith – vocals Jessie Reyez – vocals Mike Marsh – master engineering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018–2019) Peak position Argentina (Argentina Hot 100) 34 Australia Dance (ARIA) 1 Belarus Airplay (Eurofest) 4 Bolivia Airplay (Monitor Latino) 11 Brazil Airplay (Top 100 Brasil) 88 Colombia Airplay (National-Report) 38 Croatia International Airplay (HRT) 1 Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard) 1 Greece (IFPI) 3 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 1 Lebanon (OLT20) 1 Lithuania (AGATA) 1 Luxembourg Digital Song Sales (Billboard) 1 Mexico Airplay (Billboard) 1 Netherlands (Dance Top 30) 2 Romania (Airplay 100) 4 Singapore (RIAS) 15 Slovenia Airplay (SloTop50) 1

+ Chart (20242026) Peakposition Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 120 Romania Airplay (TopHit) 131

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position Australia (ARIA) 51 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 43 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 23 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 40 Denmark (Tracklisten) 49 El Salvador (Monitor Latino) 91 Germany (Official German Charts) 38 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 42 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 37 Hungary (Single Top 40) 19 Iceland (Plötutíóindi) 7 Ireland (IRMA) 20 Italy (FIMI) 92 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 29 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100) 22 Portugal (AFP) 100 Romania (Airplay 100) 57 Slovenia (SloTop50) 37 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 76 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 32 UK Singles (OCC) 25 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) 36 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 14 Chart (2019) Position Australia (ARIA) 87 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 59 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 92 CIS (Tophit) 39 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 30 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 8 Hungary (Single Top 40) 44 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 29 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 91 Portugal (AFP) 122 Romania (Airplay 100) 64 Russia Airplay (Tophit) 53 Slovenia (SloTop50) 28 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 79 Ukraine Airplay (Tophit) 27 UK Singles (OCC) 47 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 27 Chart (2022) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 72 Chart (2025) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 89

Certifications and sales

Release history Region Date Format Version Label Various 17 August 2018 Original United Kingdom Contemporary hit radio Columbia United States 21 August 2018 Italy 31 August 2018 Sony Various 12 October 2018 12-inch single 19 October 2018 Remixes Extended remixes

References

External links