Lewis Capaldi’s video for breakout single “Someone You Loved” is the latest to join the YouTube Billions Club. The recognition goes to videos that have surpassed more than one billion views on the platform.
Released in 2018, the song was the Scottish singer’s third single from his second EP, Breach, and was later included on his debut album, 2019’s Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent. The gloomy video shows Capaldi wandering the streets, following his lost love as his friends and strangers try to stop him from chasing after her. In a 2022 installment of Vevo Footnotes, the singer and director Ozzie Pullin gave BTS insight into the video.
“The video’s concept came from conversations about young love: never feeling like you can fully let someone go,” Pullin explained, “and the idea that the people that you surround yourself with eventually help you move forward.”
He added, “The first person Lewis encounters is his brother, who pulls up from the bench. This was an almost perfect metaphor because family members are usually the first people to push you forward…My main visual reference were the night scenes in Mike Leigh’s film Naked–with David Thewlis’ character Johnny just wandering around alone.”
“Someone You Loved” became Capaldi’s first No. 1 single both in his home country and across the pond, spending seven consecutive weeks atop the UK chart and also topping the Billboard Hot 100. In 2020, the single was nominated for Song of the Year at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards and received the award for Song of the Year at the Brit Awards. In 2023, the single was certified Diamond by the RIAA.
“Someone You Loved” marks Capaldi’s first song to enter YouTube’s Billions Club. He captured the world’s attention with 2019’s Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, which was followed by 2023’s Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, both of which topped the UK albums chart and entered the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart. After his 2023 tour, Capaldi announced an extended break from touring following his Glastonbury performance.
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