Stay With Me was released by Sam Smith in 2014 as a single from the debut album In the Lonely Hour, and it quickly became one of the defining ballads of that decade. Built around piano, gospel-inspired backing vocals and Smith's soaring voice, the song won major awards and was widely covered, parodied and shared online. Its chorus remains instantly recognisable, which is why creators still reach for it when they need a short, emotional musical moment rather than a joke or a loud effect.