No Matter What

## Single by Calum Scott

"**No Matter What**" is a song by English singer-songwriter Calum Scott, released on 19 October 2018 by Capitol Records. It serves as the lead single from the special edition of his debut studio album, *Only Human*. It was co-written with Toby Gad and produced by Fraser T. Smith. The single details parents' acceptance of their son's sexuality.

In a press statement, Scott shared, "It's a song born from loneliness, acceptance and the heartbreaking but liberating tale of my coming out experience. What I love about this song is that it isn't just limited to a story of sexual identity, but about the relationship between parent and child and acceptance as a whole. This song didn't make my debut album because I simply wasn't ready at that time to give it to the world.  It felt too personal to share, but as with all of my songwriting, I've written this from the heart to try and inspire confidence and compassion in people and put some love back in to the world, which we could always use more of".

## Background

The song was composed in one of the early studio sessions of *Only Human*, though Scott was not comfortable to release it just yet. He wrote it purely as something therapeutic, and added, "I knew it would touch people's hearts but it brought back all that fear of coming out. Not a lot of people sing about this particular issue, and I thought, 'are people going to think of me differently?'" He also said that he was concerned with being labelled as "the gay singer", but felt it was liberating to finally have it out because he had a difficult time coming to terms with his sexuality. He concluded, "Yes, you are going to have people who say 'he's the gay singer', but I'm trying to inspire confidence, compassion and understanding and that means a lot to me".

He revealed to Newshub, "It was a really personal story that really made me suppress who I was for many years after. [...] This song has so much bones behind it and has such a wider discussion, not only about sexuality but about acceptance. This hopefully will be a movement. I want to help people, I want to inspire people, I want to make people more compassionate".

## Music video

The official music video, directed by Ozzie Pullin, was published to Scott's VEVO YouTube channel on 9 November 2018. *Huffpost* summarised, "[It] shows a younger Scott being bullied and ostracised by his peers as he struggles to accept that he's gay. His family, however, embrace him by the song's conclusion, reminding him that they love him 'no matter what'".

## Personnel

### Song

* Ayo Oyerinde – piano
* Calum Scott – vocals, writer
* Chris Galland – mixing engineer
* Chris Gehringer – masterer
* Eduardo Ribeiro – A&R admin
* Frank van Essen – string quartet, string director
* Fraser T. Smith – producer, keyboards
* Kenta Yonesaka, Manon Grandjean, Tre Nagella – engineer
* Manny Marroquin – mixing engineer
* Nate Albert, Erynn Hill – A&R
* Robin Florent, Scott Desmarais – mixing assistance
* Toby Gad – writer

### Video

* David Foulkes – director of photography
* Jonny Thorpe – colourist
* Molly McGregor – producer
* Ozzie Pullin – director
* Partizan – production company
* Sam Bould – editor

## Gallery

* Audio
* Lyric Video
* Live Performance
* Goldhouse Remix
* Expresso Show

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1]

When I was a young boy I was scared of growing up

I didn't understand it but I was terrified of love

Felt like I had to choose but it was outta my control

I needed to be saved, I was going crazy on my own

[Pre-Chorus]

It took me years to tell my mother, I expected the worst

I gathered all the courage in the world

[Chorus]

She said, "I love you no matter what

I just want you to be happy and always be who you are"

She wrapped her arms around me

Said, "Don't try to be what you're not

'Cause I love you no matter what"

She loves me no matter what

[Verse 2]

I got a little older wishing all my time away

Riding on the pavement, every sunny day was grey

I trusted in my friends then all my world came crashing down

I wish I never said a thing 'cause to them I'm a stranger now

[Pre-Chorus]

I ran home I saw my mother, it was written on my face

Felt like I had a heart of glass about to break

[Chorus]

She said, "I love you no matter what

I just want you to be happy and always be who you are"

She wrapped her arms around me

Said, "Don't try to be what you're not

'Cause I love you no matter what, yeah"

[Bridge]

Now I'm a man and I'm so much wiser

I walk the earth with my head held higher

I got the love that I need

But I was still missing one special piece

My father looked at me

[Outro]

He said "I love you no matter what

I just want you to be happy and always be who you are"

He wrapped his arms around me

Said, "Don't try to be what you're not

'Cause I love you no matter what"

He loves me no matter what

And they love me no matter what

## References

1. ↑ "Calum Scott Releases New Single..." *Capitol Records*. 19 October 2018.
2. ↑ "Calum Scott on Telling His Coming Out Story on New Single No Matter What: "The Thought of Releasing It Was Really Scary"". *Official Singles Chart*. 5 December 2018.
3. ↑ Marbeck, Briar (24 October 2018). "'It Was a Song That I Always Had to Write' - Calum Scott Opens Up on Sexuality in New Single". *Newshub*.
4. ↑ Wong, Curtis (12 November 2018). "With 'No Matter What,' Singer Calum Scott Shares 'Liberating Tale' of Coming Out". *Huffpost*.