Review: Calum Scott performs at the 2024 Common Sense Media Awards in New York

Calum Scott. Photo Credit: Samuel Valdivia.

On September 17th, British pop singer-songwriter Calum Scott performed at the 2024 Common Sense Media Awards, which were held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City.

Common Sense is the leading nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to improving the lives of all children and their families by providing trustworthy information, education, and the independent voices they need to thrive in this century.

Founder and CEO Jim Steyer described Calum Scott as a good friend and supporter of Common Sense Media and dubbed him as an “internationally recognized pop star.”

“Calum has been on a global tour for the last five months or so, with his friend Ed Sheeran, traveling all around the world and playing packed stadiums,” Steyer said.

Steyer continued, “Calum has been our friend for several years now, and he has changed his schedule to be here with us tonight. He is not only such a great singer, but he is deeply committed to youth mental health.”

“Over in the U.K., where he is from, Calum is one of the leading figures talking about the stigmas associated with young people and mental health, and he has shared his own deeply personal experiences with millions of people in Europe and the U.K,” Steyer elaborated.

Calum performs ‘Dancing on My Own’

“This was the song that caused the birth of my career,” Calum said and immediately broke into “Dancing on My Own.” His piano-laden version was soothing, resonant, and powerful as it showcased his rich, rumbling voice, which was controlled and smooth as silk.

If that weren’t enough, Calum included a nice little twist in there, incorporating the chorus of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” which was a real treat.

Calum was accompanied by Andrew Yeates on the piano, who did a superb job, and helped elevate the stirring ballad to a higher level.

“Thank you so much,” Calum said, effusively, following the very positive response from the New York audience that gathered at the 2024 Common Sense Media Awards.

When asked by Steyer about what drew him to Common Sense Media, Calum responded, “It is just our shared goal and our mission to try to make change for the lives of young people.”

“I struggle with my own mental health, and to some extent, I still do. Common Sense Media and I use our platforms and our voices to try to spread more goodness into the world,” Calum acknowledged.

Calum performs ‘Flaws’

Calum continued by serenading the audience to the song “Flaws,” which is quite poignant for him.

Calum remarked, “This song was inspired by my sister, and how it impacted her on a mental health standpoint. She would go on social media, and she would tell me that everyone on there is so perfect (with the perfect skin, perfect body, and perfect family), and that made her feel like she wasn’t good enough.”

“I corrected her because she is a beautiful person inside and out, but she taught me that I need to use my voice to try to spread positivity,” he said.

“I wanted to write a song that reminds not only my sister, but the rest of the world, to give ourselves a little bit of a break, and to just love ourselves a little bit more,” he added.

Calum broke into a harking and expressive version of “Flaws,” which was quite beautiful and timely with lyrics that are very relevant, especially in this digital age that we are living in today.

Calum revealed that he will be performing in New York’s Beacon Theatre next month on October 9, 2024. “I am at the Beacon Theatre in October, if you want to come and see me,” Calum said.

Calum performs ‘You Are the Reason’

“This is my final song,” he admitted, before performing “You Are the Reason”. “I do want to thank Jim and Common Sense Media for trusting me to be a part of such a spectacular event, where people are making the world a better place.”

“If I can continue to be a part of your family for many more years, then I definitely will,” Calum underscored. “I have a really special song to end; I have been singing this with a bloke you might know called Ed Sheeran in stadiums across the world. Ed is not here today unfortunately, but maybe I will have some other special guests,” he foreshadowed.

Calum was joined by the High School Choir students of the Special Music School (M. 859) for a memorable and moving performance of “You Are the Reason.” He was joined by Virgil Moor on the violin and Sara Scanlon on the cello, both of which did a splendid job on their string instruments.

“This song just encapsulates love, and I think that is our experience in the room today… just love,” he exclaimed. “It is a pleasure to end with this.”

To learn more about British pop singer-songwriter Calum Scott, follow him on Instagram and visit his official website.