Promises (Calvin Harris and Sam Smith song)

Both artists announced the song via Twitter on 13 August 2018.^[4][5][6] "Very excited about this one", Harris wrote.^[7][8] Smith added: "Surprise! I'm so excited for you all to hear this song."^[9] 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.^[10][11][12] 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.^{[13][14][15][16]} 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.^[17] The single was released alongside a lyric video.^[18]

"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.^[19][20] It follows a chord progression of Bmaj7–D♯m7–C♯sus2, and Smith's vocals span from C♯₃ to A♯₄.^[21]

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".^[22] 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."^[23]

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.^[24]

• Digital download^[25]

1. "Promises" – 3:33

• 12-inch single^[26]

Side A: "Promises" – 3:33

Side B: "Promises" (extended mix) – 8:27

• Digital download – remixes^[27]

1. "Promises" (David Guetta remix) – 3:10
2. "Promises" (MK remix) – 4:19
3. "Promises" (Sonny Fodera remix) – 3:57
4. "Promises" (Illyus & Barrientos remix) – 4:42
5. "Promises" (Franky Rizardo remix) – 4:26
6. "Promises" (Mousse T.'s Disco Shizzle remix) – 3:30
7. "Promises" (Offaiah remix) – 3:09
8. "Promises" (Sonny Fodera Disco mix) – 3:57

• Digital download – extended remixes^[28]

1. "Promises" (David Guetta extended remix) – 7:53
2. "Promises" (MK extended remix) – 8:01
3. "Promises" (Sonny Fodera extended remix) – 6:19
4. "Promises" (Illyus & Barrientos extended remix) – 6:00
5. "Promises" (Franky Rizardo extended remix) – 7:13
6. "Promises" (Mousse T.'s extended Disco Shizzle remix) – 6:26
7. "Promises" (Offaiah extended remix) – 7:02
8. "Promises" (Sonny Fodera extended disco mix) – 7:05
9. "Promises" (extended mix) – 8:27

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[25]

• Calvin Harris – production, mix engineering, record engineering
• Sam Smith – vocals
• Jessie Reyez – vocals
• Mike Marsh – master engineering