: The song represents a transition from "masters of pain" to a space of "emotional, sexual, and spiritual liberation".
The song’s performance at the 2023 Grammy Awards became a cultural lightning rod. Dressed in red leather and devil horns, Smith and Petras delivered a "hell-themed" show that sparked intense backlash from conservative figures who labeled it "evil" or "demonic". However, this controversy did not diminish the song's historic significance: Sam Smith Unholy Ft. Kim Petras
For Sam Smith, "Unholy" was more than a stylistic change; they described the recording process as an of their previous musical identity. : The song represents a transition from "masters
: By embracing a raunchier, more provocative persona, Smith moved toward a more authentic queer self that refused to be "presentable" for a heteronormative audience. Cultural Impact and Historic Milestones However, this controversy did not diminish the song's
Sonically, "Unholy" is a radical departure from mainstream pop structures. It utilizes the , giving it a dark, "sinister" melodic flow often associated with Arabic music. This exotic scale, combined with a "grinding" bassline and metallic hyperpop synths, creates a sense of tension that mirrors the song's illicit subject matter.