Teddy Swims Captivates a Sold Out Majestic Theater in Detroit
Detroit,Michigan (April 23,2022)-After dedicating his life to music in his mid-teens, Teddy Swims – a.k.a. Jaten Dimsdale – knocked on the door of stardom and claimed the payoff after a decades-long grind. Known for being a successful YouTube R&B/Soul/Pop cover artist, his successful videos have reached millions, while his rendition of Shania Twain’s “‘You’re Still the One’,” topped a mind numbing fifteen million views! With the recent release of his EP Tough Love along with the vibrant lovesick single “dose”, Swims has continued to build on his impressive library of original work. As far as his own material, two of his more recent cuts “Bed On Fire” off Learning and the upbeat “911” cut from his most recent 2022 EP, have reached 17 million hits on Spotify alone! With his mesmerizing vocals and stellar range as well as his uncanny ability to sing seemingly anything and make it convincing, Swims lives up to the meaning of a vastly underrated artist
Saturday it was Detroit’s historic Majestic Theaters turn to play host to the budding superstars Tough Love World Tour. Excessively long lines outside the venue snaked through the midtown neighborhood for blocks and left most casual observers wondering just who was performing later in the evening. When “Teddy Swims” was announced jubilantly to the inquisitive passers-by it resulted with a shrug of the shoulders and head shake that left fans seemingly perplexed yet smiling inside knowing what was in store for them in just a few short hours.
Swims wasted little time once he took the stage kicking off his potent set by delving right into his debut EP with “Till I Change Your Mind,” quickly followed by “Broke,” which he co-wrote with country superstar Thomas Rhett. Both received ample adulation from the rapidly swelling crowd but it was the next song “Blowin’ Smoke,” that allowed Swims to showcase his lyrical versatility and undeniable range. An innovative mix of gospel, soul, and country with some overly poppy hooks mixed well with his unique ability to bring life to the lyrics while also allowing the casual fans in attendance a glimpse into his unique brand of music.
It is well documented that Swims broke into the music scene via the YouTube route, but since signing with signing Warner, he has shown his ability to write songs that fans can relate to and feel with his delivery. Just a week before Teddy Swims made his Detroit appearance, he released a new single “dose,” which served as a perfect elixir inside the packed Majestic. “Love how you kiss every tattoo on my face,” the Atlanta native playfully sings over a bouncy bass line and grooving percussion on the song’s knockout chorus. What was most amazing was that his legions of faithful fans already knew the full lyrics to a song that fits seamlessly into an already impressive songwriting repertoire.
Swims had the crowd hanging by the proverbial thread throughout 18-song setlist, but when he dropped the slow-burning R&B ballad “My Bad,” then segued into the beautifully bluesy “Somebody Should Kiss You,” the venue erupted with the chant “Teddy,Teddy,Teddy,” a scene that would be repeated multiple times during the performance. Both cuts highlighted the rich vibrant tone that has brought so many fans to discover the multi faceted vocals that Swims brings to the table. His upper scale, somewhat angelic at times while others radiant and vibrant that illuminate the stage as bright as his gold capped teeth. None more prevalent than on new single “Simple Things” and soon to to be 2022 wedding staple”Amazing,” both culled from his recently released Tough Love.
Swims has a knack of writing upbeat feel-good love songs that are easy to connect with and “For The Rest Of Your Life” is one of them. “I tried movin’ slow ‘Cause I don’t wanna come on too strong (don’t wanna come on too strong)” is full of bouncy lyrics wrapped with a funky and engaging beat that is fun and infectious. “Love For A Minute,” was followed by a unreleased song “PTSD,” which based on the reaction of the crowd, was as treat to have on tonight’s setlist. One of Swims’s earlier 2019 R&B singles “Night Off,” added a little more depth to the setlist preceeded his first cover song of the night “Let Me Love You,” which Swims did with his own soulful vibe.
In one of the more poignant moments that fans won’t soon forget happened late in set. Swims was wrapping up a mesmerizing semi-acoustic portions of the set that featured the 2022 wedding season hit “Amazing,” a cover of Shania Twain’s hit “You’re Still the One” and “Simple Things,” the crowd once again began chanting “Teddy,Teddy,Teddy.” This time,the volume kept building, louder and louder, permeating every inch of the historic theater. A humble and now visibly emotional Swims tapped his chest to show his love for his fans. The gesture was well appreciated by the overflowing venue but the chants continued. The tears were now swelling in Swims’s eyes and there was a crackle in his voice as he spoke. This is Teddy Swims the person, passionate,humble and fully deserving of all the accolades bestowed him.
As the band returned to the stage, Teddy sang a little about “L.I.F.E.,” before capping off his epic set with a pair of his biggest hits. Free flowing and the rollicking “911,” followed by his signature hit “Bed On Fire,” almost engulfed the Majestic once again. His powerhouse vocals delivered each lyric as the crowd became the backup singers as they sang right back at the stage in an eruption of emotional bliss.
Teddy Swims performance Saturday night matched what fans worldwide have been experiencing through his music. His vocal range was as soothing and radiant as the videos plus his stellar stage manners and crowd interaction were heartwarming and beautiful. What is truly remarkable is that a short few years ago Swims was an unheard of artist and now playing to sold-out audiences on his Tough Love World Tour. Now,as his music reaches new listeners,stardom is no longer just a pipe dream for the artist known as Teddy Swims, it is quickly becoming a reality. With a new collaboration with country star Mitchell Tenpenny set to be released, 438 million streams to his credit as well as highlight performances on The Today Show, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Kelly Clarkson Show, Swims is very much a hitmaker on the rise.
Hope now is Teddy Swims stays true to himself and continues making music the way only he knows how. The sky’s the limit for this amazing artist and he has the chops and determination to get there. Don’t believe us, give his music a listen, a world wide growing fanbase along with a sold-out tour doesn’t lie.
Teddy Swims:
