Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)

Last updated
"Smile"
Song by Charlie Chaplin
Written
  • 1936 (instrumental theme)
  • 1954 (lyrics)
Published1954 by Bourne
Length2:52
Composer(s) Charlie Chaplin
Lyricist(s)
Audio video
"Smile" on YouTube

"Smile" is a song based on the theme song used in the soundtrack for Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film Modern Times .

Contents

Background

Chaplin, who composed the song with the help of composer David Raksin, was inspired by a sequence in the first act love duet from Puccini's opera Tosca , beginning with Cavaradossi singing "Quale occhio al mondo può star di paro". [1] John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954. [2] In the lyrics, based on lines and themes from the film, the singer is telling the listener to cheer up and that there is always a bright tomorrow, just as long as they smile.

"Smile" has become a popular standard since its original use in Chaplin's film and has been recorded by numerous artists. [3]

Cover versions

Nat King Cole version

Nat King Cole Nat King Cole (Gottlieb 01511).jpg
Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole recorded the first version with lyrics. It charted in 1954, reaching number 10 on the Billboard charts and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. This version was also used at the beginning of the 1975 movie Smile .

Sammy Davis Jr. recorded a cover version of the Cole original, as part of his tribute album The Nat King Cole Songbook in 1965.

Charts

Chart (1954)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop)2
UK Singles (OCC)2
US Billboard Hot 100 10

Michael Jackson version

"Smile"
Michael Jackson Smile Single.jpg
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
B-side
ReleasedDecember 28, 1997 (1997-12-28)
RecordedMarch 11–12, 1995
Studio The Hit Factory (New York) [4]
Genre Soul
Length
  • 4:55 (album version)
  • 4:10 (short version)
Label Epic
Composer(s) Charlie Chaplin
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Is It Scary"
(1997)		"Smile"
(1997)		"You Rock My World"
(2001)
Audio video
"Smile" on YouTube

American singer Michael Jackson often cited "Smile" as his favourite song and recorded it for his 1995 double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I . It was scheduled to be released as the seventh and final single from the album in 1997. However, it was cancelled at the last minute and only a few copies, mostly promos, went into circulation in the UK, South Africa and the Netherlands, making it one of the rarest and most collectible of all Jackson's releases. [5] Entertainment Weekly called this version of the song a "destined-for-Disney rendition." [6] In 2009 at Jackson's memorial, his brother Jermaine Jackson sang a version of the song in Michael's honor. [7] This song is performed in the Michael Jackson: One Las Vegas production.

Track listing

CD maxi single [8]

  1. "Smile" (short version) – 4:10
  2. "Is It Scary" (radio edit) – 4:11
  3. "Is It Scary" (Eddie's Love Mix Edit) – 3:50
  4. "Is It Scary" (Downtempo Groove Mix) – 4:50
  5. "Is It Scary" (Deep Dish Dark and Scary Radio Edit) – 4:34

12" maxi single [8]

  • A1. "Smile" – 4:55
  • A2. "Is It Scary" (Deep Dish Dark and Scary Remix) – 12:07
  • B1. "Is It Scary" (Eddie's Rub-a-Dub Mix) – 5:00
  • B2. "Is It Scary" (Eddie's Love Mix) – 8:00
  • B3. "Off the Wall" (Junior Vasquez Remix) – 4:57

Promotional single

  1. "Smile" (short version) – 4:10

Promotional CD single

  1. "Smile" (short version) – 4:10
  2. "Is It Scary" (radio edit) – 4:11

Charts

Chart performance for "Smile" by Michael Jackson
Chart (2009)Peak
position
Germany (Official German Charts) [9] 71
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [10] 70
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 74
US Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [12] 56

Other charting versions

Other notable recordings

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Istanbul (Not Constantinople)</span> 1953 novelty song by Jimmy Kennedy and Nat Simon

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is a 1953 novelty song, with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy and music by Nat Simon. It was written on the 500th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans. The lyrics humorously refer to the official renaming of the city of Constantinople to Istanbul. The song's original release, performed by The Four Lads, was certified as a gold record. Numerous cover versions have been recorded over the years, most famously a 1990 version by They Might Be Giants.

"Walkin' My Baby Back Home" is a popular song written in 1930 by Roy Turk (lyrics) and Fred E. Ahlert (music).

"If I Give My Heart to You" is a popular song written by Jimmy Brewster, Jimmie Crane, and Al Jacobs. The most popular versions of the song were recorded by Doris Day and by Denise Lor; both charted in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66</span> 1946 single by the King Cole Trio

"(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" is a popular rhythm and blues song, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. The lyrics relate a westward roadtrip on U.S. Route 66, a highway which traversed the western two-thirds of the U.S. from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. The song became a standard, with several renditions appearing on the record charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I Fall in Love</span> Song from One Minute to Zero

"When I Fall in Love" is a popular song, written by Victor Young (music) and Edward Heyman (lyrics). It was introduced in Howard Hughes' last film One Minute to Zero as the instrumental titled "Theme from One Minute to Zero". Jeri Southern sang on the first vocal recording released in April 1952 with the song's composer, Victor Young, handling the arranging and conducting duties. The song has become a standard, with many artists recording it; the first hit version was sung by Doris Day released in July 1952.

"That's Life" is a popular song written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon and first recorded in 1963 by Marion Montgomery. The song has an uplifting message that, despite the ups and downs in life, one should not give up but keep positive, because soon one will be "back on top."

"On the Sunny Side of the Street" is a 1930 song composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Some authors say that Fats Waller was the composer, but he sold the rights to the song. It was introduced in the Broadway musical Lew Leslie's International Revue starring Harry Richman and Gertrude Lawrence.

"All the Way" is a song published in 1957 by Maraville Music Corporation. The music was written by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unforgettable (Nat King Cole song)</span> 1951 popular song

"Unforgettable" is a popular song written by Irving Gordon. The song's original working title was "Uncomparable,” however, the music publishing company asked Gordon to change it to "Unforgettable.” The song was published in 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Only a Paper Moon</span> 1933 popular song

"It's Only a Paper Moon" is a popular song published in 1933 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose.

"Almost Like Being in Love" is a show tune with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. It was written for the score of their 1947 musical Brigadoon. The song was first sung by David Brooks and Marion Bell, in the Broadway production. It was later performed in the 1954 film version by Gene Kelly.

"Non Dimenticar" is the Italian construction for the informal imperative, "non" + infinitive. Originally titled "T'ho voluto bene", it is a popular song with music by P. G. Redi, the original Italian lyrics by Michele Galdieri, with English lyrics by Shelley Dobbins. The song was written for the 1951 film Anna. While actress Silvana Mangano is frequently credited as the singer, in fact, Flo Sandon's dubbed the two songs sung in Anna.

"Let's Face the Music and Dance" is a song published in 1936 by Irving Berlin for the film Follow the Fleet, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and featured in a celebrated dance duet with Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The jazz song has also been covered by various artists years following its release, including Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Todd Gordon and others.

"I've Got a Crush on You" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It is unique among Gershwin compositions in that it was used for two different Broadway productions: Treasure Girl (1928), when it was introduced by Clifton Webb and Mary Hay, and Strike Up the Band (1930), when it was sung by Doris Carson and Gordon Smith. It was later included in the tribute musical Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012), in which it was sung by Jennifer Laura Thompson. When covered by Frank Sinatra he was a part of Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L-O-V-E</span> 1964 single by Nat King Cole

"L-O-V-E" is a song written by Bert Kaempfert and Milt Gabler, recorded by Nat King Cole for his 1965 studio album L-O-V-E.

"Mona Lisa" is a popular song written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for the Paramount Pictures film Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1949), in which it was performed by Sergio de Karlo and a recurrent accordion motif. The title and lyrics refer to the renaissance portrait Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy (Michael Jackson song)</span> 1973 single by Michael Jackson

"Happy" is a song written by Michel Legrand and Smokey Robinson and first recorded by Bobby Darin. The song was first released as a single by Bobby Darin on November 23, 1972, peaking #67 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was his last single to hit the chart. The song was included on his posthumous Motown LP Darin: 1936–1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Is It Scary</span> 1997 promotional single by Michael Jackson

"Is It Scary" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. The song was written in 1994 during sessions for Jackson's 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, but it was not included on the album. It was later released on Jackson's 1997 remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix. "Is It Scary" was written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

"Straighten Up and Fly Right" is a 1943 song written by Nat King Cole and Irving Mills and one of the first vocal hits for the King Cole Trio. It was the trio's most popular single, reaching number one on the Harlem Hit Parade for ten nonconsecutive weeks. The single also peaked at number nine on the pop charts. "Straighten Up and Fly Right" also reached number one for six nonconsecutive weeks on the Most Played Jukebox Hillbilly Records.

<i>The Best Days of My Life</i> 1979 studio album by Johnny Mathis

The Best Days of My Life is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis, released on January 29, 1979, by Columbia Records. He scaled back considerably on his more than decade-long practice of recording recent hit songs by other artists. He did, however, cover two standards: "As Time Goes By" and "Begin the Beguine", the latter of which is given a disco arrangement.

References

  1. ↑ Schiff, David (February 21, 2012). The Ellington Century. University of California Press. p. 92. ISBN   978-0520245877.
  2. ↑ Linda Wada (March 2004). "Smile". Edna Purviance, Charlie Chaplin's Leading Lady - Welcome to Paradise. Retrieved 2010-05-02. Scans of the sheet music clearly attribute authorship of the music and lyrics.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  3. ↑ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  4. ↑ Swedien, Bruce (2003). Make Mine Music. Norway: MIA Musikk. p. 184. ISBN   82-996756-1-8.
  5. ↑ Hunter, James (August 10, 1995). "Michael Jackson: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008.
  6. ↑ Browne, David (June 23, 1995). "HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book I Review | Music Reviews and News". Entertainment Weekly.
  7. ↑ Montgomery, James (July 7, 2009). "Jermaine Jackson brings 'Smile,' tears to Michael Jackson memorial". MTV . Archived from the original on January 7, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "MICHAEL JACKSON - SMILE (SONG) - CD Info". australian-charts.com.
  9. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Smile" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  10. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Smile". Swiss Singles Chart.
  11. ↑ "Michael Jackson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  12. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard.
  13. 1 2 Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research Inc. p.  580. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  14. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 74.
  15. ↑ Daw, Stephen (September 27, 2024). "Lady Gaga's 'Joker' Companion Album 'Harlequin': All 13 Songs Ranked". Billboard . Retrieved September 27, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.