Cover versions
Nat King Cole version
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" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Promotional single by Michael Jackson | ||||
| from the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | December 28, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | March 11–12, 1995 | |||
| Studio | The Hit Factory (New York) [4] | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length |
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| Label | Epic | |||
| Composer(s) | Charlie Chaplin | |||
| Lyricist(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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| Licensed audio | ||||
| "Smile" on YouTube | ||||
American singer Michael Jackson recorded "Smile" for HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995). It was scheduled to be released as the final single from the album in 1997, but was withdrawn before its intended commercial release and was only released promotionally in limited quantities. [5] Jackson considered the original "Smile" to be one of his favorite songs. [5]
Entertainment Weekly called this version of the song a "destined-for-Disney rendition." [6] James Hunter of Rolling Stone wrote a negative review: "the climactic version of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" has zero point of view on itself; its blend of rampaging ego and static orchestral pop is a Streisand-size mistake." [7] In 2009 at Jackson's memorial service, his brother Jermaine Jackson sang a version of the song in Michael's honor. [8] It is performed in the Michael Jackson: One Las Vegas production.
Track listing
CD maxi single (withdrawn) [9]
- "Smile" (short version) – 4:10
- "Is It Scary" (radio edit) – 4:11
- "Is It Scary" (Eddie's Love Mix Edit) – 3:50
- "Is It Scary" (Downtempo Groove Mix) – 4:50
- "Is It Scary" (Deep Dish Dark and Scary Radio Edit) – 4:34
12" maxi single (withdrawn) [9]
- 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
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany (GfK) [10] | 71 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [11] | 70 |
| UK Singles (OCC) [12] | 74 |
| US Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [13] | 56 |
Other charting versions
- September 1954: Sunny Gale (with Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra) – RCA Victor 5836 (#19) [14]
- October 1954: David Whitfield – Decca F.10355 (#25) [14]
- In 1959, Tony Bennett recorded the song which in the US, peaked at #73 on the Hot 100. [15]
- In 1961, Timi Yuro released a version that reached #42 on the Hot 100.
- In late 1964, Jerry Butler and Betty Everett recorded and charted with the song as a duet.
Other notable recordings
- Judy Garland sang a version of Nat King Cole's song on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1963.
- The song was also recorded by Jimmy Durante as part of his album Jackie Barnett Presents Hello Young Lovers in 1965.
- In 2012, a few months before her death, Phyllis Diller recorded a version of the song in her living room with Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini on piano. The song was issued as the closing track of Pink Martini's 2013 album Get Happy .
- The song was included on the soundtrack of the 1992 biographical film Chaplin (as covered by its lead actor, Robert Downey Jr.).
- Lyle Lovett covered the song for the 1998 film Hope Floats ; it was later included as the title track on his 2003 album Smile: Songs from the Movies .
- Barbra Streisand recorded her own version for The Movie Album as well as for the soundtrack of Mona Lisa Smile in 2003.
- Westlife covered the song on their 2004 album ...Allow Us to Be Frank . The song was released as the first single from the record on 4 November 2004.
- In 2006, Tony Bennett did his own version of the song in his album Duets: An American Classic with Barbra Streisand.
- Lady Gaga recorded a version of the song for Harlequin (2024), her companion album to the American musical thriller film Joker: Folie à Deux (2024). [16]
