Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)

"Smile"
Song by Charlie Chaplin
Published 1936 (instrumental theme), 1954 (lyrics)
Length 2:52
Composer(s) Charlie Chaplin
Lyricist(s)
Nat King Cole

"Smile" is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for Charlie Chaplin's 1936 movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music, inspired by Puccini's Tosca.[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.

Judy Garland sang a memorable version of "Smile" on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1963.

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.

Charts

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

Michael Jackson version

"Smile"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
B-side
  • "Is It Scary"
  • "Off the Wall" (Junior Vasquez remix)
Released January 20, 1998 (1998-01-20)
Format
Recorded March 11–12, 1995
Studio Olympic, London
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"
(1998)		 "You Rock My World"
(2001)

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 1998. 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. 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."[3] Entertainment Weekly called this version of the song a "destined-for-Disney rendition."[4] In 2009 at Jackson's memorial, his brother Jermaine Jackson sang a version of the song in Michael's honor.[5]

Track listing

CD maxi single[6]

  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[6]

  • 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 (2009) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Digital Songs 56[7]
Chart (2009) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 74[8]
Swiss Singles Chart 70[9]

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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Browne, David (June 23, 1995). "HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book I Review | Music Reviews and News". Entertainment Weekly.
  5. ↑ Montgomery, James (July 7, 2009). "Jermaine Jackson brings 'Smile,' tears to Michael Jackson memorial". MTV.
  6. 1 2 "MICHAEL JACKSON - SMILE (SONG) - CD Info". australian-charts.com.
  7. ↑ "Michael Jackson - Chart History - Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2016. Smile Michael Jackson King of Pop [Thailand] July 25, 2009
  8. ↑ "Michael Jackson | Artist". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 2012-04-05. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  9. ↑ "Michael Jackson - Smile". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
External video
Chaplin's original sound on YouTube: Modern Times. (0:40:22-, 0:42:44-, 0:52:16-, 1:06:39-, and full version 1:21:25-)
Smile in esperanto YouTube: Ridetu - Esperanto-versio -Smile. (0:03:15-)
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