Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
"Smile"
Song
Nat King Cole

"Smile" is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music, while John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954.[1] 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. It was used as the theme song on NBC-TV'S The Jerry Lewis Show from 1967-69.

Nat King Cole version

Nat King Cole, the first with lyrics, charted in 1954. It reached Number 10 on the Billboard charts, and Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart.

Diana Ross version

Diana Ross made her version on 1976 album.

Michael Jackson version

"Smile"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Released January 20, 1998
Format CD single, 12" single
Recorded March 11–12, 1995 at the Olympic Studio, London, England (UK)
Genre Soul
Length 4:55 (album version)
4:10 (short version)
Label Epic
Writer(s) Charlie Chaplin (music)
John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons (lyrics)
Producer(s) David Foster
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Is It Scary"
(1997)		 "Smile"
(1998)		 "You Rock My World"
(2001)
HIStory Continues track listing
"Little Susie"
(14)		 "Smile"
(15)

Singer Michael Jackson recorded the song for his 1995 double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It was released as the eighth and final single from the album in 1998.

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."[2] Entertainment Weekly called this version of the song a "destined-for-Disney rendition."[3]

In 2009 at Jackson's memorial, his brother Jermaine Jackson sang a version of the song in Michael's honor.

Track listing

CD maxi single[4]

  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[4]

  • 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
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 56[5]
Chart (2009) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 74[6]
Swiss Singles Chart 70[7]

Josh Groban version

Josh Groban recorded a cover of the song, and released it in 2006 as a digital single and a bonus track on internet exclusive editions of his Awake album.[8][9] He performed the song in some of his concerts as well as the annual Capitol Fourth concert of 2011.[10]

Misia version

Misia recorded a cover of the song with three choral groups of children from Sendai, one of the cities affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The song, which served as theme for the animation film Friends: Mononoke Shima no Naki, was released in December 2011 on her Misia no Mori: Forest Covers album.[11] Her version charted at Number 41 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.[12] Misia performed the song on her 2011-2012 concert tour The Tour of Misia Japan Soul Quest.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20070101185947/http://www.joshgroban.com/node/80
  9. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/smile-single/id477386144
  10. ↑ http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/07/josh-groban-honors-america-at-a-capitol-fourth-performance-video/
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

External video
video icon 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-)
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Smile_(Charlie_Chaplin_song)&oldid=411493"