"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, inspired by Puccini's Tosca. John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954. 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.
Video Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)
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
Maps Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)
Michael Jackson version
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 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." Entertainment Weekly called this version of the song a "destined-for-Disney rendition." 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
- "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
- 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
- "Smile" (short version) - 4:10
Promotional CD single
- "Smile" (short version) - 4:10
- "Is It Scary" (radio edit) - 4:11
Charts
Other versions and use in media
- Another notable version is recorded by Judy Garland and released on her 1965 album: Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli - "Live" At The London Palladium.
- Diana Ross recorded a version on her 1976 album. It was used as the theme song on NBC's The Jerry Lewis Show from 1967-69.
- In 2002, Elvis Costello released two versions of the song on the Collectors Edition version of his album When I Was Cruel.
- In 2004, Irish boy band Westlife covered "Smile" and released it as the first single from their fifth studio album ...Allow Us to Be Frank.
- In 2004, Robert Downey Jr. included his version of "Smile" on his one and only album release, The Futurist.
- In 2005, South-African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela included the song in his album Almost Like Being in Jazz
- The 2008 special edition of Janelle Monáe's album Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) contains a cover of "Smile".
- It was also recorded by Deana Martin on her second studio album, Volare, released in 2009 by Big Fish Records.
- The Japanese singer Misia recorded the song with three choral groups of children from Sendai, one of the cities affected by the 2011 T?hoku earthquake and tsunami. The song, which served as the theme for the animated film Friends: Mononoke Shima no Naki, was released in December 2011 on her Misia no Mori: Forest Covers album. Her version charted at number 41 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. Misia performed the song on her 2011-2012 concert tour The Tour of Misia Japan Soul Quest.
- In 2012, Rachael Leahcar sang the song on the first season of The Voice Australia, charting at number 34 on the Australian Singles Chart.
References
External links
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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