Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)

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"Smile"
Song by Charlie Chaplin
Written	1936 (instrumental theme) 1954 (lyrics)
Published	1954 by Bourne
Length	2:52
Composer(s)	Charlie Chaplin
Lyricist(s)	John Turner Geoffrey Parsons

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

Background[]

Chaplin, who composed the song, was 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 and has been recorded by numerous artists.^[3]

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
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	December 28, 1997 (1997-12-28)
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)	John Turner Geoffrey Parsons
Producer(s)	David Foster Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Is It Scary" (1997) "Smile" (1997) "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 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.^[4] Entertainment Weekly called this version of the song a "destined-for-Disney rendition."^[5] In 2009 at Jackson's memorial, his brother Jermaine Jackson sang a version of the song in Michael's honor.^[6] This song is performed in the Michael Jackson: One Las Vegas production.

Track listing[]

CD maxi single^[7]

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^[7]

• 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
Germany (Official German Charts)[8]	71
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9]	70
UK Singles (OCC)[10]	74
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11]	56

Other charting versions[]

• September 1954: Sunny Gale (with Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra) - RCA Victor 5836 (#19)^[12]
• October 1954: David Whitfield - Decca F.10355 (#25)^[12]
• In 1959, Tony Bennett recorded the song which in the US, peaked at #73 on the Hot 100.^[13]

Other notable recordings[]

• The song was also recorded by Jimmy Durante as part of his album Jackie Barnett Presents Hello Young Lovers.
• Judy Garland sang a version of Nat King Cole's song on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1963.
• The song was included in the soundtrack of Chaplin's 1992 biographical film, as covered by its lead actor Robert Downey Jr.

Popular culture[]

• The Jimmy Durante recording is part of the soundtrack to the 2019 film Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro.
• A version of "Smile" was used in a public information film from the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in 1989, before another version of the PIF was shot using The Thinner The Air by Cocteau Twins.
• "Smile" was also used as the opening for Jerry Lewis' live Labor Day MDA telethon.
• Sung by Scarlett Estevez in the 10th episode of the 5th season of Lucifer.
• ”Smile” was on the 1994 movie My Girl 2, as well as on the soundtrack.

References[]

External links[]

• Lyrics to "Smile" on CharlieChaplin.com (accessed 4/21/2018)