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

Background

Chaplin, who composed the song, was inspired by Giacomo Puccini, Puccini's ''Tosca''. John Turner (lyricist), John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons (lyricist), 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 and has been recorded by numerous artists.

Cover versions

Nat King Cole version

Nat King Cole recorded the first version with lyrics. It charted in 1954 in music, 1954, reaching number 10 on the Billboard charts, ''Billboard'' charts and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. This version was also used at the beginning of the 1975 movie ''Smile (1975 film), 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

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 1997. However, it was cancelled at the last minute and only a few copies, mostly Promotional recording, 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. ''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. This song is performed in the ''Michael Jackson: One'' Las Vegas production.

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 (Michael Jackson song), 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 charting versions

*September 1954: Sunny Gale (with Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra) - RCA Victor 5836 (#19) *October 1954: David Whitfield - Decca F.10355 (#25) *In 1959, Tony Bennett recorded the song which in the US, peaked at #73 on the Hot 100. *In late 1964, Jerry Butler & 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 ''Hello Young Lovers (Jimmy Durante album), Jackie Barnett Presents Hello Young Lovers'' in 1965. * Eric Clapton's performance of the song in 1972 at the Hammersmith Odeon was included on the 2004 version of his album 461 Ocean Boulevard. * The song was included in the soundtrack of Chaplin's 1992 biographical Chaplin (film)#Soundtrack, film, as covered by its lead actor Robert Downey Jr. * Barbra Streisand recorded her own version for The Movie Album (Barbra Streisand album), ''The Movie Album in 2003. * Steven Tyler sang that song on Chris Botti's 2005 album To Love Again: The Duets. * In 2006, Tony Bennett did his own version of the song in his album ''Duets: An American Classic'' with singer Barbra Streisand. * Janelle Monáe recorded a version for the 2008 special edition of her EP Metropolis: The Chase Suite. * Lady Gaga performed the song for Together at Home, One World: Together at Home in April of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Popular culture

*The Jimmy Durante recording is part of the soundtrack to the 2019 film ''Joker (2019 film), Joker'', starring Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro. The lead character also watched scenes from ''Modern Times'', the film from which the instrumental track that would become "Smile" originated, during a scene in which he sneaks into a movie theatre. *The song was used in the Season 4 episode of ''The Middle (TV series), The Middle'' titled ''"The Smile."'' *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 Victorialand, The Thinner The Air by Cocteau Twins. *A recording by Frank Chacksfield and his orchestra was used over the closing titles of the last episode of the original run of "Jeopardy!" on Jan. 3, 1975. *"Smile" was also used as the opening for Jerry Lewis' live The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, Labor Day MDA telethon. *Sung by Scarlett Estevez in the 10th episode of the 5th season of Lucifer_(TV_series), Lucifer. *"Smile" was in the 1994 film ''My Girl 2''. *The American musical comedy-drama television series Glee (TV series), Glee featured "Smile" in "Mattress", the 12th episode of the first season. In the episode the song is performed by the New Directions and features solos from Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, and Kevin McHale (actor), Kevin McHale. *The title of The Pillows album ''Smile (The Pillows album), Smile'' is a reference to "Smile".

References

External links

Lyrics to "Smile"
on CharlieChaplin.com (accessed 4/21/2018) {{DEFAULTSORT:Smile (Charlie Chaplin Song) 1936 songs Compositions by Charlie Chaplin Nat King Cole songs Michael Jackson songs La India songs British pop songs Jazz compositions in D minor Songs with lyrics by Geoffrey Parsons (lyricist) Songs with lyrics by John Turner (lyricist) Song recordings produced by Michael Jackson Music published by Bourne Co. Music Publishers Epic Records singles Pop standards