"Smiling" is a song by Canadian-American singer
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with tw ...
co-written by Morissette and
Michael Farrell. It was one of two new songs written for the
Broadway adaptation of Morissette's 1995 album, ''
Jagged Little Pill
''Jagged Little Pill'' is the third studio album by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, through Maverick. It was her first album to be released worldwide. It marked a stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of her ...
'', and later released as the second single from her ninth studio album, ''
Such Pretty Forks in the Road
''Such Pretty Forks in the Road'' is the ninth (and seventh international) studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released on July 31, 2020, through Epiphany Music and Thirty Tigers in North America, and by RCA and ...
'', on February 21, 2020. The album's title is taken from a lyric in this song. Morissette subsequently released a duet version of the song featuring ''Jagged Little Pill'' actress
Elizabeth Stanley with the rest of the cast on backing vocals.
Tracklist
;F9 Remix Single
#"Smiling" (
F9 Radio Remix) - 3:27
#"Smiling" (F9 Club Remix) - 5:27
;Bil Bless Remix Single
#"Smiling" (Bil Bless Remix) (with
Elizabeth Stanley and Original Broadway Cast of ''
Jagged Little Pill
''Jagged Little Pill'' is the third studio album by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, through Maverick. It was her first album to be released worldwide. It marked a stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of her ...
'') - 4:40
;Elizabeth Stanley & Jagged Little Pill version
#"Smiling" (with
Elizabeth Stanley and Original Broadway Cast of ''Jagged Little Pill'') - 3:52
In ''Jagged Little Pill''
In ''
Jagged Little Pill
''Jagged Little Pill'' is the third studio album by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, through Maverick. It was her first album to be released worldwide. It marked a stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of her ...
'', the song appears in the first act sung by Mary Jane (MJ) Healy, the matriarch of a suburban Connecticut family. In the scene, she is singing about her feelings of having to keep up appearances while dealing with the pressures of motherhood and everyday life, as well as struggling with an addiction to painkillers following a car accident. The song is sung right after a pharmacist refuses to provide further pain medication as her prescription has run out. Desperate, she buys opioids off the street from a familiar dealer. During the song, MJ's day is shown in reverse, detailing her life and addiction from unpacking groceries to the street deal to running out of medication in the morning.
Charts
Release history
References
{{Alanis Morissette songs
2020 singles
Songs from musicals
Alanis Morissette songs
Songs written by Alanis Morissette
Songs about parenthood