Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)

"Smile"
Song

"Smile" is a song, originally used as an instrumental theme in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music, while John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics in 1954. In the lyrics, 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.

Original version

The song was originally sung by Nat King Cole, charted in 1954. It was also covered by Cole's daughter, Natalie, on her 1991 album, Unforgettable...With Love.

Smile, though your heart is aching,

Smile, even though it's breaking.

When there are clouds in the sky-

You'll get by.

If you smile through your fear and sorrow,

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through

For you.

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide every trace of sadness.

Although a tear may be ever so near,

That's the time you must keep on trying,

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile,

If you just smile.

Michael Jackson version

"Smile"
Song

Singer Michael Jackson recorded the song for his 1995 double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It was planned to be released as the eighth and final single from the album in 1997 but was canceled days before its release date. Only a few copies from the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa (where the record distribution was started previous to the withdrawal) were saved as the other copies were withdrawn. The rarest pressings include the CD maxi single (estimated value over €500) and the single track promo.

The remixes on this release have never been released commercially since, but some can also be found on the "Is It Scary" promotional 12" records from the UK. The "Downtempo Groove Mix" is the rarest mix of this song because it was only released on the maxi. The remix was uncredited, but was actually done by Eddie Arroyo.

Jackson had never performed this song live; an HBO special was once planned with the song being performed, but Jackson collapsed during the concert's rehearsals. During the final concerts of his HIStory World Tour, the song was played at the beginning of each concert in memory of Princess Diana. In Living with Michael Jackson, he mentioned the song while at Neverland Ranch and sang it while he was in Las Vegas.

Around November 2005, a number of bootlegged 12" records appeared on eBay and some record fairs in Germany and The Netherlands. This explains why the 12" presses are the most common, although the original is still considered the most rare. The short version of "Smile" was later re-issued on the deluxe United Kingdom edition of King of Pop in 2008.

Michael Jackson's brother, Jermaine Jackson, sang "Smile" at his memorial service on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, shortly after Michael Jackson's friend Brooke Shields mentioned it had been Jackson's favorite song. He also sang it in an interview with Today at Neverland before the memorial and only days after Michael had passed. During the internationally televised public memorial, Jermaine switched the words "gladness" and "sadness" in the lyrics, possibly in an unintentional flub of the lyrics.

The song has since charted at #74 in the UK, #71 in Germany, #70 in Switzerland and at #56 in Australia.

Track listings

CD-Maxi Single

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

• 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

Chart (2009)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	74
Swiss Singles Chart	70

Other versions

• Neil Sedaka made a cover version in his album Circulate
• The cast of the Fox drama Glee performed a cover of "Smile" in the episode "Mattress" which was featured on the Glee: The Music, Volume 2 soundtrack.
• For his most recent tour Einfach Ich, Austrian composer Udo Jürgens sings this in a duet with Stevie Woods, together with his own composition Nur ein Lächeln; 'Just a Smile'.
• In Britain, rival versions were released by Lita Roza and Petula Clark. Clark later re-recorded it for her 1968 album The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener, by which time she was a personal friend of Charlie Chaplin.
• The song was also a hit when released as a duet by Betty Everett and Jerry Butler in 1964. Three years previously, The Lettermen released it as the b-side of their single "When I Fall in Love."
• Eric Clapton played a version of "Smile" during his 1974 "comeback" tour. The song appears on the live CD of the deluxe edition of 461 Ocean Blvd and is also on the Timepieces Vol. II: Live in the Seventies release.
• Chris Botti recorded his own version with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performing vocals, on Botti's 2005 album To Love Again: The Duets.
• Rickie Lee Jones recorded a version on her 2000 album of remakes It's Like This.
• The song can be heard in two different versions (one of which was a hit in Japan) by Elvis Costello on his album Cruel Smile.
• "Smile" has also been recorded by:
  • Natalie Cole, on her tribute album to her father Nat King Cole, "Unforgettable, With Love."
  • The Holly Cole Trio on their 1992 album Blame It On My Youth.
  • Frances Ruffelle, who recorded the song as the soundtrack to a McCain's advert in 2004; the song was subsequently released as a single and featured on Ruffelle's album Showgirl.
  • Michael Bublé in 2005.
  • jazz pianist Chick Corea, who recorded an adaptation of the song on his 1993 album Expressions.
  • Olivier Award-winning actress Maria Friedman, who sang the song on her 2006 album Now and Then.
  • Josh Groban on the internet-only version of his 2006 CD "Awake".
  • Country star Skeeter Davis recorded a version for her 1965 RCA Victor album "Skeeter Sings Standards".
  • Perry Como recorded this for his 1977 The Best of British album.
  • Luis Miguel, who recorded a Spanish version ("Sonríe") on his album Navidades.
  • Brazilian singer Djavan, who recorded a version in Portuguese ("Sorri") on his album Malásia.
  • Michael Bolton
  • Judy Garland
  • Tommy Fleming (musician)
  • The Melachrino Orchestra cond. by George Melachrino. Recorded in London on June 30, 1954. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog numer B 10738.
  • Kenneth Tims
  • Matthew Robinson
  • Anthony Warlow
  • Cincinnati soul trio Gigi and the Charmaines recorded it as a B-side on the Minit label in 1969 (Minit 32074).
  • Dalida recorded an upbeat disco version of Femme (Smile) in 1984.
  • Diana Ross on several occasions.
  • Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett on Duets: An American Classic.
  • Streisand also did a solo version that was featured at the end of the movie Mona Lisa Smile, and on her album "The Movie Album" (2004).
  • Lyle Lovett on his album of movie songs, Smile.
  • Julia Migenes on her album of same name, which is also a collection of movie songs.
  • British X Factor runner-up Ray Quinn on his self-titled debut album, released in 2007. In the fifth series of X Factor, the song was covered by finalist Diana Vickers.
  • Trini Lopez on his Reprise Records album The Sing Along World of Trini Lopez (Reprise 6183).
  • Jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux on her 2006 release, Half the Perfect World.
  • R&B/Funk artist Janelle Monae, for her 2008 album Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase).
  • Bobby Caldwell on his Blue Condition album.
  • Yes guitarist Steve Howe and jazz great Martin Taylor on their 2004 album "Masterpiece Guitars" in a style reminiscent of Chet Atkins.
  • Robert Downey Jr., who portrayed Chaplin in the 1992 film Chaplin, recorded the song for the films soundtrack and also for his 2004 album, "The Futurist.
  • Dorine Bijl (67 years old Dutch X-Factor finalist) as "De glim van een lach" (Trans. Glow of Laugh) on her 2008 debut album "Oud en Wijs Genoeg" (Trans. Old and Wise Enough).
  • Nydia Rojas (born 1981, Whittier, California), world-renowned Mariachi singer/musician, on her 1999 album, "Si Me Conocieras"
  • In 2007, Connie Talbot covered the song on Over The Rainbow.
  • Harry Connick, Jr. included the song on his 2009 album, Your Songs.
  • Barbi Benton, on her 1975 album Barbi Benton.
• "Smile" has been adapted for the barbershop style. It has been recorded by famous quartets such as The New Tradition and Nightlife, among many others.
• The melody of "Smile" was remixed by Gigi D'Agostino and played during his live-sets and on his radio-show in 2008.
• "Smile" is also used on the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon as the telethon's theme song.
• Jim Carrey spontaneously performed the song while a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1994.
• In the 1994 film My Girl 2, the character Maggie Muldovan (Vada's mother) (played by Angeline Ball), , sings "Smile" a cappella for the camera in an old home movie. Vada (played by Anna Chlumsky) than sang it to her new baby brother when she visited him in the hospital.
• "Smile" was also used as the closing theme for the 1964-1975 finale of the game show Jeopardy!.
• In 2007 Fashion designer Malan Breton of Project Runway Season 3, performed "Smile" in a concert at New York's Birdland Jazz club, called Broadway at Birdland. "Smile" Also closed Malan Breton Collection Spring 2008 Mercedes Benz New York Fashion week showing. In attendance was Kiera Chaplin the granddaughter of Sir Charles Chaplin.
• Bobby McFerrin performed an a capella version of Smile on BBC2s Later with Jools Holland show - the show was aired on 30th April 2010.