"
Smile" is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936
Charlie Chaplin movie
Modern Times which also featured his 3rd wife
Paulette Goddard (pictured in the video) who was an
American actress in her own right. While
Chaplin composed the music,
John Turner and
Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title 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.
Sir Charles Spencer "
Charlie" Chaplin,
KBE (16 April 1889 --
25 December 1977) was a
British comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent era.
Chaplin became a worldwide icon through his screen persona "the
Tramp" and is considered one of the most important figures of the film industry. His career spanned more than 75 years, from childhood in the
Victorian era until a year before his death at age 88, and encompassed both adulation and controversy.
Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17,
1919 --
February 15,
1965), known professionally as
Nat King Cole, was an
American singer and musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. He was widely noted for his soft, baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres.
Cole was one of the first
African Americans to host a television variety show,
The Nat King Cole Show, and has maintained worldwide popularity since his death from lung cancer in
February 1965.
The song, originally sung by Nat King Cole, charted in 1954.
Singer Sunny Gale also covered the song, sharing sales with Cole, as shown in the music trade Cashbox. It was also covered by
Cole's daughter,
Natalie, on her
1991 album,
Unforgettable... with Love.
In
Britain, rival versions were released by
Lita Roza and
Petula Clark in 1954.
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.
Jazz guitarist Royce Campbell recorded it on his album, "
Get Happy (
2007).
Jeff Lynne recorded it for his album "
Long Wave (
2012), along other old standards.
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
1998 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 promo single CD was going for AU$1,725 in
February 2011).
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.
Nat's accompanied by
Joe Howard (trombone);
George Roberts (bass trombone), Vince DeRosa,
Bill Hinshaw (
French horn);
John Hacker,
Harry Klee, Dominick Mumolo (reeds); Len Atkins,
Victor Bay,
Alex Beller,
Harry Bluestone,
Walt Edelstein,
Nat Ross,
Mischa Russell, Eudice
Shapiro, Paul Shure,
Felix Slatkin,
Marshall Sosson,
Jerry Vinci (violin);
Stan Harris,
Paul Robyn,
Barbara Simons,
David Sterkin (viola); Cy
Bernard,
Armand Kaproff,
Ray Kramer,
Eleanor Slatkin (cello);
Bill Miller (piano);
John Collins (guitar);
Charlie Harris (bass);
Lee Young (drums); Lou Singer (percussion); Nat King Cole,
Loulie Jean Norman (vocals); and
Nelson Riddle (arranger, conductor). Recorded in
Capitol Studios,
Los Angeles, CA, July 27, 1954
Entertainment Weekly called this song "destined-for-Disney rendition."
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
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'll just smile
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'll just smile
- published: 21 Jun 2013
- views: 233288