"Smile" is a song based on the theme song used in the soundtrack for
Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film
Modern Times.
Background
Chaplin, who composed the song, with the help of composer
David Raksin was inspired by a sequence in the first act love duet from
Puccini's opera Tosca, beginning with Cavaradossi singing "Quale occhio al mondo può star di paro".[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.
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.[5]Entertainment Weekly called this version of the song a "destined-for-
Disney rendition."[6] In 2009 at Jackson's memorial, his brother
Jermaine Jackson sang a version of the song in Michael's honor.[7] This song is performed in the Michael Jackson: One Las Vegas production.
Djavan did a cover version of this song in his 1996 Malásia album.
In 2012, a few months before her death,
Phyllis Diller recorded a version of the song in her living room with Thomas Lauderdale of
Pink Martini on piano. The song was issued as the closing track of Pink Martini's 2013 album Get Happy.
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
film, as covered by its lead actor
Robert Downey Jr.
In 2006,
Luis Miguel recorded his own version as Sonrie for his Christmas album
Navidades, 17 years later, Miguel sings Sonrie in
Luis Miguel Tour 2023-24, But this time, He did a virtual duet with Michael Jackson as he virtually sings Smile.
Luke Evans sang his version of this song for BBC Children in Need: We Got it Covered in 2019.
Michael Bublé sang this as the last song (at least in the American version) on his album Higher.
Donna Summer performed a version as a tribute to Michael Jackson during her 2009 tours.
Dave Gahan & Soulsavers did a cover version of this song on their 2021 Album Imposter.
Popular culture
The Jimmy Durante recording is part of the soundtrack to the 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 titled "The Smile".
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 January 3, 1975.
The American musical comedy-drama television 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.
The title of
The Pillows' album Smile is a reference to "Smile".
^Linda Wada (March 2004).
"Smile". Edna Purviance, Charlie Chaplin's Leading Lady - Welcome to Paradise. Retrieved 2010-05-02. Scans of the sheet music clearly attribute authorship of the music and lyrics.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (
link)