Secret Smile (song)

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"Secret Smile"
Artwork used for the commercial European and Australian releases
Single by Semisonic
from the album Feeling Strangely Fine
ReleasedJanuary 11, 1999 (1999-01-11)
StudioSeedy Underbelly (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length4:37
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Dan Wilson
Producer(s)Nick Launay
Semisonic singles chronology
"Singing in My Sleep"
(1998) 		"Secret Smile"
(1999) 		"Chemistry"
(2001)

"Secret Smile" is a song by American rock band Semisonic. The single, released to American radio on January 11, 1999, gained the band brief international popularity. A live version of the song recorded at The Gorge Amphitheatre, as well as a mix by the Orb had previously been released as a B-side to "Singing in My Sleep". The song was featured in the film Simply Irresistible and in the TV series Charmed and Dawson's Creek.

Composition[edit]

Songwriter Dan Wilson has said that the melody for the song came to him in a dream, and he woke up in the middle of the night, rushed to a piano, and wrote it down.[2]

"...Secret Smile, the first half of it came to me in a dream. I woke up in very early morning hours with this song playing in my head. I got up, ran to a piano, and I wrote down the words that I heard in my mind and I played the chords on the piano and wrote down the names of the chords. Then I went back to sleep. And then the next day when I woke up, I remembered the song from the dream. I went to the piano and I saw my notes. I played the song and I thought, Well, this is great. It must be some song that I've heard before. Then I asked all my friends about it, and they all said, 'No, that sounds like a song of yours.'"[3]

Music video[edit]

The music video was shot in Los Angeles in January 1999 and was directed by British music video director Sophie Muller.[4]

Track listings[edit]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits are lifted from the US promo CD liner notes and the Feeling Strangely Fine album notes.[10][11]

Studios

Personnel

  • Dan Wilson – writing, lead vocals, guitar, Rhodes piano, string and flute arrangement
  • John Munson – vocals, bass, Moog
  • Jacob Slichter – vocals, drums, string and flute arrangement, conducting
  • Bruce Allard – strings
  • Mary Bahr – strings
  • Carolyn Boulay – strings
  • Troy Gardner – strings
  • Josh Koestenbaum – strings
  • Nick Launay – production, recording
  • Brad Kern – additional recording
  • Alex Oana – assistant recording engineer
  • Richard Werbowenko – assistant recording engineer
  • Shane Washington – assistant recording engineer
  • Bob Clearmountain – mixing (album version)
  • Ryan Freeland – assistant mix engineering
  • James Saez – assistant mix engineering
  • Tom Lord-Alge – mixing (remix)
  • Jennifer Munson – digital editing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts[edit]

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 30
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[13] 30
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 47
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 26
Scotland (OCC)[16] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 12
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 17
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 35
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[20] 21
US CHR/Pop (Radio & Records)[21] 42

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 11, 1999 Active rock radio MCA [23]
January 12, 1999 Contemporary hit radio [24]
United Kingdom June 28, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
 [25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1999". Spin. July 25, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Atlas, Zoë (March 3, 2015). "Effortless: Dan Wilson". Sound of Boston. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  3. ^ Wilson, Dan (August 23, 2017). "Dan Wilson". Songfacts (Interview). Interviewed by Carl Wiser. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "Semisonic to Shoot 'Secret Smile' Video". MTV. January 8, 1999. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  5. ^ Secret Smile (UK CD1 liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSTD-40210.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Secret Smile (UK CD2 liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSXD-40210.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Secret Smile (UK cassette single sleeve). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSC-40210.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Secret Smile (European CD single liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCD 49108.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Secret Smile (Australasian CD single liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCD-49101.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Secret Smile (US promo CD liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCA5P-4305.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Feeling Strangely Fine (US CD album liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1998. MCAD/11733.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7448." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7450." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 30. July 24, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Secret Smile". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  18. ^ "Semisonic Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  19. ^ "Semisonic Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  20. ^ "Semisonic Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  21. ^ "CHR/Pop Top 50" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1290. March 12, 1999. p. 86. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  22. ^ "British single certifications – Semisonic – Secret Smile". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  23. ^ "Adds for January 11 & 12". Gavin Report. No. 2237. January 8, 1999. p. 37.
  24. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1281. January 8, 1999. p. 39. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  25. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 28 June, 1999: Singles". Music Week. June 26, 1999. p. 25.
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