Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)

"Smile"
Song

"Smile" is a pop song, originally used as an instrumental theme in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music, the words were written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. 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.

Cover versions

• The best known version, sung by Nat King Cole, charted in 1954. It was covered by Cole's daughter, Natalie on her 1991 album, Unforgettable..With Love. In Britain, rival cover 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.

• 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. It's also covered by Lyle Lovett on his album of movie songs, Smile, and by Julia Migenes on her album of same name, which is also a collection of movie songs.

• "Smile" was covered by the Holly Cole Trio on their 1992 album Blame It On My Youth.

• 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, Angeline Ball, playing the part of Vada's mother, Maggie Muldovan, in an old home movie, sings "Smile" a cappella for the camera. Vada Anna Chlumsky than sang it to her new baby brother when she visited him in the hospital.

• The song was covered by Michael Jackson and included on his 1995 double album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. In the last few concerts of Jackson's HIStory World Tour in 1997, his cover is played prior to him entering the stage, as a dedication to Princess Diana.

• Frances Ruffelle recorded the song as the soundtrack to a McCain's advert in 2004, and the song was subsequently released as a single and featured on Ruffelle's album Showgirl.

• Michael Bublé (2005).

• Jazz pianist Chick Corea recorded an adaptation of the song on his 1993 album Expressions

• Olivier Award-winning actress Maria Friedman covered the song on her 2006 album Now and Then.

• Josh Groban, on the internet-only version of his 2006 CD "Awake". He also performed this live on the Today Show.

• Luis Miguel recorded a Spanish version ("Sonríe") on his album Navidades.

• Brazilian singer Djavan recorded a version in Portuguese ("Sorri") on his album Malásia.

• "Smile" was Gina Glocksen's last performance piece for the sixth season of American Idol in 2007.

• "Smile" was also covered by Michael Bolton.

• "Smile" was also covered by Judy Garland.

• "Smile" was covered several times by music legend Diana Ross.

• "Smile" was also used as the closing theme for the 1964-1975 finale of the game show Jeopardy!.

• "Smile" was also covered on the Duets: An American Classic by music's legendary titans Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett in celebration of Tony's 80th birthday.

• The cover by Barbra Streisand was featured at the end of the movie Mona Lisa Smile, and on her album "The Movie Album" (2004).

• "Smile" was covered by British X Factor runner-up Ray Quinn on his self-titled debut album, released in 2007.

• "Smile" was included on the Trini Lopez Reprise Records album The Sing Along World of Trini Lopez (Reprise 6183).

• "Smile was covered by jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux on her 2006 release, Half the Perfect World.

• An instrumental version of "Smile" is used frequently during the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, held on Labor Day every year.

• "Smile" was also covered by R&B/Funk artist Janelle Monae, for her 2008 album Metropolis Suite I of IV: The Chase

• "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.

• "Smile" was covered by child singer Connie Talbot on her debut album Over the Rainbow (Connie Talbot album)

• "Smile" was covered by Bobby Caldwell on his Blue Condition album

• "Smile" was covered by 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 his album The Futurist.

• "Smile" was covered by 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).

• 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 Muscular Distrophy Telethon" as the telethon's theme.

• Nat King Coles version was manipulated into a new version "Kooky Smile" by the Kooky Scientist @ http://soundcloud.com/kookyscientist