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Smile (Katy Perry song)

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"Smile"
Single by Katy Perry
from the album Smile
ReleasedJuly 10, 2020 (2020-07-10)
Recorded2019
GenrePop
Length2:47
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Katy Perry singles chronology
"Daisies"
(2020) 		"Smile"
(2020)
Performance video
"Smile" on YouTube

"Smile" is a song by American singer Katy Perry from her upcoming sixth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's fourth single on July 10, 2020, by Capitol Records, alongside the album's pre-order. The song samples Naughty by Nature's 1999 song "Jamboree". On the song, Perry talks about expressing her gratitude for changes in her life.

Background and composition

The song was officially released on July 10, 2020 along with the album's pre-order, with Perry saying she hoped "it can be a few minutes of energizing hopefulness for you as it is for meee".[1][2] "Smile" runs for 2 minutes and 47 seconds.[3] It samples Naughty by Nature's 1999 song "Jamboree".[4] The song starts off with an "upbeat hook" and a "dance-driven groove" that leads to the chorus containing lyrics expressing her gratitude for changes in her life: "Yeah, I'm thankful / Scratch that, baby, I'm grateful / Gotta say it's really been a while / But now I got back that smile".[1] On the lyrics, Perry also "extols the virtue of perseverance" after suffering setbacks where every day feels like Groundhog Day as well as "going through motions felt so fake".[5]

The song was inspired by Perry's own experiences and was described by Uproxx as an "ode to remembering life's joys". Speaking about the release of the song, Perry said "I wrote this song when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life. When I listen to it now, it's a great reminder that I made it through. It's three minutes of energizing hopefulness".[6]

Critical reception

Vulture's Zoe Haylock called the song "empowering", comparing it to Perry's 2013 single "Roar".[7] Jason Lipshutz from Billboard, also compared "Smile" to Perry's previous songs "Walking on Air" and "Birthday", both taken from Perry's fourth album Prism (2013), calling "Smile" the "same sort of dizzy glitter-pop" Perry embraced on Prism.[8] In writing for Consequence of Sound, Wren Graves noted the song's positive message, stating that "lyrics [are] overbrimming with warmth and gratitude. The song evokes the light at the end of the tunnel".[9]

Music video

Perry released a performance video for "Smile" on July 14, 2020. In the video, she is dressed as a clown, in her "her most fashionable clown attire, wearing an orange, polka-dotted blazer and matching blue jumper with whimsical tuxedo detailing across the front" and performs against a backdrop with a "number of giant clown hands, seated atop a comically oversized clown shoe and more".[10] In reply to a comment on her Instagram asking what the difference was between a performance video and music video, Perry replied "just that there is more to come".[11]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[3]

  • Katy Perry – lead vocals, songwriter
  • Josh Abraham – producer, songwriter
  • Oligee – producer
  • G Koop – producer, additional producer
  • Anthony Criss – songwriter, credit song "Jamboree"
  • Kier Gist – songwriter, credit song "Jamboree"
  • Vincent Brown – songwriter, credit song "Jamboree"
  • Benny Golson – songwriter
  • Benny "Starrah" Hazzard – songwriter
  • Ferras Alqaisi – songwriter
  • Oliver Goldstein – songwriter
  • Blake Harden – engineer
  • Clint "CJMIXEDIT" Badal – engineer
  • Darth "Denver" Moon – engineer
  • Louie Gomez – engineer
  • Manny Marroquin – mixer
  • Chris Galland – mixing engineer
  • Dave Kutch – mastering engineer
  • Dave Richard – associated performer, trumpet
  • Kamaria Anita Ousley – associated performer, background vocalist
  • Lincoln Adler – associated performer, saxophone

Charts

Chart (2020) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[12] 10
Scotland (OCC)[13] 22
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 96

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Smile"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various July 10, 2020
Capitol [3]
Australia Contemporary hit radio EMI [15]
United Kingdom July 18, 2020 Adult contemporary Capitol [16]

References

  1. ^ a b Gomez, Dessi (July 10, 2020). "Katy Perry's new single encourages listeners to 'Smile'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Langford, Jackson (July 10, 2020). "Katy Perry announces new album 'Smile' and shares title track". NME. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Perry, Katy (July 10, 2020). "Smile". Tidal. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Helman, Peter (July 10, 2020). "Katy Perry – "Smile"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  5. ^ Spanos, Brittany; Legaspi, Althea (July 10, 2020). "Katy Perry Extols the Virtue of Perseverance in New Song 'Smile'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Droke, Carolyn (July 14, 2020). "All The Best New Pop Music From This Week". Uproxx. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. ^ Haylock, Zoe (July 10, 2020). "Katy Perry's New Single Reminds Us All to 'Smile'". Vulture. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (July 10, 2020). "First Stream: New Music From Juice WRLD, Summer Walker, Katy Perry and More". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  9. ^ Graves, Wren (July 10, 2020). "Katy Perry Reveals New Album Smile, Shares Title Track: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  10. ^ Rowley, Glenn (July 14, 2020). "Watch Katy Perry Clown Around in New 'Smile' Performance Video". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  11. ^ Perry, Katy (July 14, 2020). "Turn ur frown upside down 😠🔄😁 because a performance video of #SMILE is up now at the link in my bio 🤡 (and so is the Smile album pre-order!🙃)". Instagram. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 20, 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "Singles to Radio – The Music Network". The Music Network. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "BBC - Radio 2 New Music Playlist". bbc.co.uk. July 18, 2020.
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