THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

327-Nat King Cole-Smile.

1954-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.08. Michael Jackson often cited ‘Smile’ as his favourite song. In 2009 at Jackson’s memorial his brother Jermaine sang a version in Michael’s honour (see also best songs 570.)

The original version of ‘Smile’ was written by Charlie Chaplin for the 1936 American silent comedy ‘Modern Times.’ The film which was also written, produced, and directed by Chaplin is a comment on the desperate employment and financial conditions many people faced during the ‘Great Depression.’ In 1989 the film was one of the first 25 films selected by the ‘Library of Congress’ for preservation in the United States ‘National Film Registry’ for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. was born on April 16th, 1889, in London, England, he died after suffering a stroke in his sleep on December 25th, 1977, at the age of 88. Chaplin who had been born in to severe poverty, went on to become the ultimate ‘rags to riches’ story. Through his onscreen persona of ‘The Tramp’ Chaplin became a worldwide icon. Chaplin was a perfectionist, and due to his high profile and financial position was able to spend as long as he wished perfecting his films.

Although Chaplin is given sole credit for the writing of ‘Smile’ and the film score for ‘Modern Times,’ this has been hotly disputed by Alfred Newman, (1900-1970) and David Raskin. (1912-2004) Newman had collaborated with Chaplin on his previous film ‘City Lights,’ and towards the end of the ‘Modern Times’ soundtrack recording sessions Chaplin and Newman had a falling out, leading to Newman’s angry departure. According to David Raskin it was he who wrote the music as a young man. He said that Chaplin would often sit in the washroom, humming tunes and telling Raskin to ‘take this down.’ Raskin said his job was to turn the humming into a score, and create timings and synchronisation that fit the situations.

In 1954 the lyricists John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons (1910-1987) wrote the lyrics for ‘Smile.’ Turner ran the ‘Peter Maurice Music Company’ who employed Parsons, the company specialised in adapting songs originally written in foreign languages into English, Parsons would work on the translation and Turner would suggest some changes. Other well known translations by Turner and Parsons include ‘O mein Papa,’ and ‘Auf Wiederseh’n, Sweetheart,’ which became an American Number 1 single for Vera Lynn (1917-2020) (see also best songs 172 and 49) in 1952.

‘Smile’ has been recorded by many of the world’s top artists, with the first version with lyrics by Nat King Cole (1919-1965) (see also best songs 988-226 and 161) in 1954, and reaching Number 2 in the UK, and Number 10 in America. Another notable recording is from Michael Jackson (1958-2009) (see also best songs 812-511-249 and 191) who included the song on his 1995 Album ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1.’

‘Smile’ is a song of positivity, it tells us that we must never lose faith in the hope that things will get better. Smile and you will feel better, smile and you will make others feel better as well.

‘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.’