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The Nat King Cole Story

by Nat King Cole · Album The Nat King Cole Story

Smile

Duration 2:59

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The story behind

Smile, according to DoReSol

The song Smile originated from the soundtrack of Charlie Chaplin's film *Modern Times*, released in 1936. Chaplin, who composed the melody, was inspired by a sequence from Puccini's opera *Tosca*. In 1954, John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics, which encourage the listener to maintain a positive attitude and smile, suggesting that there will always be a brighter tomorrow. This combination of music and message has made Smile a popular standard, performed by many artists over the years.

The most well-known version was recorded by Nat King Cole in 1954, reaching number 10 on the Billboard chart and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. This performance not only solidified its status in music but was also featured in the 1975 film *Smile*. Over time, other artists like Michael Jackson have paid tribute to this song, though his version, recorded in 1995, was never commercially released. The essence of Smile lies in its ability to convey a message of hope and joy, making it special and timeless.

From album

The Nat King Cole Story

The Nat King Cole Story

Nat King Cole · 1961 · Track 2

Details

Duration2:59
AlbumThe Nat King Cole Story
Year1961
ISRCUSCA29200120