Smile
THE STORY BEHIND ' Smile'
This is the final curtain call of the HIStory album. After 14 tracks of anger, protest, isolation, and gothic horror, Michael ends the album with a gentle, classic tribute to his greatest hero. It is widely known as Michael Jackson’s absolute favorite song.
To understand why Michael Jackson recorded "Smile," you have to understand his obsession with Charlie Chaplin. Michael viewed Chaplin as his spiritual ancestor. Both were global icons who achieved fame at a young age; both were geniuses of movement and physical comedy; and both were often misunderstood and persecuted by the media in their later years.
"Smile" was originally written by Chaplin as the instrumental love theme for his 1936 silent film masterpiece, "Modern Times." (The lyrics were added later in 1954 by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons). The song represents the philosophy of "The Little Tramp" the character who has nothing, who is kicked around by society, but who picks himself up, dusts himself off, and waddles into the sunset with a smile. Michael identified deeply with this resilience. He often dressed as Chaplin for photo shoots and even re-created Chaplin’s aesthetic in the "Childhood" video.
To bring this classic into the 90s, Michael teamed up with the "Hitman" of ballads: David Foster. Foster, who had produced "Childhood," treated "Smile" with immense respect. He didn't try to modernize it with drum machines or synthesizers. Instead, he recorded it as a lush, live orchestral piece that sounds like it belongs in a golden age Hollywood musical.
The arrangement is timeless. It is built on sweeping strings, a gentle piano, and a nostalgic acoustic guitar. Michael’s vocal performance is impeccable. He sings it "straight," without his usual hiccups or aggressive vocal tics. He delivers the lyrics with a purity and warmth that reminds listeners of his Off the Wall era or his idol, Nat King Cole (who made the song famous in the 50s).
"Smile" holds a legendary status among Michael Jackson collectors because it is the rarest single of his commercial career. It was scheduled to be the final single released from the HIStory album in 1997. Sony Music had already pressed the CDs, cassette tapes, and vinyl records. They were boxed up and ready to be shipped to record stores in Europe and South Africa. Promo copies were sent to radio stations.
However, at the absolute last minute reportedly just days before the release date the single was cancelled. The reasons remain debated, but most insiders believe it was due to the upcoming release of the remix album Blood on the Dance Floor. Sony decided to shift marketing focus to the new album rather than releasing an eighth single from HIStory. Most of the copies of "Smile" were destroyed at the factory. However, a small number of them survived and leaked onto the market. Today, an original 1997 pressing of the "Smile" CD or vinyl is one of the most expensive and sought-after items in the MJ collecting world, often selling for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
The placement of "Smile" as the final track of HIStory is a powerful artistic statement. The album begins with "Scream" (anger) and ends with "Smile" (forgiveness). After spending two hours yelling at the press ("Tabloid Junkie"), the police ("D.S."), and his accusers ("Money"), Michael chooses to end the record not with more rage, but with grace. The lyrics, "Smile though your heart is aching / Smile even though it's breaking", summarize his mindset in 1995. He was a man in pain, attempting to put on a brave face for the world. It serves as an emotional palate cleanser, washing away the bitterness of the previous tracks.
The song ends in a way that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. As the orchestra fades out, the music stops. For a few seconds, there is silence. Then, we hear Michael laughing. It starts as a chuckle and turns into a bright, uninhibited giggle. It sounds completely candid, as if he made a mistake in the vocal booth and just started laughing at himself. David Foster decided to keep it in. It leaves the listener with the image of Michael happy, capturing the very essence of the song: finding joy even when things are dark.
Tragically, the song gained a new, devastating context on July 7, 2009. At Michael Jackson’s public memorial service at the Staples Center, his brother Jermaine Jackson walked onto the stage to perform a tribute. He chose to sing "Smile."
Jermaine, wearing a single sequined glove in honor of his brother, struggled to get through the song. At the very end, he was overcome with grief and tossed a rose onto Michael's casket. It was the moment the world realized that the lyrics Michael had sung for years about hiding sorrow behind a smile were his own reality.
While it is a cover song, many critics consider Michael’s version of "Smile" to be the definitive modern recording. It connects the lineage of the 20th century's greatest entertainers: from Charlie Chaplin, to Nat King Cole, to Michael Jackson. It stands as a testament to Michael’s resilience, a reminder that no matter how hard the media tried to break him, he never lost his ability to smile.
LYRICS of SMILE
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 with your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just 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 through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
La da da la da da
La da da la da da
La da da da da da
La la la la la la la la la