The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Smile

The song of the day for Saturday, June 3, 2017 is “Smile.”

About This Song

Charlie Chaplin wrote “Smile” in 1946 for his last silent film, Modern Times, which shows Chaplin and his costar Paulette Goddard, walking hand-in-hand up the road as the sun rises and as this song plays, in one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed. The lyrics were written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. This song is a favorite of Tony Bennett’s and he sings “Smile” followed by “When You’re Smiling” at the end of his concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded his first version of the song “Smile” in 1959 with Ralph Burns and His Orchestra; Burns also did the arrangement. It was originally released as a single in 1959 and was included on Bennett’s album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, released in 1962.

Smile

Tony Bennett · I Left My Heart In San Francisco · Song · 1962


“Smile,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, here is that iconic scene from the end of Modern Times. The clip was made available by the Chaplin estate and the quality is unbelievably fine.

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Song of the Day: Smile

The song of the day for Saturday, April 16, 2016 is “Smile.”

About This Song

Charlie Chaplin wrote “Smile” in 1936 for his last silent film, Modern Times, which shows Chaplin and his costar Paulette Goddard, walking hand-in-hand up the road as the sun rises and as this song plays, in one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed. The lyrics, which were added later, are by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. This song is a favorite of Tony Bennett’s and he sings “Smile” followed by “When You’re Smiling” at the end of his concerts.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Smile” is from The Movie Song Album. Recorded in 1965, it was arranged by Al Cohn. It’s my favorite of all of his recordings of this song.

Smile

Tony Bennett · The Movie Song Album · Song · 1966


“Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The composer of today’s song, Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, better known as Charlie Chaplin, was born on April 16, 1889 in London to a poor family and knew much hardship early in his life. He was quite a talented child and began touring the music halls as an actor and comedian. At the age of 19, he signed a contract that took him to America, and at that point his career began to bloom. In 1914, he started working for the Keystone Studios, where he began to develop his Tramp persona, which he used in virtually all of his films.

In 1919, Chaplin co-founded United Artists, which gave him complete control over his films including The Kid, The Gold Rush and The Circus. Even after sound was introduced in the early 1930s, he refused to use dialogue in his film and out of that came two of his finest films: City Lights and Modern Times. In the 1940s, Chaplin fell under suspicion for communist sympathies and moved to Switzerland, where he lived for the rest of his life. Chaplin died on December 25, 1977.

He is remembered as one of the most creative early filmmakers who pushed the medium to artistic heights.

We have two videos for you today. First, is Tony Bennett singing “Smile” at the Hollywood Bowl on August 2, 2013, the day before his 87th birthday.

And finally, the very end of Modern Times, featuring today’s song with Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard.

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Song of the Day: Smile

The song of the day for Thursday, April 16, 2015 is “Smile.”

About This Song

Charlie Chaplin wrote “Smile” in 1936 for his last silent film, Modern Times, which shows Chaplin and his costar Paulette Goddard, walking hand-in-hand up the road as the sun rises and as this song plays, in one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed. The lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons were added later. This song is a favorite of Tony Bennett’s and he sings “Smile” at the end of his concerts. And I always cry a little bit.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song several times. Today I chose his first recording from 1959. It was released as a single; this same version was also used on his wonderful The Movie Song Album. This version was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns.

About Today

The composer of “Smile,” Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin was born one hundred and twenty-six years ago, April 16. 1889 in Walworth, UK. Both of his parents were actors and singers. When he was only ten, his father died and his mother’s illness meant that Charles and his brother Sydney had to be on their own. Charles started his career as a tap dancer in a group called “The Eight Lancashire Lads.” This led to offers on the legitimate stage and more opportunities in vaudeville. In 1910, he came to the United States, where his vaudeville act brought him much popularity. In 1913, he got his first Hollywood contract with Mack Sennett and Keystone Film Company. In only four years, he was ready to branch out on his own and formed his own film studio. it was during this time he developed his “Little Tramp” character, as seen in one of his very early hits, The Kid, filmed in 1921, which introduced Jackie Coogan. It was followed by films that are still seen and treasured today: The Gold Rush, The Circus, City Lights, Modern Times and The Great Dictator.

For more information about Charlie Chaplin and his career, please visit his official website at charliechaplin.com.

Smile

Tony Bennett · The Columbia Singles, Vol. 6 · Song · 2011


“Smile,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 6, is available from iTunes.

Here’s the very end of Modern Times, with Charles Chaplin and the exquisite Paulette Goddard.

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Song of the Day: Smile

The song of the day for Saturday, December 27, 2014 is “Smile.”

About This Song

Charlie Chaplin wrote “Smile” in 1936 for his last silent film, Modern Times, which shows Chaplin and his costar Paulette Goddard, walking hand-in-hand up the road as the sun rises and as this song plays, in one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed. The lyrics are by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.

About This Version

This is Bennett’s second studio recording of “Smile”; the first was in 1959. It was released as a single and was later included on his 1962 album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Today’s version was recorded in 1965 and was arranged by Al Cohn and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

About Today

On December 27, 1965, 49 years ago today, Tony Bennett recorded three songs for his upcoming masterpiece The Movie Song Album, which was released in 1966. These three songs were “Smile,” “The Second Time Around,” and “Maybe September.” It was hard to choose a song from these three, but I do love “Smile.”

Smile

Tony Bennett · The Movie Song Album · Song · 1966


“Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from iTunes.

And yes, it’s Saturday and yes, we have a video. Our video today is from Tony Bennett’s concert at Bumbershoot in Seattle Washington on September 2, 2012. It’s an amateur video and the quality isn’t great. But I was at that performance and I have so many fond memories of the concert; you read about it here. At the end, after a very long standing ovation, he thanked the audience and said “We will remember today for the rest of our lives.” So will we … so will we.

Tony Bennett - Smile (Live 9/2/2012)

Tony Bennett plays Smile by Charlie Chaplin live at Bumbershoot on September 2nd, 2012.

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Song of the Day: Smile

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on this day in 1889 in Walworth, UK.  To honor Sir Chaplin, our song of the day for April 16, 2013 is Smile.

About This Song

Charlie Chaplin wrote Smile as an instrumental for his 1936 file Modern Times. John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics in 1954.

The Lyrics

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 see the sun come shining through for you

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

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

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s The Movie Song Album, released in 1966.  Mr. Bennett has sung this song at the end of every concert of his I have ever attended, always sung with deep heart and love.  It’s always the high point of the concert, at least for me.  And I have to say that when times have gotten tough, I turn to this song every time.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4VVW7zufMomMHQ3gg6VljG
Smile, as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from iTunes.

And, with thanks to YouTube, here is the final scene of Modern Times with Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard with the instrumental version of Smile.