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 Friday, March 20, 2020, 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.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Smile” as a single in 1959, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns. The single was included on Bennett’s 1962 album I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

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

And here’s that beautiful scene from Modern Times, with Charles Chaplin and Paulette Goddard.

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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

Smile, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“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 Friday, July 17, 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.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded “Smile” several times, first in 1959. I chose his second studio recording from 1965 for The Movie Song Album. This version was arranged by Al Cohn and conducted by Johnny Mandel. This song is a favorite of Tony Bennett: he sings at virtually all of his concerts. Your author tears up every time. Mr. Chaplin loved Bennett’s singing of his song that he gave Bennett a copy of the film Modern Times.

If you’ve never seen the film (and I encourage you to see it), here’s that final scene with Chaplin and Goddard. Pure genius.

Smile

Smile, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


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

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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 – 2011 Remaster

Smile – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“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 Wednesday, April 16, 2014 is “Smile.”

About This Song

The Year of Tony Bennett is proud to honor the composer of “Smile,’ the filmmaker Charlie Chaplin, who was born on this day in 1889 in Walworth, UK. In addition, this year, 2014, marks the 100th anniversary of The Little Tramp. You can read more about Mr. Chaplin at this excellent official website at www.charliechaplin.com.

Chaplin wrote “Smile” for his last silent film, the 1936 masterpiece Modern Times, starring Chaplin and Paulette Goddard. The lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons were added in 1954.

About This Version

This song is a favorite of Tony Bennett’s. He has sung it at each and every concert of his that I have attended. He tells the story, also included in his autobiography The Good Life, that Mr. Chaplain sent him a copy of the end of Modern Times as this song plays in the background.

Tony Bennett has recorded this song several times: a single in 1959, live at his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert and as a duet with Barbra Streisand on the first Duets album. But my favorite is his version for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966.

Smile

Smile, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


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

We leave you with this film clip from Modern Times. Happy birthday, Charlie Chaplin.

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