“Smile” by Charlie Chaplin

Salam semua..... Masa menonton Memorial Service untuk MJ hari Selasa yang lalu ada satu lagu yang bertajuk "Smile" dinanyikan oleh abang MJ, Jermaine Jackson untuk adiknya. Bila dengar lagu tue wah bestnya.... Bila cari-cari kat internet, rupa-rupanya lagu tue dicipta oleh Charlie Chaplin. Tak sangka ye, Charlie Chaplin seorang pelawak pun ada tulis lagu. Bila dengar lagu nie, kita tak patut tunduk kepada masalah atau kesedihan. Senyum selalu macam lirik nie:

" 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.."

‘Smile’ was the theme music for Chaplin last silent picture ‘Modern Times’ in 1936. It became officially ‘Smile’ when John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added lyrics to Chaplin’s composition in 1954. Nat ‘King’ Cole recorded the song and it became a hit! Cole’s recording reached the #10 position on the Billboard Charts in 1954.

Over the years, it became a standard which many artist have recorded including Tony Bennett, Barbara Streisand and Rob Stewart. Latest to record ‘Smile’ is Robert Downey Jr. on his ‘The Futurist" CD. Downey played Charlie in the movie ‘Chaplin’.

There are people who may heard this song but still not know the melody was originally Charlie Chaplin’s. You will know it quickly if you watch ‘Modern Time’.

Other Chaplin music includes Academy Award winning score from Limelight and ‘This Is My Song’ from ‘Countness of Hong Kong’.

‘Smile’
Charlie Chaplin’s Theme Music for ‘Modern Times’ – 1936
Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons – 1954

Smile tho’ your heart is aching,
Smile even tho’ it’s breaking,
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by,

If you smile
thro’ your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow,
You’ll see the sun come shin-ing thro’ for you

Light up your face with gladness,
Hide ev-’ry trace of sadness,
Al -’tho 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 worth-while,

If you just smile,

* * * * *

Original Sheet Music Lyrics from 1954, Bourne Music Ltd. # 21 Denmark Street, London.

Music Composed by Charlie Chaplin, Recorded by Nat “King” Cole on Capital Records.

Limelight won the Oscar for Best Music score 20 years after it was first released.