70-Year-Old Songs: Smile
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62266)
United States
April 14, 2024 11:15am CST
Again, asterisk. The genesis of today’s song from 1954 goes back nearly 20 years before this recording, but hey, this version IS from 1954, so there! Can you believe it’s been 70 years since this song was released? I wasn’t around then, but this is a timeless tune.
Smile - Nat “King” Cole
Charlie Chaplin wrote the music to this song for his 1936 film Modern Times. In 1954, two songwriters took the melody and put lyrics, inspired by the film, to it. The legendary Nat “King” Cole was the first to record the lyrical version.
And WHAT a version!!! There’s a two mile-long list of people who’ve covered this, from Jimmy Durante to Lyle Lovett to Michael Jackson to Eric Clapton, but there’s a magic to Cole’s voice that makes it special.
Always special. That voice is a good reason to smile!
Smile
Written by Charlie Chaplin
Lyrics by Geoffrey Parsons and John Turner
Recorded by Nat “King” Cole
Released as a single, 1954
You’ll see the sun come shining through:
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11 people like this
10 responses
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@FourWalls (62266)
• United States
14 Apr
Glad to hear it! Yes, indeed, “his voice.” Wowza!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206066)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Apr
@FourWalls His voice is incredible. I might have enjoyed growing up in an era when the tubes glowed and his voice was on the stereo console as I tried to steal my first kiss.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458583)
• Switzerland
15 Apr
@FourWalls Beautiful song and great singer.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (94682)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
14 Apr
Nat "King" Cole was one of my late mother favorite artists of all time.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62266)
• United States
14 Apr
Very understandable, because he had a marvelous voice.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (94682)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
15 Apr
@FourWalls Nat had a great voice.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
14 Apr
And Nat King Cole was a legend, during his time as a talented singer! 1954, I was three years old:)
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62266)
• United States
14 Apr
Absolutely a legend!! Then, now, and always!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62266)
• United States
15 Apr
@kobesbuddy — no, she passed away in 2015.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
15 Apr
@FourWalls I think Natalie Cole is still alive, his daughter:)
@FourWalls (62266)
• United States
15 Apr
Another song to take comfort in when the country songs show up. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62266)
• United States
14 Apr
Absolutely!! Can’t go wrong with Nat “King” Cole!!!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73570)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Apr
Definitely among my favorites from Nat. The top being the great job he did on the song about my hometown NYC.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62266)
• United States
14 Apr
I can understand that, except I find it hard to pick a single favorite. Of course, when he’s singing about your hometown….
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62266)
• United States
15 Apr
Singers like Nat are why we gripe about young people’s music.
1 person likes this
