Smile is one of the ultimate "don't let the world get you down songs." After all...you'll find that life is still worthwhile if you just smile. You've probably heard this song a thousand times, sung by a hundred artists. But, did you know the music was written by Charlie Chaplin? It was for his 1936 movie, Modern Times, in which his signature character, The Tramp, does his wobbly little walk away for the very last time.
Nearly 20 years later John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons finally added beautiful lyrics, Nat King Cole recorded it, and we've been in love with the song ever since. This lovely performance is by Michael Jackson (reportedly his favorite song) set to classic clips of Chaplin as The Tramp, as he struggles through various difficulties until he lights up his face with gladness as he just smiles.
Chaplin has been called "the only genius to come out of the movie industry" (by George Bernard Shaw), and this music shows another facet of his genius in addition to his writing, acting, and directing.
