The Vegas Voice 9-20

If You Just Smile
By: Yvonne Cloutier / Musical Moments
“
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...“
Everyone knows how important a smile
was. It also reminded me of the song,
Smile.
I started researching it during this
terrible coronavirus pandemic since it is
a perfect time to share these words - if you
will just smile.
In doing my research, I found that
only the melody for Smile was written for the soundtrack of comedian
Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 movie Modern Times. He was inspired by the
opera theme of the Tosca Opera by Puccini.
It wasn’t until 1954 when two lyricists in London, John Turner and
Geoffrey Parsons reportedly wrote the lyrics and title for the Smile
melody. John Turner was the pseudonym for English lyricist James John
Turner Phillips (1932.)
He ran the Peter Maurice Music Co, whose most important lyricist
was Geoffrey Parsons. Parsons would write and sometimes change the
lyrics to a song.
John Turner would suggest some changes to Parsons’ work. And he
may have helped with the Smile lyrics.
Nat King Cole recorded it and it rose to
No. 10 in USA, and No.2 in the UK. It was
also used in the beginning of the 1975
movie Simon Said.
Charlie Chaplin was mostly of the silent
screen era. He was of a clownish nature
with his use of slapstick, mime and other
visual comedy routines.
His most famous role was that of The
Tramp, in suits too big, always wearing
his dress hat. He later thought this attire
really imitated his early life of abject
poverty. He was a genius and perfectionist,
also insisting on doing all the stunts and tricks in his films himself.
As I got to thinking, I realized a lot of positivity can be had for just
smiling. One example, “A smile is one of the prettiest things you can
wear,” and “Every time you smile at someone, it is a beautiful thing - a
gift to that person.” Try it, it works.
Yvonne Cloutier, a former teacher/principal, with a music
background, specializes in ragtime piano. She researches and
reports about music on SCA-TV.com/Anthem Alive! You can
contact her at www.mytimeisragtime.com.
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12
October 2020