A smile is a facial expression formed by
flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth.
The smile can also be found around the eyes. Among humans, it is an expression denoting
pleasure, joy, happiness, or amusement, but can also be an involuntary
expression of anxiety, in which case it is known as a grimace. Smiling is
something that is understood by everyone despite culture, race, or religion; it
is internationally known. Cross-cultural studies have shown that smiling is a
means of communicating emotions throughout the world. But there are large
differences between different cultures. A smile can also be spontaneous or
artificial.
Cultural differences
Cultural differences
While most often, smiling is perceived as a
positive emotion, there are many countries that perceive smiling as a negative
expression and consider it unwelcoming. Too much smiling can be viewed as a
sign of shallowness or dishonesty. The Japanese may smile when they are
confused or angry. In other parts of Asia , people may smile when they are embarrassed. People in other
cultures may not smile at everyone to indicate a friendly greeting as people do
in the United States . A smile may be reserved for close friends and family members. Many
people in Russia consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even
suspicious behavior. Yet many Americans smile freely at strangers in public
places (although this is less common in big cities). Some Russians believe that
Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans believe that Russians don't
smile enough. In Southeast Asian cultures, a smile is frequently used to cover
emotional pain or embarrassment. Vietnamese people may tell the sad story of
how they had to leave their country but end the story with a smile.
But "Smile" is also a song based
on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin
movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music, while John Turner and Geoffrey
Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954. In the lyrics, the singer is
telling the listener to cheer up and that there is always a bright tomorrow,
just as long as they smile. "Smile" has become a popular standard
since its original use in Chaplin's film.
you can switch off the background music by clicking the II button on the flashplayer at the the bottom of this page
According to the official documents, the
music score was composed by Chaplin himself, and arranged with the assistance
of Alfred Newman. The romance theme was later given lyrics, and became the pop
standard "Smile", first recorded by Nat King Cole, charted in 1954
and later covered by artists as Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Trini Lopez, Eric
Clapton, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Michael Bublé, Petula Clark, Liberace,
Judy Garland, Madeleine Peyroux, Michael Jackson and Robert Downey, Jr.
(included on the soundtrack for the film Chaplin).
Michael Jackson version
Michael Jackson
recorded the song for his 1995 double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future,
Book I. It was planned to be released as the eighth and final single from the
album in 1997 but was canceled days before its release date. Only a few copies
from the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa (where the record distribution
was started previous to the withdrawal) were saved as the other copies were
withdrawn.
Jackson had never
performed this song live; an HBO special was once planned with the song being
performed, but Jackson collapsed during the concert's rehearsals. During the
final concerts of his HIStory World Tour, the song was played at the beginning
of each concert in memory of Princess Diana. In Living with Michael Jackson, he
mentioned the song while at Neverland Ranch and sang it while he was in Las
Vegas.
Michael Jackson's
brother, Jermaine Jackson, sang "Smile" at Michael memorial service
on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, shortly after Michael
Jackson's friend Brooke Shields mentioned it had been Jackson's favorite song.
He also sang it in an interview with Today at Neverland before the memorial and
only days after Michael had passed. During the internationally televised public
memorial, Jermaine switched the words "gladness" and
"sadness" in the lyrics, possibly in an unintentional flub of the
lyrics.
SMILE
Smile though your
heart is aching
Smile even though
it's breaking
When there are
clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile
through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe
tomorrow
You'll see the
sun come shining through for you
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
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
No comments:
Post a Comment