A standard symphony orchestra typically consists of about 80 to 100 musicians, but jazz bands comprise a much smaller number of about 3 to 25 musicians. But in its potential for making high music, jazz is no less than orchestral music. “Europe gave us classical music, and jazz is America’s classical music”, said Esperanza Emily Spalding, an American jazz musician, singer, songwriter, and composer who won four Grammy Awards, while performing a jazz concert for a then U.S President, years ago.
The origin of 'Smile', a jazz standard song, is the 1936 movie Modern Times, produced, written, and directed by Charlie Chaplin (Charles Chaplin), who also acted as its protagonist. The film won many awards and honours and is considered one of the greatest films ever. Chaplin had a climactic musical piece for the film composed (without voice, as it was the last of the silent movies) which is the basis of 'Smile'. Later, John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons wrote the lyrics, based on the film and titled it, in 1954. Nat King Cole recorded the song, perhaps its best-ever rendition, the same year. It illustrates how great singers perceive the true inspiration behind the lyrics and by their rendition lift the listener's consciousness to the higher level. Subsequently there have been over 50 covers of 'Smile' by other artists. 'Smile' was also used at the beginning of the 1975 movie 'Smile', a film that satirises small-town America. Nathaniel Adams Coles (Nat King Cole, 1916-1965), the smooth baritone voice of the song, began his career as a jazz pianist in the late 1930s, when he formed the King Cole Trio, which became the top-selling group in the 1940s. Starting in 1950, he transitioned to become a solo singer billed as Nat King Cole. Despite achieving mainstream success, Cole faced intense racial discrimination during his career. While not a major, vocal public figure in the civil rights movement, Cole regularly performed for civil rights organisations. From 1956 to 1957, Cole hosted The Nat King Cole Show, which became the first nationally broadcast television show hosted by a Black American. Highlighting the universality of the song, 'Timeless Music and Talks' has compiled a video of smiling faces — children, youth, middle-aged and seniors — from around the world. This video is without the usual subtitles as the lyrical lines aren't many, and they are easy to understand. Hope you enjoyed the charm and universal appeal of 'Smile'.For non-profit cultural and educational purposes.
Click to watch the video: https://youtu.be/xCpnTg-vfqE?si=UjUuJwZgzWslFbhR
