Smile (Katy Perry song) explained

Smile
Type:Single
Cover:Katy Perry - Smile (Giorgio Moroder Remix).png
Caption:Cover for the Giorgio Moroder remix. A similar cover was released for the Joel Corry remix.
Artist:Katy Perry
Album:Smile
Studio:Pulse and Windmark (Los Angeles, California)
Genre: Nu-disco
Length:2:47
Label:Capitol
Prev Title:Daisies
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Not the End of the World
Next Year:2020

"Smile" is a song by American singer Katy Perry for her sixth studio album of the same name (2020). It was released on July 10, 2020 by Capitol Records as the second single from the album, along with the album's pre-order. Musically, it is a nu-disco song which samples Naughty by Nature's 1999 song "Jamboree". On the song, Perry talks about expressing her gratitude for changes in her life. A version featuring American rapper Diddy is featured on some vinyl versions of the album, while remixes of the song by Giorgio Moroder and Joel Corry have also been released to promote the song.

Background and composition

The song was officially released on July 10, 2020 along with the album's pre-order, with Perry saying she hoped "it can be a few minutes of energizing hopefulness for you as it is for meee".[1] "Smile" is a nu-disco[2] song which runs for 2 minutes and 47 seconds. It samples Naughty by Nature's 1999 song "Jamboree".[3] The song starts off with an "upbeat hook" and a "dance-driven groove" that leads to the chorus containing lyrics expressing her gratitude for changes in her life: "Yeah, I'm thankful / Scratch that, baby, I'm grateful / Gotta say it's really been a while / But now I got back that smile".[4] On the lyrics, Perry also "extols the virtue of perseverance" after suffering setbacks where every day feels like Groundhog Day as well as "going through motions felt so fake".[5]

The song was inspired by Perry's own experiences and was described by Uproxx as an "ode to remembering life's joys". Speaking about the release of the song, she said "I wrote this song when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life. When I listen to it now, it's a great reminder that I made it through. It's three minutes of energizing hopefulness".[6] On some vinyl versions of the album, American rapper Diddy is featured on "Smile".[7] "Smile" was also promoted with remixes by Italian DJ Giorgio Moroder and British DJ Joel Corry.

Critical reception

The song received mixed reviews. Vulture Zoe Haylock called the song "empowering", comparing it to Perry's 2013 single "Roar".[8] Jason Lipshutz from Billboard, also compared "Smile" to Perry's previous songs "Walking on Air" and "Birthday", both taken from Perry's fourth album, Prism (2013), calling "Smile" the "same sort of dizzy glitter-pop" Perry embraced on Prism.[9] In writing for Consequence of Sound, Wren Graves noted the song's positive message, stating that "lyrics [are] overbrimming with warmth and gratitude. The song evokes the light at the end of the tunnel".[10] Insider Callie Ahlgrim labelled the song one of the worst of 2020, calling it "unbearably corny" and comparing it to the children's song "Baby Shark".[11]

Chart performance

"Smile" debuted at number ten on the New Zealand Hot Singles Chart, 22 in Scotland and 73 in the United Kingdom. It also debuted at number twenty-one on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for equivalent sales of 500,000 units in the United States.[12]

Music videos

Performance video

Perry released a performance video for "Smile" on July 14, 2020. In the video, she is dressed as a clown, in her "most fashionable clown attire, wearing an orange, polka-dotted blazer and matching blue jumper with whimsical tuxedo detailing across the front" and performs against a backdrop with a "number of giant clown hands, seated atop a comically oversized clown shoe and more".[13]

Music video

The official "Smile" music video was released on August 14, 2020 and features a video game theme, with Perry switching between real-life cosplay and animated video game characters. It was directed by Mathew Miguel Cullen, with storyboarding by Cullen and Josh Chesler.[14]

Track listing and formats

Digital download and streaming[15]

  1. "Smile" – 2:47

Digital download and streaming – Giorgio Moroder remix[16]

  1. "Smile" (Giorgio Moroder remix) – 3:07

Digital download and streaming – Joel Corry remix[17]

  1. "Smile" (Joel Corry remix) – 3:02

Digital download and streaming – Joel Corry extended remix[18]

  1. "Smile" (Joel Corry extended remix) – 4:17

Digital download and streaming – M-22 remix[19]

  1. "Smile" (M-22 remix) – 3:00

Digital download and streaming – Marshall Jefferson remix[20]

  1. "Smile" (Marshall Jefferson remix) – 2:38

Digital download and streaming – Tough Love remix[21]

  1. "Smile" (Tough Love remix) – 2:47

Credits and personnel

Song credits

Credits adapted from Tidal.[22]

Music video credits

Adapted from YouTube.[14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[23] 23
Croatia (HRT)[24] 15
El Salvador (Monitor Latino)[25] 17
France (SNEP Sales Chart)[26] 69
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[27] 39
Netherlands (Dutch Tipparade 40)[28] 23
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[29] 10
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[30] 26
Venezuela (Record Report)[31] 56

Monthly charts

Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Paraguay [32] 53
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[33] 39

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)VersionLabel
VariousJuly 10, 2020OriginalCapitol
ItalyJuly 24, 2020Radio airplayUniversal[34]
VariousAugust 25, 2020Giorgio Moroder remixCapitol
September 2, 2020Joel Corry remix
Joel Corry extended remix
September 18, 2020M-22 remix
Marshall Jefferson remix
Tough Love remix

Notes and References

  1. Langford. Jackson. Katy Perry announces new album 'Smile' and shares title track. July 10, 2020. July 10, 2020. NME. July 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200710211259/https://www.nme.com/news/music/katy-perry-announces-new-album-smile-2705207. live.
  2. Web site: Willman . Chris . Katy Perry's 'Smile' Gets Lost Looking for Life Lessons on the Dance Floor: Album Review . . August 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200829011709/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/katy-perry-smile-album-review-1234752337/ . August 29, 2020 . August 28, 2020 . live.
  3. Web site: Helman. Peter. Katy Perry – "Smile". July 10, 2020. July 10, 2020. Stereogum. July 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200710072446/https://www.stereogum.com/2090958/katy-perry-smile/music/. live.
  4. News: Gomez. Dessi. Katy Perry's new single encourages listeners to 'Smile'. July 10, 2020. July 10, 2020. Los Angeles Times. July 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200710211305/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-07-10/katy-perry-title-track-smile. live.
  5. Spanos. Brittany. Brittany Spanos. Legaspi. Althea. Katy Perry Extols the Virtue of Perseverance in New Song 'Smile'. July 10, 2020. July 10, 2020. Rolling Stone. July 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200710063818/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/katy-perry-smile-song-1026144/. live.
  6. Web site: All The Best New Pop Music From This Week . . Droke . Carolyn . July 14, 2020 . July 14, 2020 . July 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200714210606/https://uproxx.com/pop/best-new-pop-katy-perry-james-blake/ . live .
  7. Web site: Katy PERRY Smile vinyl at Juno Records. Juno Records. September 2, 2020. August 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200829220920/https://www.juno.co.uk/products/katy-perry-smile/784372-01/. live.
  8. Web site: Katy Perry's New Single Reminds Us All to 'Smile' . . Haylock . Zoe . July 10, 2020 . July 14, 2020 . July 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200711094208/https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/katy-perrys-new-single-smile-kp5.html . live .
  9. First Stream: New Music From Juice WRLD, Summer Walker, Katy Perry and More . Billboard . Lipshutz . Jason . July 10, 2020 . July 14, 2020 . July 26, 2020 . https://archive.today/20200726045319/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9416529/first-stream-juice-wrld-summer-walker-katy-perry . live .
  10. Katy Perry Reveals New Album Smile, Shares Title Track: Stream . . Graves . Wren . July 10, 2020 . July 14, 2020 . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200903231204/https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/07/katy-perry-new-album-smile/ . live .
  11. Web site: The 10 best and 10 worst songs of 2020. Callie. Ahlgrim. December 30, 2020. Insider. January 6, 2021.
  12. Katy Perry. 2020-07-27. Billboard. May 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200510221724/https://www.billboard.com/music/katy-perry/chart-history/LGL. live.
  13. Watch Katy Perry Clown Around in New 'Smile' Performance Video . Billboard . Rowley . Glenn . July 14, 2020 . July 14, 2020 . July 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200714192803/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9418153/katy-perry-smile-performance-video . live .
  14. Web site: Katy Perry - Smile . . August 14, 2020 . August 14, 2020 . August 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200814160505/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZA5heWazIQ . live .
  15. Web site: Katy Perry – Smile . . July 10, 2020 . September 2, 2020 . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200903231152/https://open.spotify.com/track/3DXdjHnePKnh6oXw2ZgGSl?si=oUILpqrVS2yMCqD5rnWHQA . live .
  16. Web site: Katy Perry – Smile (Giorgio Moroder Remix) . . August 25, 2020 . September 2, 2020 . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200903231153/https://open.spotify.com/track/2yQRnVlNpRz5m2LnWqHfuu?si=XL3fCZogTcW6H7ZL0_AIXQ . live .
  17. Joel Corry Remixes:
  18. Joel Corry Extended Remixes:
  19. Web site: Smile (M-22 Remix) - Single by Katy Perry on Apple Music. Apple Music. September 18, 2020. January 26, 2021.
  20. Web site: Smile (Marshall Jefferson Remix) - Single by Katy Perry on Apple Music. Apple Music. September 18, 2020. January 26, 2021.
  21. Web site: Smile (Tough Love Remix) - Single by Katy Perry on Apple Music. Apple Music. September 18, 2020.
  22. Web site: July 10, 2020. Smile. Katy. Perry. July 15, 2020. Tidal. July 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713093247/https://listen.tidal.com/album/147873470/credits. live.
  23. Katy Perry Chart History (Canada Digital). Billboard. September 21, 2020.
  24. Web site: Croatia ARC TOP 100. HRT. 5 May 2020. September 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200903231218/https://radio.hrt.hr/clanak/arc-100-datum-31-kolovoza-2020/241979/. live.
  25. Web site: Top 20 El Salvador – Del 14 al 20 de Septiembre, 2020. December 9, 2020. Spanish. Monitor Latino.
  26. Web site: Katy Perry - Smile. March 14, 2023. PureMédias.
  27. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög. The Music – Songs. is. Plötutíðindi. July 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919065726/https://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/. September 19, 2020. dead.
  28. Web site: Katy Perry - Smile. nl. Dutch Top 40. May 9, 2022.
  29. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. July 20, 2020. July 17, 2020. July 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200718053456/https://nztop40.co.nz/index.php/chart/hotsingles?chart=4901. live.
  30. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Sep 24, 2020. TopHit. July 2, 2024.
  31. Web site: Top 100 - Record Report. Record Report. September 12, 2023. Spanish. October 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001060025/https://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/top100/. live.
  32. Web site: Top 100 de la SOCIEDAD DE GESTIÓN DE PRODUCTORES FONOGRÁFICOS DEL PARAGUAY September, 2020. . October 4, 2020.
  33. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Monthly Chart: Sep 2020. TopHit. July 2, 2024.
  34. Gimigliano. Filippo. July 21, 2020. Katy Perry - Smile (Radio Date: 24-07-2020). live. it. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204132225/https://www.earone.it/news/katy_perry_smile_radio_date_24_07_2020_43897938/. December 4, 2020. earone.it.

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