Smile (Vitamin C song) explained

Smile
Cover:SMILEVC.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Vitamin C featuring Lady Saw
Album:Vitamin C
Studio:Axis (New York City)
Genre:Dancehall pop[1]
Label:Elektra
Producer:
  • Josh Deutsch
  • Garry Hughes
Chronology:Vitamin C
Next Title:Me, Myself and I
Next Year:1999

"Smile" is the debut single of American singer Vitamin C, featuring vocals from Jamaican reggae singer Lady Saw. "Smile" was the first single released from Vitamin C's self-titled debut album on June 8, 1999. Using television exposure as a major form of promotion, the song became a top-40 hit in Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, and the United States.

Background and release

According to Vitamin C, she had trouble coming up with the song's lyrics. On the day she wrote them, she was feeling sad about the breakup of her former band, Eve's Plum, and decided that she needed to write a happy song to move past her depression. Elektra Records released "Smile" as a 12-inch single on June 8, 1999, and as a CD, maxi-CD, and cassette single on June 29 of the same year.[2] On June 22, 1999, Elektra Records serviced "Smile" to American pop and rhythmic radio stations.[3]

Commercial performance

"Smile" became Vitamin C's highest-charting single in the United States to date, peaking at number 21 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 and number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her only single to reach the top 20 and her first single to reach the top 40. Worldwide, "Smile" peaked at number 13 in New Zealand, number 24 in Iceland, and number 29 in Canada. In the US, the single received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of 500,000. Billboard attributed the song's success to its intense promotion via television, including featuring in advertisements for The WB series Movie Stars, promos for the NBC series Cold Feet, and the season 9 finale of Beverly Hills, 90210.[2] [4]

Music video

The music video takes place in a multi-colored Sam Goody CD store which has several motifs from the album art. Lady Saw plays a DJ in the video, while Vitamin C dances with a few backup dancers to the song ("Smile") that Lady Saw is playing. The video was directed by Christopher Erskin.

Track listings

US CD single[5]

  1. "Smile" (album version)
  2. "Smile" (Maserati mix)
  3. "Smile" (video)

US maxi-CD single[6]

  1. "Smile" (Mr. Mig's extended mix)
  2. "Smile" (radio edit)
  3. "Smile" (dub mix)
  4. "Smile" (Maserati mix)
  5. "Smile" (acapella)
  6. "Smile" (album version)
  7. "Smile" (video)

US 12-inch single[7]

A1. "Smile" (Mr. Mig's extended mix)

A2. "Smile" (radio edit)

B1. "Smile" (dub mix)

B2. "Smile" (Maserati mix)

B3. "Smile" (acapella)

US cassette single[8]

  1. "Smile"
  2. "Smile" (Maserati mix)

UK CD single[9]

  1. "Smile" (radio edit) – 3:24
  2. "Smile" (rapless edit) – 3:34
  3. "Smile" (Maserati mix) – 4:03

European CD single[10]

  1. "Smile" (radio edit) – 3:24
  2. "Smile" (album version) – 3:57

European maxi-CD single[11]

  1. "Smile" (radio edit) – 3:24
  2. "Smile" (Mr. Mig's club mix) – 3:47
  3. "Smile" (rapless edit) – 3:34
  4. "Smile" (Maserati mix) – 4:03

Australian CD single[12]

  1. "Smile" (radio edit)
  2. "Smile" (Maserati mix)
  3. "Smile" (Mr. Mig's club mix)
  4. "Smile" (LP version)
  5. "Smile" (rapless edit)
  6. "Smile" (video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the US CD single and Vitamin C liner notes.[5] [13]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999–2000)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 138
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[16] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 18
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 21
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[19] 24

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. News: Stevenson. Jane. Colleen Fitzpatrick goes out on her own. September 12, 1999. Toronto Sun. https://web.archive.org/web/20000902062244/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamAlbumsV/vitaminc_self2.html. dead. September 2, 2000. Jam!. gets all dancehall pop gooey with the breakout first single, Smile, from her debut album.
  2. Elektra's Vitamin C Gives Pop a Twist. Bell. Carrie. Billboard. 111. 29. 12, 16. July 17, 1999. October 4, 2020.
  3. New Releases. Radio & Records. 1304. 42, 48. June 18, 1999. May 8, 2021.
  4. Hot 100 Singles Spotlight. Pietroluongo. Silvio. Billboard. 111. 30. 89. July 24, 1999. October 4, 2020.
  5. Smile. Vitamin C. 1999. US CD single liner notes. Elektra Records. 64041-2.
  6. Smile. Vitamin C. 1999. US maxi-CD single liner notes. Elektra Records. 63749-2.
  7. Smile. Vitamin C. 1999. US 12-inch single sleeve. Elektra Records. 0-63749.
  8. Smile. Vitamin C. 1999. US cassette single sleeve. Elektra Records. 64041-4.
  9. Smile. Vitamin C. 1999. UK CD single liner notes. Elektra Records. E3727CD, 7559-63727-2.
  10. Smile. Vitamin C. 1999. European CD single liner notes. Elektra Records. 7559-64025-9.
  11. Smile. Vitamin C. 1999. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Elektra Records. 7559-63717-2.
  12. Smile. Vitamin C. 1999. Australian CD single liner notes. Elektra Records. 7559637372.
  13. Vitamin C. Vitamin C (album). Vitamin C. 1999. US CD album liner notes. Elektra Records. 62406-2.
  14. Chartifacts!. The ARIA Report. National Library of Australia. 569. 1. January 22, 2001. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20031004224558/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221/www.aria.com.au/issue569.PDF. October 5, 2003. February 19, 2023. More contains her three previous hits, The Itch (No. 6 January 2001), Smile (No. 138 January 2000)....
  15. News: Íslenski Listinn (2.8–5.8. 1999). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 10. August 6, 1999. October 5, 2019.
  16. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 39, 1999. Dutch Top 40. nl. March 14, 2023.
  17. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. August 28, 1999. August 1, 2023.
  18. Pop Airplay. Billboard. August 21, 1999. subscription. August 1, 2023.
  19. Dance Singles Sales. Billboard. September 11, 1999. subscription. August 1, 2023.
  20. Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 54. December 24, 1999.

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