tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224037410105354251.post1495361165805981544..comments2024-03-25T04:55:45.033-07:00Comments on A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: HISTORY OF A SONG: SMILEUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224037410105354251.post-1338693371166269232017-09-18T04:02:09.282-07:002017-09-18T04:02:09.282-07:00I was aware there was an 18 year span between the ...I was aware there was an 18 year span between the music composition and the lyrics. It is such a beautiful song, and it part of our American Cultural Experience. The Gershwin, Harold Arlene, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, are names generations have lost, along with teams like Rodgers and Hammerstein. Brilliant songwriters and composers, many who overcame tenement childhoods, and followed their talents and hard work. Americans should be proud. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224037410105354251.post-50753063680634137922015-11-05T15:00:16.538-08:002015-11-05T15:00:16.538-08:00Recently, I played the piano on a restoration of M...Recently, I played the piano on a restoration of Modern Times with full orchestra. I'm curious about the history of the how the tune developed from what's actually in the movie to what it became. In the movie the tune never goes to the minor IV chord ( in this case E-flat) since the tune is usually always in G during the movie. Also, it never has the 'classic' ending in the movie that became the 1954 version. Do you know if Charlie Chaplin rewrote and developed the theme from it's 1936 version in the 1954 version or did someone else? I've been curious about this for some time. Thank you...Bryan Pezzone. bpezpiano@aol.com<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085535201255819312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224037410105354251.post-90444810923178446122014-02-09T05:14:43.563-08:002014-02-09T05:14:43.563-08:00As is the case perhaps with many music lovers, qui...As is the case perhaps with many music lovers, quite often a song’s author goes unnoticed in our love affair with a particular piece of music. Such was the case with “Smile” for me.<br /><br />Being a bit of a musician myself I decided to add “Smile” to my published repertoire so I proceeded with procuring a Mechanical License from the Harry Fox Agency and was completely shocked when I ‘finally’ noticed who had written the song. I was very familiar with many of the versions of the song released my mainstream artists, The Letterman’s version being my own personal favorite, but again clueless as to who had penned such a great song.<br /><br />There’s no way I thought that the “Charlie Chapman” I was familiar with could have written this song but of course with a short historical investigation the shocking truth was revealed. And after all, I think it is somewhat well known that when we roll back the packaging of most comedians, generally speaking, there is a palatable sensitivity and compassion there that allows more of who they really are to emerge.<br />Alan Ghttp://www.somefinalthoughts.comnoreply@blogger.com