🎵 Janelle Monae — Smile (Live in London, 2009) #np
Extraordinary
Janelle Monae performs an incredible cover version of the classic song “Smile” made famous by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Nat King Cole and more recently the late Michael Jackson.
This footage is taken from Janelle Monae’s 1st ever London performance at Cargo on November the 4th.
“Smile” was written by Charlie Chaplin as an instrumental accompaniment for the 1936 movie Modern Times. Lyrics were added by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons in 1954. With the lyrics, the song was popularized by Nat King Cole in 1954.
Monae’s version is far bleaker than Nat’s serenade. With little backing it, Monae uses her voice to desperately urge the listener to keep moving forward no matter what. In that manner, it fits as a cliffhanger conclusion to Act I wherein the protagonist Cindi is separated from her lover and on the run society and is among bleak living conditions. It also, appropriately, is a callback to the depression and war-laden era of both Metropolis and Modern Times.
“Smile” was also Michael Jackson’s favorite song, which may be another factor in the song choice.
