Smile (Vitamin C song)

"Smile" is the debut single of American singer Vitamin C. It features 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.

"Smile"
Single by Vitamin C featuring Lady Saw
from the album Vitamin C
ReleasedJune 8, 1999 (1999-06-08)
Length3:58
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Josh Deutsch
  • Colleen Fitzpatrick
Producer(s)
  • Josh Deutsch
  • Garry Hughes
Vitamin C singles chronology
"Smile"
(1999)		 "Me, Myself and I"
(1999)
Audio
"Smile" (radio edit) on YouTube

Background and release

According to Vitamin C, she had trouble coming up with the 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.[1] On June 22, 1999, Elektra Records serviced "Smile" to American pop and rhythmic radio stations.[2]

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[3] 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.[4] Worldwide, "Smile" peaked at number 13 in New Zealand,[5] number 24 in Iceland,[6] and number 29 in Canada.[7] The single went Gold in the US, as certified by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments in excess of 500,000.[8] 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.[1][9]

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

Smile 2005

A 2005 remix, "Smile 2005", was featured in film Aquamarine (2006).[14]

Charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 29
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[15] 74
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 95
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[6] 24
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 88
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[5] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 18
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[18] 24
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[3] 21

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[8] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Bell, Carrie (July 17, 1999). "Elektra's Vitamin C Gives Pop a Twist" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 29. p. 12, 16. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  2. "New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1304. June 18, 1999. p. 42, 48. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  3. "Vitamin C Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  4. "Vitamin C Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  5. "Vitamin C feat. Lady Saw – Smile". Top 40 Singles.
  6. "Íslenski Listinn (2.8–5.8. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 6, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8449." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  8. "American single certifications – Vitamin C – Smile". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  9. Pietroluongo, Silvio (July 24, 1999). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 30. p. 89. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  10. Smile (US 12-inch single sleeve). Vitamin C. Elektra Records. 1999. E3727T.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Smile (US cassette single sleeve). Vitamin C. Elektra Records. 1999. 64041-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Smile (UK promo 12-inch vinyl sleeve). Vitamin C. Elektra Records. 1999. SAM 00155.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Smile (European CD single liner notes). Vitamin C. Elektra Records. 1999. 7559-63717-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. "Aquamarine (2006) - IMDb". IMDb.
  15. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8449." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  16. "Vitamin C feat. Lady Saw – Smile" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  17. "Vitamin C – Smile" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  18. "Vitamin C Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
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