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Charlie Chaplin wrote the music for ‘Smile’ for 'Modern Times', but the lyrics were only added nearly 30 years later. From 2019.

Charlie Chaplin wrote the music for 'Smile' in 1935 for the film 'Modern Times', but the lyrics were only added nearly 30 years later.

Chris Philips tells the story of how his grandfather was inspired to write the words when he left his father at boarding school.

Gemma Lowery talks about how her son Bradley loved the song; writer Bryony Rheam describes why she associates the song with her grandmother and Marine Lucas remembers flying to Michael Jackson's memorial on hearing the news of his death.

And author Bob Williams remembers after his father died, his mother sitting on the floor listening to the Nat King Cole version and crying when he came home from school.

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

Producer: Sara Conkey

First broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4 in January 2019.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Wed 9 Nov 2022 00:30

Broadcasts

  • Wed 16 Jan 2019 09:00
  • Wed 16 Jan 2019 21:30
  • Tue 8 Nov 2022 18:30
  • Wed 9 Nov 2022 00:30

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Watch the animation - Professor Mary King describes how the song became a symbol of hope.

Podcast