"Smile"
Single by Juice Wrld and the Weeknd
from the album Legends Never Die
ReleasedAugust 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
Recorded2018–2019
Genre
Length3:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Juice Wrld singles chronology
"Wishing Well"
(2020) 		"Smile"
(2020) 		"Real Shit"
(2020)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"In Your Eyes"
(2020) 		"Smile"
(2020) 		"Save Your Tears"
(2020)
Music video
"Smile" on YouTube

"Smile" is a song by American rapper Juice Wrld and Canadian singer the Weeknd.[2] It was released on August 7, 2020, as the sixth single from the former's posthumous third studio album Legends Never Die.[1] On the day of the single's release, an updated version of the album featuring the song was released.[3]

Background and release

In mid 2018, an early demo of the track that only had Higgins' vocals on it leaked and quickly became one of his most popular leaks amongst fans. On September 10, 2019, Juice Wrld first revealed his interest in making a track with the Weeknd via Twitter, in a tweet saying "Me and The Weeknd would make a diamond record..."[4][5] The song's 2018 demo was first leaked in July 2020, under the title "Sad".[2] Nearly a month after the release of Juice Wrld's posthumous third studio album Legends Never Die, on August 4, 2020, the Weeknd announced that a collaboration between the two artists was on the way soon, tweeting out "XO + 999 Thursday Night".[6] Shortly before the song's release, on August 6, 2020, the Weeknd announced the single's title as being "Smile", with the artist upon the song's release, later on stating that he wished Juice Wrld could be alive at the moment to celebrate the song's release.[7] An updated version of Legends Never Die featuring the song was also released alongside the single.[8]

Lyrics and composition

The lyrics of the song revolve around Juice Wrld and the Weeknd speaking about their inner demons, heartbreak and their willingness to make sacrifices in order to make their relationship work with their partner.[2] In the song, Juice Wrld unknowingly foreshadows and references his 2019 death through the line "Devil on my shoulder telling me I'll die soon, I don't really want that to impact you."[9] The single's composition purposely highlights and attempts to uplift the duo's vocals, with it featuring a simple sonic bass drop that emphasizes hi-hats, timely claps, and a heavy bass drum underneath their vocals.[10]

Music videos

The lyric video for "Smile" was released alongside the song on August 7, 2020. The visual follows David Garibaldi in various shots, painting portraits of Juice Wrld and the Weeknd while the song's lyrics appear on the bottom center of the footage.[11] An official animated video was later released on August 11, 2020, which showcases Juice Wrld and the Weeknd in the afterlife.[12] The video contains references to previous visuals done by KDC Visions, with the music video featuring the car and landscape from the official video of the song "Wishing Well".[13]

Commercial performance

The single charted within the top 40 of various nations worldwide, with it reaching the top ten in Australia, Canada, and the United States.[14]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[15]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Portugal (AFP)[45] Gold 5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[47] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label(s) Ref.
Various August 7, 2020
[48]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bloom, Madison. "The Weeknd Drops New Song "Smile" With Juice WRLD". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Powell, Jon (August 7, 2020). "Juice WRLD and The Weeknd join forces on "Smile"". REVOLT. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Murphy, Chris (August 7, 2020). "Juice WRLD's Latest Posthumous Track 'Smile' Featuring The Weeknd Is Here". Vulture. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Juice WRLD Makes The Weeknd An Offer He Can't Refuse". HotNewHipHop. September 11, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "The Weeknd Drops Posthumous Juice WRLD Collab". Spin. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Weeknd Teases A Very Special Collab With an Old Friend". Billboard. August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  7. ^ "Juice WRLD's Posthumous 'SMILE' Collaboration With The Weeknd Is Here: Stream It Now". Billboard. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "Listen to the Weeknd's collaboration with the late rapper Juice WRLD, 'Smile'". EW.com. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  9. ^ "Emo R&B Crossover Stars The Weeknd and the Late Juice WRLD Join Forces on Collaborative Track "Smile" -". August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  10. ^ "The Weeknd Shares Emotional Juice WRLD Collab "Smile"". HYPEBEAST. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  11. ^ Legaspi, Althea (August 7, 2020). "The Weeknd Drops Juice WRLD Collaboration 'Smile'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  12. ^ Legaspi, Althea (August 12, 2020). "See Juice WRLD and the Weeknd's Animated Video for 'Smile'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "Watch the music video for Juice WRLD and The Weeknd's "Smile"". The FADER. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  14. ^ "Juice WRLD & The Weeknd's 'Smile' Debuts in Hot 100's Top 10, Lewis Capaldi's 'Before You Go' Rises to No. 10". Billboard. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  15. ^ "Credits / Smile / Juice WRLD, The Weeknd". Tidal. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  16. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  17. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  19. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  20. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202033 into search. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  21. ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 32, 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  22. ^ "Juice Wrld, the Weeknd: Smile (With The Weeknd)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  23. ^ "Top Singles (Week 33, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  24. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  25. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  26. ^ "Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 32 2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  27. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  28. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  29. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  30. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. August 13, 2020. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  31. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  32. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  33. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". VG-lista. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  34. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  35. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  36. ^ "RIAS International Top Charts Week 33". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on August 18, 2020.
  37. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202033 into search. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  38. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  39. ^ "Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  40. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  41. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  42. ^ "Juice Wrld Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  43. ^ "Top 100 Songs, August 7, 2020 - August 13, 2020". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  44. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  45. ^ "Portuguese single certifications" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  46. ^ "British single certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  47. ^ "American single certifications – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". Recording Industry Association of America.
  48. ^ Schmitt, Tyler (August 7, 2020). "Juice WRLD & The Weeknd collaboration 'Smile' released". Variance Magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2020.

External links

Juice Wrld
The Weeknd songs
Categories