"When I See You Smile"
Single by Bad English
from the album Bad English
B-side
  • "Rockin' Horse"
  • "Tough Times Don't Last"
ReleasedAugust 30, 1989 (1989-08-30)
Genre
Length4:17
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Diane Warren
Producer(s)Richie Zito
Bad English singles chronology
"Forget Me Not"
(1989) 		"When I See You Smile"
(1989) 		"Price of Love"
(1990)

"When I See You Smile" is a song written by Diane Warren and performed by American-British glam metal band Bad English. It was released in September 1989 as the second single taken from their self-titled debut album released in 1989. The power ballad[4] is the band's most successful song, reaching number-one in both the United States and Canada.

Music video

In the video the band are performing on a stage, which contains close-up shots of its members. The footage was taken at one of their arena concerts. It shows Jonathan Cain's distinctive synthesizer opening and moves into the soft initial vocal work of John Waite. The tempo picks up with Deen Castronovo's drum work and Neal Schon's trademark guitar during which Waite becomes more emphatic vocally; the song finishes with Waite's soft vocals. The video was directed by Jonathan Cain.

Track listings

7-inch, cassette, and mini-CD single[5][6][7]

  1. "When I See You Smile" – 4:16
  2. "Rockin' Horse" – 5:26

12-inch and CD single[8][9]

  1. "When I See You Smile" – 4:17
  2. "Tough Times Don't Last" – 4:40
  3. "Rockin' Horse" – 5:28

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[19] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 30, 1989
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Epic [21]
United Kingdom November 6, 1989
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
 [22]
November 13, 1989 12-inch vinyl with patch [23]
December 4, 1989 7-inch picture disc [24]
Japan December 7, 1989 Mini-CD [25]

References

  1. ^ Metal Ballads - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved January 27, 2021
  2. ^ Smith, Troy L.; Clevel; .com (May 13, 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". cleveland. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Farley, Keith. "Songs You Know by Heart: Songs of Love - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "The 10 worst power ballads ever written". Louder. November 19, 2016.
  5. ^ When I See You Smile (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Bad English. Epic Records. 1989. 34-69082.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ When I See You Smile (US cassette single sleeve). Bad English. Epic Records. 1989. 34T 69082.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ When I See You Smile (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Bad English. Epic Records. 1989. ESDA-7010.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ When I See You Smile (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Bad English. Epic Records. 1989. 655347 6.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ When I See You Smile (UK CD single liner notes). Bad English. Epic Records. 1989. 655347-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Bad English – When I See You Smile". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6623." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6656." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  14. ^ "Bad English Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Bad English Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  16. ^ "Bad English Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Retrieved April 5, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". ARIA. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  20. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Bad English – When I See You Smile". Music Canada. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "American single certifications – Bad English – When I See You Smile". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  22. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. November 4, 1989. p. 45.
  23. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. November 11, 1989. p. 42.
  24. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. December 2, 1989. p. 45.
  25. ^ "ホエン・アイ・シー・ユー・スマイル | バッド・イングリッシュ" [When I See You Smile | Bad English] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
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