Secret Smile (song)

"Secret Smile"
Artwork used for the commercial European and Australian releases
Single by Semisonic
from the album Feeling Strangely Fine
Released	January 11, 1999 (1999-01-11)
Studio	Seedy Underbelly (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Genre	Alternative rock[1]
Length	4:37
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Dan Wilson
Producer(s)	Nick Launay
Semisonic singles chronology
"Singing in My Sleep" (1998) "Secret Smile" (1999) "Chemistry" (2001)

"Secret Smile" is a song by American rock band Semisonic. The single, released to American radio on January 11, 1999, gained the band brief international popularity. A live version of the song recorded at The Gorge Amphitheatre, as well as a mix by the Orb had previously been released as a B-side to "Singing in My Sleep". The song was featured in the film Simply Irresistible and in the TV series Charmed and Dawson's Creek.

Composition

Songwriter Dan Wilson has said that the melody for the song came to him in a dream, and he woke up in the middle of the night, rushed to a piano, and wrote it down.[2]

"...Secret Smile, the first half of it came to me in a dream. I woke up in very early morning hours with this song playing in my head. I got up, ran to a piano, and I wrote down the words that I heard in my mind and I played the chords on the piano and wrote down the names of the chords. Then I went back to sleep. And then the next day when I woke up, I remembered the song from the dream. I went to the piano and I saw my notes. I played the song and I thought, Well, this is great. It must be some song that I've heard before. Then I asked all my friends about it, and they all said, 'No, that sounds like a song of yours.'"[3]

Music video

The music video was shot in Los Angeles in January 1999 and was directed by British music video director Sophie Muller.[4] Paul Rudd and Laura Prepon both appear.

Track listings

UK CD1[5] "Secret Smile" (remix edit) – 3:45 "Completely Pleased" – 3:17 "Erotic City" – 3:34 UK CD2[6] "Secret Smile" (album edit) – 3:45 "Singing in My Sleep" (remix full version) – 4:28 "Take Me with You" (live) – 4:08 "Secret Smile" (video) UK cassette single[7] "Secret Smile" (album edit) – 3:45 "Take Me with You" (live) – 4:08

European CD single[8] "Secret Smile" – 3:46 "Completely Pleased" – 3:19 Australasian CD single[9] "Secret Smile" – 3:46 "Completely Pleased" – 3:19 "Erotic City" – 3:35 "Secret Smile" (full-length remix) – 4:27

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the US promo CD liner notes and the Feeling Strangely Fine album notes.[10][11]

Studios

• Recorded and produced at Seedy Underbelly (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• Mixed at Mix This! (Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

• Dan Wilson – writing, lead vocals, guitar, Rhodes piano, string and flute arrangement
• John Munson – vocals, bass, Moog
• Jacob Slichter – vocals, drums, string and flute arrangement, conducting
• Bruce Allard – strings
• Mary Bahr – strings
• Carolyn Boulay – strings
• Troy Gardner – strings
• Josh Koestenbaum – strings
• Nick Launay – production, recording
• Brad Kern – additional recording
• Alex Oana – assistant recording engineer
• Richard Werbowenko – assistant recording engineer
• Shane Washington – assistant recording engineer
• Bob Clearmountain – mixing (album version)
• Ryan Freeland – assistant mix engineering
• James Saez – assistant mix engineering
• Tom Lord-Alge – mixing (remix)
• Jennifer Munson – digital editing
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12]	30
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[13]	30
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14]	47
Ireland (IRMA)[15]	26
Scotland (OCC)[16]	11
UK Singles (OCC)[17]	12
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18]	17
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[19]	35
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[20]	21
US CHR/Pop (Radio & Records)[21]	42

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22]	Silver	200,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 11, 1999	Active rock radio	MCA	[23]
	January 12, 1999	Contemporary hit radio		[24]
United Kingdom	June 28, 1999	CD cassette		[25]

References

1. "The Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1999". Spin. July 25, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
2. Atlas, Zoë (March 3, 2015). "Effortless: Dan Wilson". Sound of Boston. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
3. Wilson, Dan (August 23, 2017). "Dan Wilson". Songfacts (Interview). Interviewed by Carl Wiser. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
4. "Semisonic to Shoot 'Secret Smile' Video". MTV. January 8, 1999. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
5. Secret Smile (UK CD1 liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSTD-40210.
6. Secret Smile (UK CD2 liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSXD-40210.
7. Secret Smile (UK cassette single sleeve). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCSC-40210.
8. Secret Smile (European CD single liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCD 49108.
9. Secret Smile (Australasian CD single liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCD-49101.
10. Secret Smile (US promo CD liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1999. MCA5P-4305.
11. Feeling Strangely Fine (US CD album liner notes). Semisonic. MCA Records. 1998. MCAD/11733.
12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7448." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
13. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7450." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 30. July 24, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Secret Smile". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
18. "Semisonic Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
19. "Semisonic Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
20. "Semisonic Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
21. "CHR/Pop Top 50" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1290. March 12, 1999. p. 86. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
22. "British single certifications – Semisonic – Secret Smile". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
23. "Adds for January 11 & 12". Gavin Report. No. 2237. January 8, 1999. p. 37.
24. "New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1281. January 8, 1999. p. 39. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
25. "New Releases – For Week Starting 28 June, 1999: Singles". Music Week. June 26, 1999. p. 25.