Smile (Juice Wrld and The Weeknd song)
"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 Juice Wrld'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]
"Smile" | ||||
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Single by Juice Wrld and The Weeknd | ||||
from the album Legends Never Die | ||||
Released | August 7, 2020 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:16 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Juice Wrld singles chronology | ||||
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The Weeknd singles chronology | ||||
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Lyric video | ||||
"Smile" on YouTube | ||||
Smile(Official video) | ||||
"Smile" on YouTube |
Background and release
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 of 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]
Lyric video and official video
The lyric video for "Smile" was released alongside the song on August 7, 2020. The visual follows an artist 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 by the label on YouTube, which shows Juice Wrld and The Weeknd in the World after his death. The video also contains some easter eggs, like featuring the car and landscape in a scene from the official video of the song "Wishing Well", animated by the same animation studio.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[12]
- Jarad Higgins – vocals, songwriting, composition
- Abel Tesfaye – vocals, songwriting, composition
- Taz Taylor – songwriting, composition, production
- Cxdy – songwriting, composition, production
- Nicholas Mira – songwriting, composition, production
Charts
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[13] | 8 |
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[14] | 10 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] | 7 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[16] | 27 |
France (SNEP)[17] | 152 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[18] | 57 |
Ireland (IRMA)[19] | 14 |
Lithuania (AGATA)[20] | 15 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] | 47 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] | 12 |
Norway (VG-lista)[23] | 16 |
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[24] | 49 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[25] | 32 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] | 17 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] | 42 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[28] | 23 |
US Billboard Hot 100[29] | 8 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30] | 5 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
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Various | August 7, 2020 |
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[31] |
References
- Bloom, Madison. "The Weeknd Drops New Song "Smile" With Juice WRLD". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- Powell, Jon (August 7, 2020). "Juice WRLD and The Weeknd join forces on "Smile"". REVOLT. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- Murphy, Chris (August 7, 2020). "Juice WRLD's Latest Posthumous Track 'Smile' Featuring The Weeknd Is Here". Vulture. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "Juice WRLD Makes The Weeknd An Offer He Can't Refuse". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "The Weeknd Drops Posthumous Juice WRLD Collab". Spin. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "The Weeknd Teases A Very Special Collab With an Old Friend". Billboard. August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "Juice WRLD's Posthumous 'SMILE' Collaboration With The Weeknd Is Here: Stream It Now". Billboard. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "Listen to the Weeknd's collaboration with the late rapper Juice WRLD, 'Smile'". EW.com. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "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.
- "The Weeknd Shares Emotional Juice WRLD Collab "Smile"". HYPEBEAST. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- Legaspi, Althea; Legaspi, Althea (August 7, 2020). "The Weeknd Drops Juice WRLD Collaboration 'Smile'". Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "Credits / Smile / Juice WRLD, The Weeknd". Tidal. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "Australian-charts.com – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "Juice Wrld Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- "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.
- "Top Singles (Week 33, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. August 13, 2020. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "Charts.nz – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". VG-lista. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "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.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – Juice Wrld & The Weeknd – Smile". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "Juice Wrld Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- "Juice Wrld Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- Schmitt, Tyler. "Juice WRLD & The Weeknd collaboration 'Smile' released". Variance Magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2020.