JOHNNY MATHIS - A CERTAIN SMILE

A CERTAIN SMILE

JOHNNY MATHIS

SONGWRITERS: SAMY FAINE & PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER
COUNTRY: U.S.A.

ALBUM: MORE JOHNNY’S GREATEST HITS

LABEL: COLUMBIA

GENRE: POP

YEAR: 1958

"A Certain Smile" is a popular song. It was written for the 1958 film of the same name, based on the novel, also titled A Certain Smile, by Françoise Sagan. The song was nominated for the 1958 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The music was written by Sammy Fain with the lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. The song has been covered by artists such as Johnny Mathis, who appeared in the 1958 film as a bar singer who sang the title song. Mathis's recording, with backing orchestration by Ray Ellis and released in June 1958 (4-41193), reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart and #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Astrud Gilberto recorded it for her 1966 album, A Certain Smile, a Certain Sadness.

A certain smile, a certain face

Can lead an unsuspecting heart

On a merry chase

Afleeting glance can say

So many lovely things

Suddenly you know why my heart sings

You love awhile and when love goes

You try to hide the tears inside

With a cheerful pose

But in the hush of night

Exactly like a bitter sweet refrain

Comes that certain smile

To haunt your heart again.