Smiling (song)

"Smiling" is a song by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette co-written by Morissette and Michael Farrell. It was one of two new songs written for the Broadway adaptation of Morissette's 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill, and later released as the second single from her ninth studio album, Such Pretty Forks in the Road, on February 21, 2020.^[1] The album's title is taken from a lyric in this song. Morissette subsequently released a duet version of the song featuring Jagged Little Pill actress Elizabeth Stanley with the rest of the cast on backing vocals.

"Smiling"
Single by Alanis Morissette
from the album Such Pretty Forks in the Road
Released	February 21, 2020 (2020-02-21)
Length	4:17
Label	Epiphany Thirty Tigers
Songwriter(s)	Alanis Morissette Michael Farrell
Producer(s)	Alex Hope
Alanis Morissette singles chronology
"Reasons I Drink" (2019) "Smiling" (2020) "Diagnosis" (2020)

Tracklist

F9 Remix Single^[2]

1. "Smiling" (F9 Radio Remix) - 3:27
2. "Smiling" (F9 Club Remix) - 5:27

Bil Bless Remix Single^[3]

1. "Smiling" (Bil Bless Remix) (with Elizabeth Stanley and Original Broadway Cast of Jagged Little Pill) - 4:40

Elizabeth Stanley & Jagged Little Pill version^[4]

1. "Smiling" (with Elizabeth Stanley and Original Broadway Cast of Jagged Little Pill) - 3:52

In Jagged Little Pill

In Jagged Little Pill, the song appears in the first act sung by Mary Jane (MJ) Healy, the matriarch of a suburban Connecticut family. In the scene, she is singing about her feelings of having to keep up appearances while dealing with the pressures of motherhood and everyday life, as well as struggling with an addiction to painkillers following a car accident. The song is sung right after a pharmacist refuses to provide further pain medication as her prescription has run out. Desperate, she buys opioids off the street from a familiar dealer. During the song, MJ's day is shown in reverse, detailing her life and addiction from unpacking groceries to the street deal to running out of medication in the morning.^[5]

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[6]	23
US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[7]	4
Top Singles France[8]	185

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Smiling"

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label
Various	February 21, 2020	Digital download streaming	Original	Epiphany Thirty Tigers
	April 3, 2020		F9 Remix
	June 30, 2020		Bli Bless Remix
	July 3, 2020		Elizabeth Stanley version	Atlantic

References

1. Monroe, Jazz (February 21, 2020). "Listen to Alanis Morissette's New Song "Smiling"". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
2. "Smiling (F9 Remix) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
3. "Smiling (feat. Elizabeth Stanley) [Bil Bless Remix] - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
4. "Smiling - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
5. Alter, Rebecca (February 21, 2020). "Alanis Morissette's New Single 'Smiling' Might Make You Sad, Isn't That Ironic?". Vulture.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
6. "Tipparade-lijst van week 12, 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
7. "Rock Digital Song Sales: March 7, 2020". Billboard.com. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
8. "Alanis Morissette - Smiling (single)". Chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 9 December 2021.