Songoftheday 3/11/22 - Give me a chance to bow out gracefully, because that's how I want you to remember me..

 

 

"Smile" - Lonestar

from the album Lonely Grill (1999)

Billboard Hot 100 peak: #39 (two weeks)

Weeks in the Top-40: 2

 

Today's song comes from the country band Lonestar, who landed a massive pop radio smash with the ballad "Amazed", which spent over a year on the Billboard Hot 100 on two separate runs and reaching #1 in March of 2000.  The third offering from their Lonely Grill album (the first single "Saturday Night" flopped) was another ballad, this time the heartbreak song "Smile". Written by Keith Follesé and Chris Lindsey, and produced by Dann Huff, the song has lead singer Richie McDonald putting on a brave face as his former love goes on to greener pastures. It's definitely something I can relate to, as many can, and McDonald's voice conveys such hurt in his inflection that others couldn't do. Even as "Amazed" was getting its big run on pop radio, "Smile" had enough country airplay to make Lonestar have two songs in the top-40, a rarity for a country act...

"Smile" popped into the top-40 on Billboard magazine's pop Hot 100 chart for a couple of weeks in February of 2000. The song became their fourth single to top the Country Singles chart, where it stayed for a week. Internationally, the single was a minor hit in the UK at #55, while topping the Canadian Country chart. Lonestar and the album will be back to this series.

(10/10)

Up tomorrow: This female rapper can't see a thing.