Smile Like You Mean It

"Smile Like You Mean It" is a song by American rock band the Killers, written by lead vocalist Brandon Flowers and bassist Mark Stoermer. Originally released as a B-side of "Mr. Brightside" in September 2003, it is featured on their debut studio album Hot Fuss (2004). It was the third single from the album released in the United States and the fourth in the United Kingdom, reaching number 15 on the Billboard U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. It also received substantial radio airplay in Australia, where it was ranked number 39 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.

For the Gotham episode, see Smile Like You Mean It (Gotham).

"Smile Like You Mean It"
Single by the Killers
from the album Hot Fuss
B-side
ReleasedMarch 14, 2005 (2005-03-14)
StudioCornerstone (Berkeley, California)
Genre
Length3:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Killers
The Killers singles chronology
"All These Things That I've Done"
(2004)		 "Smile Like You Mean It"
(2005)		 "When You Were Young"
(2006)

Critical reception

Billboard said the song "seems to deal with coming to terms with growing up and getting older."[3] Chuck Arnold with People magazine called the song "a sardonic moper worthy of the Smiths."[4] Billboard said the single is "more restrained and downtempo compared with the band's previous hits" but otherwise "pretty upbeat and is awash with soaring new wave synthesizers and 'killer' guitars."[3] In the UK, the song was voted at 91 on Absolute Radio's 100 Best Songs of the Decade.[5] Paste and American Songwriter both ranked the song number seven on their lists of the greatest Killers songs.[6][7]

Covers and other information

The Killers claim that the song was written in just eight minutes. According to Brandon Flowers, the lyric "Looking back at sunsets on the East side" refers to the East side of Las Vegas, Nevada.[8]

David Gray performed an acoustic version of "Smile Like You Mean It" on BBC's Radio 1 in the Live Lounge.[9] Tally Hall covered the song for the sixth The O.C. soundtrack: Music from the OC: Mix 6.

The song was released as a downloadable track for the music video game series Rock Band on November 25, 2008.

"Smile Like You Mean It" was remixed by French music producer Madeon.[10]

Music video

The music video for the song shows ghostly figures of the band wandering around a house that the characters of the song presumably used to live in. While Flowers sings to the camera, flashbacks of the old house are shown behind him, including a children's party, a Christmas morning, a high school party, and a funeral. While these extras are oblivious to being watched, at the end they turn to the camera to look at the viewer while the band fades away.

Track listing

Charts
Chart (2005) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 47
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 20
Scotland (OCC)[18] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 11
UK Indie (OCC)[20] 1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[21] 15

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States March 14, 2005 Alternative radio Island [23]
Australia April 25, 2005 CD Lizard King [24]
United Kingdom May 2, 2005
[25][26]
May 9, 2005 CD [27]

References
  1. Chatani, Sydney (April 17, 2020). "Album Review: Hot Fuss by the Killers". The Spinnaker. Retrieved November 22, 2022. A fan favorite, "Smile Like You Mean It" is covered in new-wave synths and melancholy recollections of youth.
  2. Marotta O'Connor, Michael (June 5, 2014). "New Ordered: Ranking the tracks off the Killers' 'Hot Fuss' on its 10th anniversary". Vanyaland. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023. Over synth-rock's next decade, imitators have tried desperately to capture the simple beauty in the chorus' three simple notes.
  3. Caulfield, Keith; Paoletta, Michael (March 26, 2005), "Smile Like You Mean It". Billboard. 117 (13):29
  4. Arnold, Chuck (June 12, 2004), "Hot Fuss (Music)". People. 62 (23):48
  5. "Smile Like You Mean It by The Killers". Song of the Decade. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  6. Lane, Lexi; Gutierrez, Juan (August 25, 2020). "The 20 Best Killers Songs". Paste. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  7. Walthall, Catherine (August 26, 2021). "The Killers Top 10 Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  8. "TheKillersShows on Twitter: "@BrandonFlowers explaining the line "Looking back at sunsets on the east side" (Smile Like You Mean It) #thekillers #samstown10 @thekillers"". Twitter.com. November 6, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  9. "David Gray - Smile Like You Mean It (Acoustic)". August 30, 2008. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2012 – via YouTube.
  10. "The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It (Madeon Remix)".
  11. Smile Like You Mean It (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Killers. Lizard King Records. 2005. LIZARD015X.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Smile Like You Mean It (UK CD single liner notes). The Killers. Lizard King Records. 2005. LIZARD015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Smile Like You Mean It (UK 12-inch single liner notes). The Killers. Lizard King Records. 2005. LIZARD015Y.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. "Smile Like You Mean It (Remixes) – Single". Apple Music. June 7, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  15. Smile Like You Mean It (Australian CD single liner notes). The Killers. Lizard King Records. 2005. 9882023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. "The Killers – Smile Like You Mean It". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Smile Like You Mean It". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  19. "The Killers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  20. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  21. "The Killers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  22. "British single certifications – Killers – Smile Like You Mean It". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  23. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1597. March 11, 2005. p. 47. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  24. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 25th April 2005" (PDF). ARIA. April 25, 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2005. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  25. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 30, 2005. p. 27.
  26. "Smile Like You Mean It (Remixes)". Amazon. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  27. "Smile Like You Mean It". Amazon. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
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