from A SMILE LIKE YOURS (ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK)
Written by Diane Warren
Sung by the unforgettable Natalie Cole, “A Smile Like Yours” was the title-track on the original soundtrack of the 1997 romantic comedy starring Greg Kinnear and Lauren Holly. “A Smile Like Yours” was written by the amazing Diane Warren and produced by Walter Afanasieff and David Foster. Those two giant hit-makers were great friends with a deep, mutual respect.
Afanasieff and Foster basically owned the pop/adult contemporary charts in the nineties with their various productions and would occasionally join forces on a few selected projects. Afanasieff and Foster co-produced and co-wrote with Linda Thompson the stellar 1997 duet “Tell Him” that paired the phenomenal twosome of Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand. There’s a good chance that Ms. Cole’s “A Smile Like Yours” was crafted during that same time. William Ross, the extraordinary arranger, film composer, and main collaborator of both Foster’s and Afanasieff’s, wrote the music score for “A Smile Like Yours.” With this in mind, it’s clear that this was a powerhouse of a song. Warren delivered another winner; creating a gorgeous melodic line and memorable, gospel-tinged hook not far from her 1996 #1 hit, “Because You Loved.” Exactly like Dion did on that hit song, the celebrated Ms. Cole brought superior intensity to her elegant performance. Afanasieff crafted the instrumental track in the best Foster tradition helped by the Hitman himself to get the best sound in the studio while Ms. Cole delivered a flawless vocal performance. “A Smile Like Yours” was a minor hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 at #84 although its potential was better acknowledged on the Adult Contemporary chart where it reached the Top Ten at #8.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/A-SMILE-LIKE-YOURS.mp3|titles=A Smile Like Yours|artists=Natalie Cole]
Lead Vocals: Natalie Cole
Arranged by Walter Afanasieff
Produced by Walter Afanasieff & David Foster
Lyrics
Hmm, thought I’d seen everything there was to see in this world
Now I’m not so sure I’ve really seen anything at all
I thought life could show me no surprises
And then you came and showed me I was wrong
I have seen the bluest skies, rainbows that would make you cry
I have seen miracles that moved my soul, days that changed my life
I have seen the brightest stars shine like diamonds in the dark
Seen all the wonders of the world, but I’ve never seen a smile
As beautiful as yours, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh, I thought I’d been everywhere
I’ve climbed a mountain so high, sailed the sea, crossed the sky
And still I was nowhere at all, until that day, oh, you came to my senses
And your smile, it made sense out of it all, (I have seen the bluest skies)
Rainbows that would make you cry, I have seen miracles
(miracles that moved me soul) that moved my soul, days that changed my life,
I have seen the brightest stars shine like diamonds in the dark
Seen all the wonders of the world, but I’ve never seen a smile as beautiful as yours
(smile so beautiful) so beautiful, comes one time in a lifetime
A smile this beautiful, (a smile this beautiful) I’ve never dreamed I’d ever see, oh
(I have seen the bluest skies) I have seen it, (rainbows that would make you cry)
That would make you cry, I’ve seen miracles (miracles) moved my soul,
(days that changed my life) and days that changed my life
I have seen the brightest stars shine like diamonds in the dark
Oh, I’ve seen the wonders of this world (wonders of the world)
But I’ve never seen a smile (never seen a smile before as beautiful as yours)
Oh, I’ve never seen a smile before, (never seen a smile before as beautiful)
As beautiful as yours.