About The Song
The Monkees, often remembered for their manufactured pop image and lighthearted television antics, harbored a deeper artistic ambition that sometimes struggled to break through the constraints of their commercial success. While their early hits were undeniably catchy, the band members, particularly Davy Jones, yearned for more creative control and the opportunity to express a wider range of emotions through their music. This desire for authenticity is palpable in their unreleased material, which often reveals a more vulnerable and introspective side often hidden beneath the surface of their more famous work.
“Smile,” an unreleased track penned by Davy Jones and intended for the 1967 album “Headquarters,” offers a fascinating glimpse into this lesser-known dimension of The Monkees. This lost ballad, a departure from the band’s signature upbeat sound, showcases Jones’s yearning for sincerity and his ability to craft a song imbued with genuine emotion. The fact that it remained unreleased adds another layer to the narrative, hinting at the internal struggles and creative tensions within the band during this period of artistic growth.
Musically, “Smile” likely features a stripped-down, acoustic arrangement, possibly with a gentle melody played on guitar or piano. The focus is undoubtedly on Davy Jones’s vocals, which, in this context, probably convey a sense of longing and vulnerability. The song’s unreleased status suggests it might have been deemed too much of a departure from the band’s established sound, or perhaps it simply didn’t fit the overall direction of the “Headquarters” album, which saw the Monkees taking control of their music and playing their own instruments.
The lyrics of “Smile,” though simple, likely express a yearning for genuine connection and a desire for someone to see beyond the surface. Jones, through the lyrics, might be pleading for understanding, for someone to recognize the real emotions hidden behind a forced smile. The song could be interpreted as a reflection on the pressures of fame, the loneliness that can accompany a public persona, or simply the universal human longing for authentic connection.
For an older, educated audience, “Smile” offers a unique opportunity to re-evaluate The Monkees’ legacy and to appreciate the artistic aspirations that lay beneath their manufactured image. It’s a song that resonates with those who understand the complexities of navigating public and private identities, and the yearning for genuine connection that transcends fame and fortune. “Smile” serves as a reminder that even within the context of a seemingly lighthearted pop group, there can be moments of profound introspection and a desire to express authentic emotions, making it a valuable and intriguing piece of The Monkees’ musical history.