The mockumentary-style music video for "Smiley Faces", directed by Robert Hales shows a music historian (played by Dennis Hopper) and an A&R executive (played by Dean Stockwell) being interviewed about whether or not Gnarls Barkley (the person) exists and pondering over whether Barkley is behind the music scene. The video shows musical acts and cultural events from the 1920's to the 1990's, with Cee-Lo and producer Danger Mouse in the background. The effect is similar to that of Woody Allen editing himself into archival film footage in Zelig. (Danger Mouse has spoken of Woody Allen's films, and Allen's auteur approach as having an influence on his music.)
In September 2007, the video won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing.
There was another music video made, featuring an instant messaging smiley with a gangster smileys' wife (who takes her top off for him), going to a sex dungeon, killing the gangster with a chainsaw, getting arrested and sent to prison, getting broken out of prison by the gangsters' wife, being at a Gnarls Barkley concert (who were also both in smiley form), drinking a lot and being sick, going home with the gangsters wife and then her getting three of her topless friends, with the main smiley being very happy. This video was originally put on music channels (in the UK) before the mockumentary video (above), but due to sexual scenes (although as they were smileys it wasn't really nudity) and violent scenes. This video for it can still be found on YouTube, however.
Still another video version, popular on YouTube features Mark Monero.
Smiley Faces
Gnarls Barkley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What did you say
Oh did you walk or did you run away
Where are you know
Where have you been
Did you go alone or did you find a friend
I need to know this
How can the sun
Have any fun
Feeling free
And I can tell you know how hard this life can be
But you keep on smiling for me
So what went right
What went wrong
Was it a story or was it a song
Was it over night
Or did it take you long
Was knowing your weakness what made you strong
For all the above
Oh how I love to see you smiling
An oh yeah
Take a little pain just in case
You need something want to embrace
To help you put on a smiley face
Face
Smiley face
Don't you go off into the new day without getting down
Here's a summary of something you get sad about
Say for instance my girlfriend she, bugs me all the time
But the irony of it all is that she loves me all the time
Oh see
I believe
Whenever I see you smiling
'Coz excuse me
But it's easily one of the hardest things to do
Your worries and fears become your friends
And they end up smiling at you
Put on a smiley face
In Gnarls Barkley's song Smiley Faces, the singer is questioning the whereabouts and actions of an individual, trying to understand whether they walked or ran away, whether they went alone or with a friend, and where they have been. They are smiling throughout, insinuated by the repetition of the phrase "smiling faces," showing some sort of neglect towards the missing individual. The song examines the idea of forced happiness and the struggle of maintaining a positive outlook even when dealing with the hardships of life. The chorus, “I can tell you know how hard this life can be, but keep on smiling for me” is a plea to keep the appearance of happiness up for the benefit of others.
The lyrics explore the paradox of trying to hide emotional pain by wearing a smile, perceived by the singer as a difficult thing to do. It also suggests that it may be necessary to embrace pain, implying that in order to put on a "smiley face” one can't ignore life’s challenges but have to embrace them. The "smiley face" is an outward portrayal of an attitude that comes from making it through the hard times and learning to acknowledge them rather than ignore them.
Line by Line Meaning
But what did you do
What actions did you take
What did you say
What words did you express
Oh did you walk or did you run away
Did you leave calmly, or in haste
Where are you know
Where are you currently located
Where have you been
Where have you recently travelled
Did you go alone or did you find a friend
Did you venture alone or with another person
I need to know this
I am curious and seeking answers
'Coz I noticed I'm just smiling
Because I have noticed my own smile
How can the sun
How is it possible for the sun
Have any fun
To feel enjoyment
Feeling free
By being unrestrained
And I can tell you know how hard this life can be
And I can tell that you understand the difficulty of life
But you keep on smiling for me
But you continue to smile for my sake
So what went right
What happened that was favorable
What went wrong
What happened that was unfavorable
Was it a story or was it a song
Was it an experience or was it a creation
Was it over night
Did it happen quickly
Or did it take you long
Did it take a while to happen
Was knowing your weakness what made you strong
Did recognizing your flaws contribute to your resilience
For all the above
In consideration of the aforementioned
Oh how I love to see you smiling
Oh how much I admire your smile
An oh yeah
Oh, and also
Take a little pain just in case
Expect to experience some discomfort
You need something want to embrace
You desire something to hold onto
To help you put on a smiley face
To assist with acquiring a happy disposition
Face
Face
Smiley face
Happy face
Don't you go off into the new day without getting down
Don't start the day without reflecting on your emotions
Here's a summary of something you get sad about
Here's a reminder of a situation that makes you upset
Say for instance my girlfriend she, bugs me all the time
For example, my girlfriend irritates me frequently
But the irony of it all is that she loves me all the time
But paradoxically, she continues to love me consistently
Oh see
Oh, I understand
I believe
I trust
Whenever I see you smiling
Whenever I observe your joyful expression
'Coz excuse me
Because pardon me
But it's easily one of the hardest things to do
But displaying a smile is a challenging action
Your worries and fears become your friends
Your anxiety and apprehension are ever-present companions
And they end up smiling at you
And they too seem to be grinning at you
Put on a smiley face
Don a cheerful expression
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN JOSEPH BURTON, THOMAS CALLAWAY, THOMAS DECARLO CALLAWAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shoopoop21
Freakazoid so its okay to make jokes about killing people, and how the prison system is a rape factory for black men, but roofies at a party is not okay. Just food for thought. Maybe you're more biased than you think you are.
I also read that tweet, and he didn't admit to shit. As for the sexual charges, a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to support the woman's claim that her encounter with the singer was nonconsensual, which means there was no case to begin with. Why would Ceelo even need to take what he can get from women eating out of his hands?
As far as I'm concerned, the sexual assault charges against Ceelo are the same as the ones made against Cosby. Utterly frivolous attempts to steal his money by greedy gold digging cunts. They should be ashamed, and you too, for feeding into a culture that thinks its right to accuse people unjustly for financial gain.
Ceelo doesn't need to drug people to have sex anyone. He has girls lining up to fulfil his every desire and fantasy just because of who and what he is. I also agree with at least some of what he had to say about consent. Consent can most certainly be implied, and nobody who talks about that constant consent crap is sane, and not a virgin.
As for you, it takes a particularly bad person to take false witness against a stranger. You should probably think twice before you drag a persons reputation through the mud like this. You can ruin peoples lives that way, and I bet you don't even care, because Ceelo Green is some rich celebrity somewhere else. I bet you lead the local witch hunt every time someone is accused of something.
@chet732003
"Your worries and fears become your friends and they end up smiling at you". Classic line
@jinjxmusic
Hadn't listened to this song in a few years and that lyric still gives me chills.
@chrisdrummond8893
"Knowing your weakness that made you strong" BEAUTIFUL LYRIC
@radhagovindaplayers613
This one of the most underrated album in the last 25 years.
@burrellhill
And the whole thing was good
@I_I_I_1992
True Indeed
@clientele732
But I’m glad tho bc when u run n2 somebody who knows how great gnarls Barkley was it’s like your immediately best friends and you wanna share a meal and/or road trip with them
@penthousep23
@@clientele732 💯
@AdovianDones
Actual HISTORICAL FACT. shoulda won a Grammy in every genre!
@dalyoneaston8830
St. Elsewhere was a masterpiece. I can still listen to it from beginning to end without interruption.