Smiley

Annotation

The track "Smiley" (Spin Records # EK-3380) is another Australian Vietnam War song - it referred to "the Asian war". It is from the actual era of the war, released in 1969 by Ronnie Burns (member of the pop group The Flies). This single sold more than 50,000 singles, reaching # 3 in the Melbourne charts, bringing Ronnie Burns a Gold Record.1 It reached # 2 in the Go-Set National Top 40. On 30 May 1970 Billboard noted the success of the single. (2) It is written by Johnny Young, who based it on the Australian pop singer Normie Rowe, a conscript in the Vietnam conflict. Johnny Young said on ABC-TV’s Love Is In The Air that "before he left, he was really happy-go-lucky, fun-filled young fella. When he came back, he changed".3 Vocal and orchestral arrangement were by John Farrar (member of the Melbourne band The Strangers). The theme, about the trauma of war, is typically found in post-Vietnam war songs. By looking at the negative effects of the war on veterans, it does suggest an anti-war stance, or at least provides a representation of disillusionment in Australia. It included anti-war sentiments, such as "when will they learn?" and "there is peace to bring". However, it is more personal than political, dealing with the plight of the soldier / veteran, as a smiley young boy goes off to fight a war, no longer laughing, and radiating tension. As Ronnie Burns said, "it has a slight protest flavour about it, but it doesn't really have any social significance. Its really aimed at the mums - losing their sons to army conscription".4.Sources1Tomorrow is Today (Iain McIntyre, 2006)↩3ABC (Australia) (archived copy)↩4Friday on Our Minds: Popular Culture in Australia Since 1945 (Michelle Arrow, 2009)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

The track "Smiley" (Spin Records # EK-3380) is another Australian Vietnam War song - it referred generically to "the Asian war". Released in 1969 by Ronnie Burns (member of the pop group The Flies). This single sold more than 50,000 singles, reaching # 3 in the Melbourne charts, bringing Ronnie Burns a Gold Record.1 It reached # 2 in the Go-Set National Top 40. On 30 May 1970 Billboard noted the success of the single. (2) It is written by Johnny Young, who based it on the Australian pop singer Normie Rowe, a conscript in the Vietnam conflict. Johnny Young said on ABC-TV’s Love Is In The Air that "before he left, he was really happy-go-lucky, fun-filled young fella. When he came back, he changed".3 Vocal and orchestral arrangement were by John Farrar (member of the Melbourne band The Strangers). The theme, about the trauma of war, is typically found in post-Vietnam war songs. By looking at the negative effects of the war on veterans, it does suggest an anti-war stance, or at least provides a representation of disillusionment in Australia. It included anti-war sentiments, such as "when will they learn?" and "there is peace to bring". However, it is more personal than political, dealing with the plight of the soldier / veteran, as a smiley young boy goes off to fight a war, no longer laughing, and radiating tension. As Ronnie Burns said, "it has a slight protest flavour about it, but it doesn't really have any social significance. Its really aimed at the mums - losing their sons to army conscription".4 Sources1Tomorrow is Today (Iain McIntyre, 2006)↩3Pop Archives (Australia): Ronnie burns (archived copy)↩4Friday on Our Minds: Popular Culture in Australia Since 1945 (Michelle Arrow, 2009)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Smiley, you're out in the world today / Smiley, you're all on your own / Smiley - hey, they say you're a man today / Boy how you've grown / Yesterday there was laughter and songs to sing / Yesterday we had loving to burn /Yet today there is peace to bring / When will they learn? Smiley, you're off to the Asian War / And we won't see you smile no more... / No more laughter in the air... / Feel the tension in the air, where is love?... / The Family said to say wish you were home

Notes

Sample copy. Produced by Ian, Ronnie & Johnny; matrix MX33095. Spin EK-3380 (MX33095), 45, orange and black label with a red "Sample Record – Not for Sale" sticker; "Smiley" (Aust. Comp.) (J. Young) (Morris), vocal, 3.30; "Made in Australia by Festival Records Pty. Ltd." [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Australian pop singer, born 8 September 1946 in Melbourne, Australia ('Smiley'). [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

ANZUS

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]