Smile: SSA Choral Octavo
Words and music by Matthew Shafer, Blair Daly, J. T. Harding, and Jeremy Bose / arr. Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0001082
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
One moment…
Description
Featured on Uncle Kracker's album Happy Hour, this catchy chart has appeared on several different Billboard Hot 100 charts. A hip, rhythmic, and fun friendship song. "Oh, you make me smile."
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001082
More about this title
Why we love this
Greg Gilpin's arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original without sacrificing singability. SSA voicing keeps the part-writing accessible while the rhythmic precision and contemporary harmonic language engage singers who grew up hearing pop music on the radio. This is the kind of piece that makes rehearsal feel effortless because students actually want to sing it.
What to expect
Bright, buoyant, and fundamentally optimistic. The piece captures that moment of genuine connection with a friend, complete with the conversational ease and rhythm of natural speech. It's uplifting without being saccharine.
Who it's for
Choirs at the middle school level and above who want to program contemporary pop in a setting that doesn't require extensive vocal sophistication. The SSA voicing works for all-treble ensembles and as the treble section part in mixed choirs using the SSAA version.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the rhythm section locked and driving. The groove matters as much as the tuning; consider having rhythm section members (or your strongest singers) count eighth-note subdivisions internally to maintain that hip, contemporary feel.
- Balance the homophonic sections with clarity on the soloistic moments. When voices split into independent lines, make sure the soprano doesn't dominate the others.
- Lean into the conversational quality of the text. This is a song about connection, so encourage singers to shape phrases with genuine expression rather than pure vocal beauty.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a warm, accessible anchor to a pop or secular-focused concert, or as a standalone moment of levity in a more traditional program. Its accessibility and cultural currency make it an excellent choice for an opening piece when you want to immediately engage an audience.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision in contemporary pop contexts (syncopation, eighth-note groupings)
- Balancing independence of voice parts with blend and tuning
- Shaping melodic and textual phrases with conversational inflection
- Reading SSA voicing and handling ensemble independence