| When the Lady Smiles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Single by Golden Earring | |||||
| Album | N.E.W.S. | ||||
| Released | March 3, 1984 | ||||
| Recorded | February 11, 1984 | ||||
| Genre(s) | Rock | ||||
| Length | 4:59 (single version) 5:39 (album version) 6:16 (12 version) | ||||
| N.E.W.S. chronology | |||||
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"When the Lady Smiles" is a song recorded by Golden Earring, for their seventeenth studio album, N.E.W.S. (North East West South), which was released on March 1984. The song was released as a single on March 3, 1984 as the album's first and only single.
Following the band's hit single "Twilight Zone", "When the Lady Smiles" was a disappointment in the U.S. chart, only reaching #76 in the Billboard Hot 100. With a total of 5 "Hot 100"-releases, Golden Earring are by far the most successful Dutch band on the international charts.
Controversy[]
The song's music video, shot by Dick Maas, was controversial. In one scene, a man attempts to rape a nun. This particular scene was quickly removed from the video (the full cut was only shown after midnight). The bold video may have hurt the sales of the single in the New World, although it climbed to the number 3 position in the charts in Canada. In the Netherlands "When the Lady Smiles" became Golden Earring's fifth number one.
Chart performance[]
| Chart (1982-83) | Peak position |
|---|---|
 Dutch Top 40
|
1 |
 U.S. Billboard Hot 100
|
76 |
 Canada
|
3 |
 Belgium Ultratop 50
|
1 |