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"Wait Til You See My Smile"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album The Element of Freedom
B-side	"Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" (Remix)
Released	December 13, 2010 (2010-12-13)
Genre	Soul pop
Length	4:01
Label	J
Songwriter(s)	Alicia Keys Jeff Bhasker Kasseem Dean
Producer(s)	Alicia Keys Jeff Bhasker
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" (2010) "Wait Til You See My Smile" (2010) "International Party" (2011)
Licensed audio
"Wait Til You See My Smile" on YouTube

"Wait Til You See My Smile" is a song performed by American recording artist Alicia Keys. It was released as the sixth single from her fourth studio album, The Element of Freedom (2009). The ballad was released on December 13, 2010. The Keys and "Wait Till You See My Smile" featured on the new Samsung DualView Commercial. The song was featured on the 13th episode of the sixth season of Grey's Anatomy.

Background

Following the birth of Keys' first child on October 16, 2010, Keys revealed that "Wait 'Til You See My Smile" would be released as the next single in the UK on November 28, 2010. However this was since pushed back to December 13, 2010. The single features "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" (Remix featuring Drake) as its b-side.

Critical reception

"Wait Til You See My Smile" received a mostly positive reception from music critics. In her review of The Element of Freedom in The Scotsman, Fiona Shepherd stated that "The vintage keyboards also come out for Wait Til You See My Smile, which sounds like it's about to break into Supertramp's Dreamer or build up to some U2/Coldplay-style stadium-friendly crescendo of euphoria. The crescendo never comes, but it is still a robust example of Keys' musical diversity – she's not one for staying in the soul/R&B box. Slant Magazine's Matthew Cole expressed that "A similar aesthetic extends to follow-up track, "Wait Til You See My Smile," where Keys jumps ably between a sultry lower register and an artfully strained high while synths and strings pile up to "Purple Rain" proportions." Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly simply reviewed the song as being "pure honeyed uplift". Robert Christgau claimed that Keys "goes for melismatic pain whenever she sees an opening. But this is formal ploy merely, a diva-by-default's privilege. Her true self comes out in the half-heartedly relentless "Wait Til You See My Smile," a stab at the chin-up franchise once claimed by a young Mariah Carey".

Music video

To promote "Wait Til You See My Smile", RCA worked in collaboration with Genero.tv on a competition where fans and Genero's community of 12,000 film makers (which has since grown to 35,000) were given the opportunity to create their own music video for the single. The competition ran over 6 weeks and after this period, 6 of the best videos were chosen by the genero.tv team, the genero fanbase and RCA. After this, Keys chose the final video. Once selected, the video was promoted across Alicia's official channels as the video supporting the UK release. The winning video was shot by Scott Orr from New Zealand. Keys' official site stated that "his originality and creativity that landed him the winning spot in the 'Wait Til you see My Smile’ video competition. His idea about humans as animals and embracing our freedom is incredible and heartfelt." Keys does not appear in the video.

Track listing

• UK / Ireland Digital download

1. "Wait Til You See My Smile" (Radio Edit) – 3:00
2. "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" (Remix) (featuring Drake) – 4:42

Release history

References

1. Copsey, Robert (2010-10-15). "Alicia Keys Announces New Single". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
2. So-Urban.com | Alicia Keys - Wait 'Til You See My Smile
3. "'Wait Til You My Smile' Out Now!". AliciaKeys.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
4. "Alicia Keys Has Baby Boy". MTV UK. 2010-10-16. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
5. "'Wait Til You See My Smile' on iTunes NOW!". AliciaKeys.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
6. Album review: Alicia Keys - The Scotsman
7. Cole, Matthew. "Review: Alicia Keys, The Element of Freedom". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
8. Greenblatt, Leah. "The Element of Freedom". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
9. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Alicia Keys". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
10. "Alicia Keys - Wait Till You See My Smile". Ilikemusic.com. 2010-10-15. Archived from the original on 2010-10-23. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
11. "Alicia Keys Announces New Single Wait Till You See Me Smile". Rwdmag.com. 2010-10-15. Archived from the original on 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
12. "'Wait Til You See My Smile' Competition - Winning Video". Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
13. "Alicia Keys - Wait Til You See My Smile MP3 music downloads - 7digital". ie.7digital.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07.
14. "Alicia Keys - Wait Til You See My Smile MP3 Downloads - 7digital". www.7digital.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03.

• 2010 singles
• Alicia Keys songs
• Song recordings produced by Jeff Bhasker
• Song recordings produced by Swizz Beatz
• Songs written by Alicia Keys
• Songs written by Swizz Beatz
• Songs written by Jeff Bhasker
• 2009 songs
• J Records singles
• RCA Records singles
• Song recordings produced by Alicia Keys