Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown (1967)

[@amandashare1281]

If you love Smokey, give me a thumbs up!

[@aplus1080]

No.

[@amandashare1281]

@@aplus1080 well jog on then!

[@deborahharris2962]

Heard this song blasting out over my back fence yesterday and I love this song and Smokey🌬️💨

[@Skyrocket888]

No, do one sunshine

[@amandashare1281]

@@Skyrocket888 do the world a favour and sod off!

[@dianeemery-uq3yo]

Whose here july2024

[@scottrobbins6216]

Me

[@ardenhenderson4762]

We are here. We have not gone anywhere. Even if we also have the tears of a clown. Fret not. It will just get better

[@PhecdaPlato]

August 2024 ❤🎉

[@drumsnbass]

A white 10 year old kid goes into the local record store and buys his very first 45. That was me. And I played this over and over (and over). Motown rules!

[@denisejackson776]

Awesome memory, thanx for sharing!

[@indoctrinnation660]

And it mattered that you were WHITE because WHY?

[@denisejackson776]

@@indoctrinnation660 He was white, this was in the sixties, a very turbulent time, and yet he loved "black" music as a 10yr old kid, thats why it was mentioned

[@drumsnbass]

@@indoctrinnation660 I loved Motown more than the “white” music. Still listen to it today.

[@Wayne_155]

@@denisejackson776 some people just don't get it 😒 Denise

[@nmatthew7469]

White kid, suburban Detroit growing up in 70s and 80s, this was on the radio literally every hour. In 2024, decades later, this is all me, 100% Motown soul.

[@auricprophet7106]

Stevie Wonder wrote the music, Smokey the lyrics. Perfect duo!

[@rockyracoon3233]

Dream team!

[@jahno7154]

Thanks for that info I never knew that.

[@kariskjerseth8818]

i didnt know that

[@airport4173]

THE TUNE is the GENIUS WRITER.

[@auricprophet7106]

@@airport4173 um... sure..

[@garydawson-xg5yp]

I Really Miss Motown.

[@dionysusNME]

I miss the sound too, but not the cruelty and exploitation that went into making so much of it

[@karenmaggard103]

I just saw Smokey at Cache Creek Casino last Friday night. He is always awesome! At 84 years old he just gets better and better!

[@CScav243]

Lady….So happy for you. That’s awesome

[@Jamestele1]

Smokey Robinson is American royalty. I go back to his music when I'm burnt out or depressed. Amazing

[@maxxsrv10]

How did we go from this to today’s music?

[@terellnelson9397]

smokey Robinson is such a great singer

[@cbrend22]

anyone who weaves Pagliacci into a song has my respect. Smokey is one smooth dude, cool personified!!

[@Ralphydub]

This is arguably the best song ever written. To write about a sad subject in a happy context and make it singable? Who does this nowadays?

[@timothyvandyke-lc1oi]

You got that right.hit the right mood

[@graemeking7336]

As a complete package, yes. This is quite possibly the best song ever written and recorded.

[@97SEMTEX]

Adele, Billie Elish, quite a few people really

[@Ralphydub]

@@97SEMTEX those girls are nice. Smokey is great.

[@davidrboland]

​@@97SEMTEX But do they reference the 19th century opera "Pagliacci" in the lyrics?

[@Thesavagemeister77]

Literally every bit of this, from the sentiment to the musical arrangement to the lyrics to the perfect harmonization from the miracles, and of course smokey Robinson's exquisite voice, is perfection

[@emanuelezanini5536]

I’m so mad with myself for not discover them first

[@glennscannell8802]

Grew up hearing this a lot, it sure sounds good today🙂

[@jcq1961]

I agree - one of the best orchestrations ever written.

[@laurenanderson61]

Yes yes yes yes!

[@RutgersJRS]

Can't tell if you're joking or serious. You know this is lip synced right?

[@Lerf8]

Number favorite song of all time. Bless You Smokey.

[@williamcooper2368]

Everytime I listen. It brings me to TEARS ❤️

[@deehayes8073]

Great music breaks all color barriers!

[@stephencotton5760]

Why even mention skin colour dood?

[@AnonYmous-ry2jn]

@@stephencotton5760 In her defense: although I might not have made that comment, music like this make people who are white and didn't grow up around black people have extremely positive feelings toward a group that their upbringing kept at a distance. Like it or not, but sports and music have done so much to overcome racism (still an ongoing challenge) in this country, and that's one of the best things about music and sports. But I feel music -- and performances like this especially -- breeds a love and admiration that pierces your heart, just changing you so deeply; I think something like this is probably about what she meant.

[@PhysicalEntity]

I wasn’t even born until 21 years after this song came out but it still blows my mind how goddamn good it is

[@TheGumbyRules]

It was played on AM radio over and over and over when it came out

[@joannec3579]

YEP! What you said! x

[@gasparucciox9706]

it's dope!

[@TrevorHamberger]

I heard it today for the first time and it was awesome

[@juliebryne2903]

I was a kid when it came out and loved it when it came on the radio!❤️

[@sheilawhite9130]

HAPPY 84th birthday Smokey!!!! 🙂🙂

[@fohaus7786]

2024 still stands strong.

[@MichaelSchutt-pu5ex]

Ein sehr sympathischer Sänger mit einem tollen Discohit - Die Tränen eines Clown's 🎉 2:34

[@tomdrischler4053]

Mr Smokey Robinson, YOU own one of thee best songs in history!!! I'll play it again!

[@johnraymond-pz9bo]

I love this song. My granddad died, was given his radio. This song I loved. My granddad was very kind, went for walks with him.

[@boeing757pilot]

Great memories!

[@CalTxDude]

I'm so sorry you lost your granddad, He sounds like quite a great guy. When my granddad died he left me his vinyl collection In which included Lenny Bruce, a Laugh-In Show album , lily Tomlin And a Kennedy parody Album from 1962

[@johnraymond-pz9bo]

Thank you for your kindness

[@kentdouglass1001]

I've loved Motown since 1963. White old man that I am. Lol. Still luv SMOKEY.

[@JeriFlynn-rr7ep]

nother amen !

[@tokuieyasu]

現在でも売れそうなキャッチーで洗練された曲ですね。

[@stephensmith799]

Effortless voice. No auto tune. No sampling. No beatbox. No click track 👍👍👍

[@enflamedhuevos]

What’s wrong with sampling tho it’s a way to build upon a specific musical idea in the sampling musicians own perspective

[@stephensmith799]

@@enflamedhuevos Sampling enabled those who had very little money to make music and start earning. They also used their ingenuity to add observational lyrics. The originality lay in creating a new genre from almost nothing but experience. This I respect. But where are we now? Most music played on UK’s main music stations, Radio One and Radio Two is as one KZbinr described, nothing but ‘empty calories’… generic, whining, unoriginal (derivative) and bland. The instruments, being keyboard generated, are colourless and the overall effect very boring. We are in the midst of social crisis but this is hardly mentioned. It can’t go on like this.

[@MichaelSchutt-pu5ex]

Ein sympathischer Sänger und ein brilianter Discohit 🎉💃🎶 1:49

[@chilly8er]

One of my all time favorites since junior high.

[@dport62]

Without Berry Gordy's tenacity, along with Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder's genius, Motown would not have existed. What a sad gray world it would have been!!

[@charlesmclaughlin7235]

Smokey ! The most under appreciated artist all time! LEGEND!

[@nicholashylton6857]

Only if you've never heard of "Motown." An 80s new wave band, ABC, payed tribute to him in one of their hit songs.

[@AbrahamPalmer-wj5cb]

Agreed

[@GuitarTuningOnline]

Isn't he Top 5 of best song writers of all time of rolling stone magazine?!

[@charlesmclaughlin7235]

@a0799353 Being in the Hall and Fame plus the medal of honor is great symbols of appreciation! What I am getting at is when a list of top 10 performers in the music world is discussed he name is very rarely mentioned if ever! I feel Smokey belongs in the rarest air of great artist of all time! So no it is not stupid ! Maybe my statement was just too complicated for you to understand !

[@joie7958]

This is the only song that can calm my 11 month old down 😂 he was first shown it at 4 months & just stares at the tv the whole time the songs playing lol

[@PrincessAfrica3]

😂cute

[@andrewmccorriston9407]

How is he now nearly 2 years old?

[@rachelr3230]

Way to go ♥️ Mom,keep teaching him Good music-real music!🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶!!♥️

[@donnimetropolis9899]

❤❤❤😇❤❤❤

[@donnimetropolis9899]

@@PrincessAfrica3 you are too

[@mr-wx3lv]

Always find this song fascinating. The melody, the instrumentation, just so unique and works so well...

[@user-ir1ix8up8j]

we need them back, we need their message and the Temptations

[@tmoneybilll5563]

I wish I could go back in time and see the whole Motown live on stage 🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️👍

[@Biyoh1]

Bro watch the Motown 25! Mike hit they ass with the moonwalk, the world went crazy.

[@DrStephanieMillerWilliams]

Smokey Robinson wrote this song for a real clown that he used to go see named “Pagliacci” Stevie Wonder wrote the music and Smokey Robinson decided that he was gonna write a circus song about a sad clown. He said that this clown whose name name was “Pagliacci” used to come out and do his act and he was happy as can be but when he walked past his dressing room, he could hear him in there crying because he didn’t have the love of a woman like he had the love from the crowd his fans. The clown’s name is actually mentioned in the song if you look at the lyrics! I think it’s genius of Smokey Robinson to have written, and dedicated this song to his friend, the clown Pagliacci…

[@archangelvvv]

@DrSteppanieMillerWilliams - Great review! I just learned the same thing today after 50 years enjoying this amazing track. Here's Smokey being interviewed about this song where talks about how it came about dating back to elementary school: kzbin.infosPdV7-hHM1g

[@davidweihe6052]

So that is not THE Pagliacci, from the opera by Ruggero Leoncavallo (had to look that up on Wikipedia :-).

[@EggsEzz]

He also mentioned it in an interview with Jennifer Hudson's talk show.

[@ill-medina2093]

Smoke wasn't a friend or knew of said clown mentioned. Smokey was a kid in elementary when he heard the story of Pagliacci actually

[@Raul-nv7rr]

I think he’s referring to the character Paggliacci from the opera by Leoncavallo 🤡

[@skipleft]

It's so great seeing back up singers unable to dance but have perfect backing vocals

[@stevenward3667]

Real music with meaning 😢

[@Raul-nv7rr]

A piece of pop music perfection!! 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@rorylynch.5674]

My main man he is bad ass. When i was 18. I listen to him every day!

[@BigORat]

When I was in High School in the 70's there was a juke box in the school lunch room. This song was played all thru my 4 years ...1974 thru 1978...and I loved it.

[@flipfortier1856]

One of the best songs ever! Stevie Wonder's music and Smokey's lyrics? Perfection!

[@rodniki14]

Anybody who had this on vinyl in the 70's and played it until the record was scratchy, until the family went mad, until you knew every note - you know what I am talking about.

[@LadyValdezRNCCRN-df5hj]

RIP SIR PHILADELPHIA USA❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😢

[@alexandermiles3873]

The great thing about this song is the versing. A lot of songs and writing work for the payoff of the chorus, but this song just evolves and...you're in it. It's really a joy.

[@snarflatful]

true dat

[@shedrickwallace9363]

The lyrics truly explain the hook.

[@troysweets7638]

Wow, loved this Song, but never really listened to the words, until today Thank you To Shannon Sharp sitting with Lavell Crawford, I closed eyes and listened 🫶🙏🏼

[@imachildofthemosthighgod2906]

He so gorgeous ❤ love this tune sense I was just a little girl .

[@ultranitro437]

Still Listening in 2023! We may not be there quite yet, but I just Know I'll Still Be Listening.

[@ultranitro437]

Oh really I'm sad, I'm sadder then.sadd

[@wendyhall3591]

Remember being 8 and my dad listening to this and other Motown music miss him so much passed away on the 28 April he was an amazing dancer to this music which I only found out from my mother 2 years ago so sadly missed so proud to call him DAD

[@suzesinger6762]

Xx♡♡

[@katychristianmagazine8507]

Man i miss this kind of music. They don't make them like this anymore.

[@jasonrushton5991]

Saw Smokey on tour over here in the U.K. mid 1990's. He still had it back then, fantastic voice. Sung Being With You to my Mum sat next to me. All the other women were turning their hear's to see who he was pointing at & looking at ;) MY MUMMA!!! xx

[@Manchild..dadchild]

Noo mo tears Happy birthday jesus Our good lord and savior 🙏

[@Icarus.19]

This song reminds me of my Uncle who passed away a few months ago. When we were kids going places with him he'd Always be jamming the oldies. Rest in peace Uncle Paul. 🧡

[@myriaddsystems]

Now I'm Floods of tears...

[@paulselkirk2345]

Another brilliant Motown song I love this one, ktf 🤩😊😎🤗❤🎉

[@markfenuch1979]

Smokey Robinson easily the Koolest Kat going 🦾

[@mamareed810]

Excellent Today, just as it was back then! Go Smokey!

[@randywarren7101]

Today's music doesn't even compares to songs from the 1960's!

[@psychobuzzard]

oh oh oh, this tune was great when I was 16 years old, now I'm 72 and it's even greater! First class soul!

[@hisgirl5493]

Who's competing with those writing abilities? This gentleman is so underrated as a songwriter until it is utterly ridiculous. The way smokey utilized and manipulated words for song was just excellent.....just to say the least.❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@moyajanko6642]

Not underrated in this house.

[@dkemm2013]

Smokey is incredible, yes, but Stevie Wonder wrote this song... Smokey was given writing credit too, but he says it was Steve's song...( Steveland was only 16 at the time)...

[@wendyhall3591]

Stevie wonder wrote this x

[@Isochest]

@@dkemm2013 Didn't know Stevie Wonder wrote it. What an incredibly smart guy!!

[@nicholashylton6857]

Underrated? No way. Anyone who knows about Motown knows about Smokey Robinson. I'm an 80's kid and a New Wave band (ABC) released a song about him back in the day. Contemporary artists are simply unaware of the Motown sound.

[@markponn6296]

One of the best songs of my life.

[@debbiebrown4420]

I was just a 9-year-old 4th grader when this song was a hit, but I enjoyed it then and I still enjoy it just as much today. I'm sure I'd still enjoy it if I was to live to be 99.

[@markponn6296]

@@debbiebrown4420 Wonderful reply! 😘

[@Wayne_155]

@@debbiebrown4420 I hope you hit 99 as well Debbie. Keep on groovin' gf

[@debbiebrown4420]

@@Wayne_155 Thank you. I hope you do as well.

[@liz4327]

The voice of an angel. 😍😇

[@sherwinwhite8241]

No the tears of a clown

[@martinbunchdd412]

Born in 1966 and as a kid I would dig through my Dads 45's and this was one of my favs as a young child in the 70's... Oh the memories... Love this song, so much emotion in it.

[@myriaddsystems]

"But don't let my show convince you That I've been happy since you Decided to go...

[@roxannemoser]

A skating rink staple. There's no need to go skating without this song at all.

[@donnabonnette-wakefield4356]

I absolutely love Smoky's gentle, smooth voice that he still has today. So very talented. ❤

[@nereidamatoscolon]

Lovely ❤

[@razzledc69]

My Dads guy R.I.P. Daddy 12-22-22

[@bkearns4477]

there's some sad things known to man but ain't too much sadder than the tears of clown....when there's no one around. Hits hard

[@thebaddog4104]

I saw Smokey live Orrawa bluesfest good times!

[@sundaysmith5942]

I was born in 1967 and this song brings me happiness 😊

[@cdcity305]

I was not born during this time but this song rocks the MF'n boat.

[@gimpyhayes9102]

One of the best songs, singers, and performances ever. We love you Smokey.

[@stephaniezionabubakariel844]

Chief Smokey ! LOVE LOVE LOVE 💚💚💚💜💜💜🪶

[@davidrboland]

No, no no! Not "Chief" - GOD!!!

[@user-gz6qk4uc4p]

So I must cope like I know best, And now it seems that how I cope brings me strength

[@michellealtonsheets]

Love this !!! Thank you

[@adamfrbs9259]

This is epic music you'll never see again. Sad sad sad no one now appreciates it.

[@TrueofBarneyDinosaur80]

This song just bring me back in time.

[@icu64x]

Just plain awesome!!

[@paulwalker6967]

This tune is here!

[@thisislaflaretv5250]

Them boys walked in there like we fend to tear this song up

[@user-ir1ix8up8j]

this man can make you smile and cry at the same time, listen to him, he will get you focused on whats real

[@stephenhowell5611]

Was an album track in 67, was released as a 45 in the UK in 1970 and made no1 there, was re recorded and released in the US later the same year and hit no1. Great track.

[@user-mi9dp2nu4r]

I still have memories of my Mom holding me while this song was playing on the stereo record player thats back in 1983 or 1982, its been so long, the sad part is my Mom passed away May 27th

[@davidrboland]

So sorry. She's looking down on you with pride, I'm sure.

[@Lewis9700]

I'm sorry for your loss 🙏🙏🙏

[@SuperStar-1-]

Smokey... I grew up to your music... 9 volt transistor radio and then a Panasonic 1 speaker radio I got from a neighbor at 7 years old... your music was and always will be awesome and very special to me. You're the best as is all of Motown music !

[@realpeter1052]

My mom introduced me to this song now I’m hooked on 70s music lol

[@edwinsmith1083]

I remember when this song was first played over the radio. I was 6 years old. Stevie Wonder had the tune to the song and asked Smoky Robinson if he could write a song from the tune he had given him. I remember Smokey Robinson sharing that he remembered his literature teacher telling a story about a Italian clown named Pioche who people loved to see at the circus before seeing the animals. Every time Pioche went back to his dressing room, he cried because the people loved him but he did not have a woman to love him. Smokey Robinson took the circus tune and based it upon a Relationship. ( Tears a Clown). Listen towards the end of the song and you will hear Smokey say" just like Pioche did". Smokey Robinson is an awesome and I do mean awesome song writer. I am 59 Years old and I live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. My name is Edwin Smith.

[@patsquires3654]

i dont care how old you are this record is a masterpiece , a true classic probably the best soul record ever made

[@avcvstg]

The singers we can call and speak of as 'legends' will disappear after 2040. Legend of Jazz, Legend of Rock, Legend of Heavy Metal, Legend of Disco, Legend of R&B, Legends of folk music, legends of hip-hop, legends of country music, etc. How does music feel when all the music legends are gone?

[@CheapSkateGamer96]

Remember the legends, but don't be afraid to discover new heroes. Talent is still out there, the 60s 70s and 80s had their fair share of popular garbage that no one remembers now and it was because people went out of their way to find the good stuff that we remember the greats.

[@scout3939]

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles outclassed everyone.

[@tommybarrett659]

Got the Single for my 12th birthday 🎂, Classics track and still love it now and I'm 59 yrs old Thank you Smokey Robinson and the Miracles for the Memorable Classic!!!!!!!! 🎶🎶🎶🎶💙

[@samanthasimmons6345]

I had the pleasure of being with Smokey today🙏🏽❤️

[@marblox9300]

The great music I grew up listening to............................ :)

[@greasyflight6609]

So cool...beyond cool...

[@billfeld5883]

The vast amount of music that was played in our lives is amazing, from rockabilly to today's latest, 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@testtube43]

Utter perfection and he was so handsome!

[@lynnhanson2169]

Was?

[@liannemullin1694]

We've just lost sum 1 who said this was his song played it at his funeral , loves ya boggie ❤

[@dm6187]

So sorry for your loss my dear. May your friend live on in our hearts and souls through this song.

[@Biyoh1]

The production on this is amazing. That beat by itself made you feel something special when you hear it.

[@lestupidshoes]

The orchestral arrangement is very original. Imagine writing the bassoon into pop song of the times?

[@myriaddsystems]

This just breaks my heart every time I hear this very fine human being...

[@johnedwardjones999]

What a great era. Grew up 45 mins from Motown. Smokey and so many others helped shape my white boi musical interests. Much ❤️ and thanks!

[@richlyman2483]

Where else are you going to hear a bassoon on a #1 hit?

[@joshuaowens4797]

I think this is the only one... ever.

[@user-ux6io4zo6v]

OMG...man gosh...soo kool...God is good...