Ronnie Burns - Smiley (1969)

[Kingmick58]

Great song from many moons ago. From the old Aussie.

[05fishes]

They will NEVER learn.

[TedEBungfritz]

Haven't heard this for yonks! I did too and I didn't either! :)

[lilynick1]

Hey you! I loved this song as a kid even though I was too young to know what it was about. "When will they learn?" Indeed!

[erinleeandme]

My brother inlaw was in Vietnam with Normie Rowe, they were in the ARMY!

[CupidsArrowLove]

Remember Top Tune.

[yaneverno]

great memories from the old bloke

[Jackupnow]

You got that right mate

[maurojselva]

Aussie classic

[baird55aus]

I heard Johhny Young being interviewed about Lionel Rose and during that interview he mentioned that Ronnie Burns had asked him to write a song with a Vietnam War theme. The only experience Johnny had with the war was Normie going there so he wrote Smiley specifically about Normie.

[baird55aus]

I heard an interview with Johnny Young last weekend regarding Lionel rose , who had just died, and he said that Ronnie Burns had asked him to write about the Vietnam war and the only thing he knew about it was Normie going over there so he wrote Smiley specifically about Normie and the war.

[Boldshane]

God this takes me back.... holy crap!

[mrsgritoli1]

another song "Rachael" by Russell Morris also touches on Vietnam war.

[unreal22000]

Thanks for posting this, it is a positive sign that generations use their own media to say what they feel about issues that effect them

[baird55aus]

You guys need to do some research before opening your mouths. Normie was in an armoured personnel carrier -he wasn't an entertainer in the Army he was a national serviceman and one who like many has demons that the "system" sometimes ignores. Some ex-servicemen don't have a voice for themselves or are unable to get their message across. Normie provides a voice for them. He does not pretend he is a war hero but like most soldiers is a war victim whether they have physical wounds or not.

[Mmmmoaa]

@baird55aus

Hi baird55, well put, why is that people shoot off their mouths, whinge & critise (particularly sitting on their arses in front of a pc.....lmao). He was able to use his public forum to speak out for those poor buggers that HAD to go over, remembering it was conscription, not only enlisted service men and women. I can't even to begin to imagine the shit they saw and felt.

Take care, Katie in Cairns.

[Gav1959]

@baird55aus I had an uncle who was in Vietnam with Normie. Normie did entertain in their "Down Time", He also fought with the others- certainly wasn't treated like a " celebrity soldier".

[Moparmal]

@baird55aus - Well said Baird. 

[buzzbox2nd]

@baird55aus well said ty for that

[baird55aus]

Smiley was specifically about Normie.

[baird55aus]

Smiley was specifically about Normie.

[leotimpano]

Hi nzoz1969......great song...thanks for posting...I remember this tune when i was a kid. According to The oz net music chart...Smiley only made it to number 2....perhaps you can look into this ...it 's a number one for me. Thanks again....

[Dee1309]

This song brings back memories - first pop star crush - Ronnie Burns!! As regards the Normie Rowe debate, yes he WAS different after returning from his war service. He'd been a young, cute, long-haired rocker youth whose career was really taking off - and came back a man who had to pick up where he'd left off as regards his career - but the music had changed. Others had guaranteed re-employed on their return, but the music industry couldn't be put on hold, it was moving in new directions.

[wannabbee1]

hey bulldogman why dont you get a life any man that went to vietnam is deserving of hero status if you have nt got anything nice to say shut up no one wants to know who or more important what you are

[fjbutch]

geez, this brings back memories....

[NESHero]

was ronnie a kiwi?

[justaboyagain]

wow gee i wish i was a young boy again what a great time for living as a kid i miss being a kid sooooo much im 48 now

[1vasbac]

Damn right Bulldogman59 Normie is the only TPI pensioner I know of that seems to work full time and get away with it.DVA should check him out.

[icedrogue]

@1vasbac seeing as Normie wasn't supposed to go in the first place as he found out years later when a cop with the same birthdate got him for speeding. Normie asked him how he handled the war only to be told that the cop didnt go cos his number didnt get called up! The Government rigged it so they had an Elvis of their own as a politcal stunt.Normie was always a gentleman whenever i met him and the DVA wont find anything as i think you'll find he donates money to Veterans Charities.

[likabumbumnow]

@icedrogue ronnie burns you anal retentive freak not normie rowe IDIOT DA DA DA

[carpetcle]

One of our Gold medalists ( Martial Arts) Fathers...talented family...

[sandy049]

Thanks for sharing this early war protest song as in the Vietnam war.This was my fathers song for me as my parents were going to seperate.Again this was a great tune.

[bulldogman59]

i dont know what normie rowe was like before vietnam but he turn into some kind of smart arse who thinks he,s a war hero

[nzoz1969]

I don't really know what he went through in the war; but he seemed to be much the same prior to his call for duty...

[legwithanattitude]

@bulldogman59 Well chit for brains my dad died in that war and I dont see your name on the wall so go and get fucked moron

[likabumbumnow]

@legwithanattitude your dad should have dodged the bullet fool but hey?he was raping a woman at the time and forgot to duck -he just wanted a f.ck

looooser LOL

[legwithanattitude]

@likabumbumnow

Hello shit for brains let me give you some advise short dick. 1st how would you like to come and meet me big boy I live in 13 palmerston street galliver townsville. 2nd little snot gobbler have some respect. 3rd if you come around I am not only going to rip your arms off but my dog loves humping lamp post and your arse is on the agender with him

[nthqlndr]

@legwithanattitude Settle down. There's no need to abuse people who weren't there & have no way of understanding. Normie Rowe did a lot for our guys over there. He might not have held a gun but, he contributed a helluva lot to morale. As did many other Australian entertainers. If someone doesn't have the empathy to understand, in a small way, what you went through, that's their problem. F**k 'em. You can live without their approval!

[likabumbumnow]

@bulldogman59 its ronnie burns you lame-wad not the gutless chook normie rowe soooo who is the smart arse fooool you LOLbwa hahahahahahaha-get a life and your facts right LOOOOOOOOOSER

[SonnyBurnett1963]

@likabumbumnow it was written by Johnny Young and sung by Ronnie Burns, allegedly about Normie Rowe's conscription and service in Vietnam and the way it changed him. Maybe you need to be old enough to understand the facts.

[hunkydaboyz]

@SonnyBurnett1963  pretty sure it wasn't about Normie Rowe , Smiley was a generic name for the guys who served in Vietnam

[rossstuart100]

@bulldogman59 Thanks for your comments Ron Casey.

[LethalLee1959]

@bulldogman59

You're a right drop kick.............

[mrsgritoli1]

onya ronnie,

[zatopecara]

Ronnie Burns, Johnny Young and the spirit of Normie Rowe all in one classic song. Brilliant!