When I See You Smile

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! Your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning a classic for you today: When I See You Smile by Bad English, straight off their self-titled debut album from 1989. This power ballad was a chart-topping banger, hitting number one in the United States and Canada. But here’s the wild trivia: this song wasn’t penned by the band. Nope, it was written by the legendary Diane Warren, a hit-making machine who also crafted smashes like Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now for Starship and I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing for Aerosmith. The band’s label, Epic Records, pushed hard for a hit, and their A&R guy, Don Grierson, practically begged them to record this one. And boy, did it pay off!

Another cool tidbit? This song was Bad English’s biggest hit, but the band was a short-lived supergroup experiment. In a chat with Songfacts, lead singer John Waite spilled the tea: “It was fun for a year. And then people reverted to type. I think the Journey guys wanted to be back in Journey and I wanted to be back solo.” They tried for a second album, Backlash in 1991, but Waite said they weren’t given enough time to write it, and the project fizzled out. Still, this track’s soaring vocals and Neal Schon’s killer guitar riffs make it a timeless gem. Fun fact from the Zoo Freaks on Reddit: one fan, Don from Sevierville, TN, swore he’d play this at his wedding if he ever tied the knot again!

Now, let’s groove into how Bad English came to be. This supergroup was a mash-up of rock royalty. John Waite, Jonathan Cain, and Ricky Phillips had been tearing it up in The Babys, a British band with a knack for catchy rock tunes. Meanwhile, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, and Deen Castronovo were part of Journey’s epic lineup (Cain did double duty!). In 1988, Waite and Cain decided to team up, pulling in their old bandmates and Journey pals to form Bad English. Signed to Epic Records, they dropped their debut album in 1989, with 11 of the 13 tracks written by the band themselves—except, of course, for our featured tune, courtesy of Diane Warren. Though they only released two albums before splitting in 1991, their legacy lives on through anthems like this one.

For all you Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, check out Bad English’s official vibes at their website. They’re also on Facebook, where you can catch updates and throwbacks. Over on Instagram, you’ll find some sweet vintage pics and band love. And don’t miss the chatter on X, where fans and the band share memories. For the ultimate fan experience, join the Bad English Fans Facebook Group, where Zoo Freaks like you swap stories and celebrate the band’s epic run. Keep smiling, and stay tuned for more righteous tunes!