"Happy"
A black and white portrait of a woman. She has a long wavy hair and she is smiling, also she has her hands on her waist. She wears a cocktail dress and many bracelets on her right wrist. In front of her image the words "Leona" and "Happy" are written in black capital letters and inside a purple box, while "Lewis" is in white capital letters appearing in a silver box.
Single by Leona Lewis
from the album Echo
B-side"Let It Rain"
Released15 September 2009 (2009-09-15)
Recorded2009
Genre
Length4:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tedder
Leona Lewis singles chronology
"I Will Be"
(2009)		 "Happy"
(2009)		 "I Got You"
(2009)

"Happy" is a song performed by British singer Leona Lewis for her second studio album Echo (2009). It was written by Lewis, Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, and produced by Tedder, and it premiered on UK radio on 6 September 2009, and officially released on 15 September 2009, by digital download in the U.S., serving as the album's lead single. Lyrically, it talks about a protagonist, that wants to be happy and seize the day.

It received generally positive reviews from music critics, praising the production and, some of them, calling it a "number one song". The single was promoted in the television programmes America's Got Talent, The X Factor, among others, and on the VH1 Divas concert in 2009. The music video was filmed in Cuba, and describes a woman who is in love with her friend. The song debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 selling nearly 52,000 copies in the U.S., while in the UK, it debuted and peaked at number two, being blocked from the top spot by the song "Meet Me Halfway" by The Black Eyed Peas. Moreover, the single reached the top ten in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Japan and Switzerland.

Background

"Happy" was written by Lewis, Ryan Tedder and Evan Bogart, and produced by Tedder for Lewis's second album Echo.[1][2] The song, which is four minutes and two seconds in length,[1] was recorded immediately after it was written. In a message on MySpace, Tedder wrote:

"I honestly feel it is the most beautiful song I've ever been a part of. My goal when I started working on Leona's new album was to '[not]' chase or be influenced by any of her previous hits—or any songs [I]'ve ever done with anyone else—including 'Bleeding Love'. True artists do not look back to previous successes; they look forward to creating new moments and songs the world can connect with in a different way. And that is what Leona has done with 'Happy'. I hope [you] like it as much as we do, and I hope the lyrics hit [you] as hard as they hit me".[3]

Lewis discussed the inspiration for the song in an interview with Entertainment Weekly: "[W]e felt like happiness is something everyone strives to have, and sometimes it's not just about being happy, but if you have obstacles in your life that you have to get over to be happy. And it's just about that striving to get there. [I]t was kind of like looking back at all of the things I've been through, just kind of putting that into the song."[4] The song was released with two B-sides: "Let It Rain" in Europe and Japan,[5][6] and "Fly Here Now", only in Japan.[6]

Composition

"Happy" is a pop and R&B ballad,[1] song written in C major; Lewis' vocal range extends from G3 to C6.[7][8] It moves at 76 beats per minute and is set in common time.[7][8] Lewis explained the lyrics and interpretation of "Happy" in an interview with the Associated Press, saying, "It's a contradiction of song because, yes, it's named 'Happy', but the song's kind of dark, a bit sad, sombre. In my songs, I want people to go on a journey, and [to get to] happiness, you go through a lot of pain and sadness to get there sometimes and that's what we wanted to convey on the song."[9] Nick Levine, from Digital Spy, commented about the lyrics that the song talks about a protagonist, that, regardless of what happens, wants to be happy, while the message of the song is "seize the day".[1]

Critical reception

A blond-haired woman is looking forward. She is wearing a blue dress and holding a microphone. The background is black.
Lewis performing "Happy" on the tour The Labyrinth.

"Happy" received general acclaim from music critics. It has been described as "an amazing song" by Rick Krim, the executive producer of VH1 Divas,[10] while a reviewer for music website Popjustice said, "In short: the Leona Lewis single is above average. A brilliant way to open the second album campaign and a proper world class piece of pop tuneage which doesn't have quite all the indecipherable mysterious magic of "Bleeding Love" but still boasts more than 97% of other pop tunes".[11] Nick Levine of Digital Spy favoured the song, saying, "Leona delivers it beautifully. In fact, her vocal run from 2:39 to 2:44 could be the most incredible five seconds of singing we've heard all year. [...] It's a really strong lead single that sounds like a number one, and a typically muscular production from Tedder, but above all it's a powerful and moving song".[1] Ryan Seacrest has stated on his American Top 40 radio show that it is "going to be a number one song".[12]

Jennifer Adeeko from the organisation behind the MOBO Awards said, "Within the song Lewis is able to show how spectacular her vocal range is, with her softer sounding vocals to her more powerful, belting vocals. [...] Bound to get a few guys flustered if their girlfriends listen to the track and follow the lyrics; we predict that this is going to be one of her biggest track[s] to date".[13] Entertainment Weekly critic Michael Slezak wrote that "while "Happy" is a solidly written, professionally produced song with a Velcro-ey hook, it has the emotional resonance of a so-so, big-budget romantic comedy. [...] In the hands of a singer who could achieve both technical perfection and emotional depth, 'Happy' might've been my early autumn jam. But delivered in Lewis's lovely-but-vacant style, I'm gonna have to rifle through my iPod for a more substantial diva anthem".[14]

Chart performance

On 10 November 2009, after two days of sales in the UK, "Happy" had sold 36,000 copies.[15] By 11 November the song had sold 49,000 copies, outselling its nearest rival, The Black Eyed Peas's "Meet Me Halfway", by 5,000 copies;[16] however, on 13 November it was confirmed that "Meet Me Halfway" was outselling "Happy".[17] "Happy" entered the UK chart at number two, marking Lewis's sixth consecutive top five single in the UK.[18] On 7 January 2010 the song was certified Silver in the UK.[19] "Happy" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 50,[20] with sales of almost 52,000 digital downloads,[21] Later, the single managed to reach number 31.[22] Also, in the same week it debuted at the position 22 on the Hot Digital Songs chart,[20][23] the Hot Gospel Songs at number 26,[23] and at the number 15 in the Canadian Hot 100, where it was the highest debut of the week.[23] In January, it was certified Gold in Canada.[24] The song made its first European chart appearance when it debuted at 25 in Sweden on 2 October 2009, peaking at number 11 the following week.[5] The song entered the Australian ARIA Singles Chart at number 44 before dropping out of the top 50 the following week, it then re-entered back at number 44 one month later and so far climbed to number 26.[25] It also charted in New Zealand at 35,[5] and in the Japan Hot 100 "Happy" peaked at number seven.[26]

Music video and promotion

First frame: A blonde with dark skin is holding a white dress. She is standing in a room, and at her right a bed with white bed sheets. Second frame: A couple is dancing. She is wearing a wedding dress while he is wearing a white shirt and a black tie. In the background many people are clapping.
Throughout the music video Lewis is wearing a bride dress. At the end of the video, the man whom she fell in love with is showing the woman he really married.

The video for "Happy" was filmed in Cuba and directed by Jake Nava on 29 September 2009.[27] It premiered on UK music channel The Box on 17 October 2009.[28] At the start of the video, Lewis is shown smiling at a wedding. In the next scenes, she meets a man and, eventually, they become friends, but she starts falling in love with him. Throughout the video, it shows how Lewis is getting ready for the wedding day. The wedding proceeds and it is revealed that he marries a different woman. At the end she is left smiling, dressed in her white bridesmaid's outfit, watching the happy couple dance and trying to be happy for them.

"Happy" had its radio premiere on 6 September 2009 on The Radio 1 Chart Show on BBC Radio 1 in the UK.[29] Lewis performed the song on the fourth season finale of America's Got Talent on 16 September 2009,[30] and at the VH1 Divas concert on 17 September 2009.[10][31] On 26 October, Lewis was a guest on the BBC's The One Show where she talked about "Happy", Echo and her pictorial autobiography, Dreams.[32] She performed "Happy" in the MTV Europe Music Awards 2009 on 5 November 2009,[33] in The X Factor on 8 November 2009[34] and The Paul O'Grady Show on 9 November 2009.[35] Other performances include on 17 November 2009 in Dancing with the Stars and on 19 November 2009 in The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[36] "Happy" was used in the second trailer of the film Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire.[37] The Jason Nevins remix of the song was used as runway-soundtrack for the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airing on 1 December 2009.[38]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

"Let It Rain" credits adapted from "Happy" CD single,[41] and "Happy" credits adapted from the liner notes of Echo, published by Syco Music, J Records, Sony Music.[42]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[24] Gold 20,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Happy"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 6 September 2009 Streaming Syco
United States 15 September 2009 Digital download J
21 September 2009
Canada 6 November 2009 Digital download (EP) Sony Music
Germany CD
United Kingdom 8 November 2009 Digital download Syco
Hong Kong 9 November 2009 CD Sony Music
United Kingdom Syco
Japan 11 November 2009 Maxi CD Ariola
Germany 4 December 2009 Digital download (EP) Sony Music

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Levine, Nick (4 September 2009). "What's the new Leona Lewis single like?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  2. ↑ Levine, Nick (2 September 2009). "Leona Lewis reveals new single details". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  3. ↑ Tedder, Ryan (3 September 2009). "OneRepublic 1st single And Leona Lewis' 1st single "Happy"". MySpace. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  4. ↑ Lynch, Joseph Brannigan (18 September 2009). "Leona Lewis: A Music Mix Q&A". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Leona Lewis – Happy (song)". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Happy CDS". hmv.co.jp. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  7. 1 2 Lewis 2009
  8. 1 2 "Happy – Leona Lewis Digital Sheet Music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc.
  9. ↑ Fekadu, Mesfin (24 September 2009). "Leona Lewis 'happily' ready for round 2". Yahoo! News (Associated Press). Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  10. 1 2 Baca, Ricardo (30 August 2009). "Big names and wannabes set to belt – and battle – over the 'Diva' title". The Denver Post. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  11. ↑ "The Big Leona Lewis Comeback Single: Is It Above Average? (In a word: yes.)". Popjustice. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  12. ↑ "Ryan Seacrest – Leona Lewis Happy – American Top 40". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  13. ↑ Adeeko, Jennifer (7 September 2009). "Home News & Blogs Leona Lewis – "Happy" (New Single)". MOBO. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  14. ↑ Slezak, Michael (8 September 2009). "Leona Lewis' 'Happy': Just because it'll be a smash doesn't mean I have to love it". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
  15. ↑ Levine, Nick (10 November 2009). "Updated: How happy is Leona feeling this morning?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  16. ↑ Levine, Nick (11 November 2009). "Leona vs. BEP; Robbie vs. JLS". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  17. ↑ Levine, Nick (13 November 2009). "Eclusive: Leona Lewis unfazed by battle for No.1". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  18. ↑ "The Official Charts Company – Leona Lewis". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  19. 1 2 "British single certifications – Leona Lewis – Happy". British Phonographic Industry.
  20. 1 2 Trust, Gary (24 September 2009). "Chart Beat Thursday: Live-Blogging The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  21. ↑ Jones, Alan (25 September 2009). "Jay-Z continues atop US charts". Music Week. United Business Media. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  22. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  23. 1 2 3 "Happy – Leona Lewis". Billboard. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  24. 1 2 "Canadian single certifications – Leona Lewis – Happy". Music Canada.
  25. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy (song)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  26. ↑ "Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  27. ↑ Sprague, David (23 September 2009). "Lewis leaps into 'Echo' chamber". Variety. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  28. ↑ Levine, Nick (19 October 2009). "Oh Leona, come here and we'll give you a hug". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Get Ready For Happy!". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  30. ↑ "Leona to perform on America's Got Talent!". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music. 14 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  31. ↑ "Leona and Cyndi Lauper perform". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music. 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  32. ↑ Adrian Chiles, Christine Bleakley (26 October 2009). "The One Show". London. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  33. ↑ "2009 EMAs Leona Lewis 'Happy'". MTV Networks Europe. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  34. ↑ Fletcher, Alex (23 October 2009). "Leona, BEP confirmed for 'X Factor'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  35. ↑ "The Paul O'Grady Show". 9 November 2009. Channel 4#Channel Four Television Corporation. Channel 4. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  36. ↑ "Leona Lewis' Performance of 'Happy'". Ellen DeGeneres Official Website. Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  37. ↑ ""Happy" Featured in Precious Movie Trailer". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  38. ↑ "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2009 Segment 5". Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Official YouTube Channel. YouTube. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  39. ↑ "Happy – Jason Nevins radio edit". iTunes. Apple Inc. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  40. ↑ "Happy – EP" (in German). iTunes. Apple Inc. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  41. ↑ Happy (Compact Disc single). Leona Lewis. Los Angeles, California; London, England: J Records, Syco. 2009. 8 86975 74692 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ↑ Echo (liner notes). Leona Lewis. Syco Music, J Records, Sony Music. 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  43. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  44. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  45. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  46. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  47. ↑ "Leona Lewis Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  48. ↑ "Leona Lewis Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  49. ↑ Leona Lewis — Happy. TopHit. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  50. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201001 into search.
  51. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy". Tracklisten. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  52. ↑ "Hits of the World – European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 47. 28 November 2009. p. 55. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  53. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  54. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Leona Lewis". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  55. ↑ "Leona Lewis Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  56. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 44, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  57. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  58. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  59. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy". VG-lista. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  60. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  61. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  62. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  63. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  64. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  65. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  66. ↑ "Leona Lewis Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  67. ↑ "Leona Lewis Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  68. ↑ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2009" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  69. ↑ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2009" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  70. ↑ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  71. ↑ "European Hot 100". Billboard. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  72. ↑ "Japan Hot 100 – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  73. ↑ "Leona's New Single – "Happy"". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music. 3 September 2009. Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  74. ↑ ®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: Hot AC
  75. ↑ ®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: CHR/Top 40
  76. ↑ "Happy – EP". Canada: Apple Music. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  77. ↑ "Happy (Single)". Amazon Germany (in German). Amazon Inc. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  78. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Happy". HMV.com.hk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  79. ↑ "Happy – EP" (in German). Germany: Apple Music. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2022.

Notes

  • Lewis, Leona (2009), Leona Lewis Echo, Wise publications, ISBN 978-1-84938-396-7
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