"Happiness" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Alexis Jordan | ||||
from the album Alexis Jordan | ||||
Released | September 7, 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:02 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Alexis Jordan singles chronology | ||||
|
"Happiness" is the debut single by American singer and 2006 America's Got Talent contestant Alexis Jordan. It is the lead single from her self-titled debut studio album, released in the United States on September 7, 2010. The upbeat dance-pop and house rhythm behind the track was entirely sampled from electronic artist Deadmau5's "Brazil (2nd Edit)" (released two years prior to "Happiness"). The lyrics were written by Autumn Rowe, and the track was re-edited for the lyrics by Stargate.
"Happiness" was generally well received by many critics, with some complimenting Jordan's vocal abilities. In the United States, the song topped the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, giving Jordan her first number one on the chart. It reached number 1 in the charts in the Netherlands (staying there for 10 weeks and eventually becoming the best song of 2011 in this chart) and has also charted in the top five in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. An accompanying music video, directed by Aggressive, sees Jordan and her love interest meeting, separating and making up. It was noted for its similarities to Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head". The Dave Audé Club Mix was the official song of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.
After being eliminated from the first season of America's Got Talent in 2006, Jordan began posting videos of herself singing cover songs on YouTube, of which she later became a viral sensation for. [1] After receiving a phone call from Stargate, Jordan flew over to New York City to record a few songs with them. It was then announced in the press in March 2010 that she had signed to StarRoc/Roc Nation after Jay-Z had noticed her in the studio with Stargate. [1]
"Happiness" is an upbeat dance-pop song, influenced by house music. [1] [2] The song has a "simple, pleasant melody" and has been described as an "upbeat track tinged with full good electronica". [3] [4] The music used was Deadmau5's "Brazil (2nd Edit)", [3] which was re-edited for the vocals by Stargate. In explaining the song, Jordan revealed it is about "finding love in yourself before you find it in someone else, because a lot of people lose themselves when they fall in love, and they forget who they are, and that's what you've gotta do. You've gotta find someone who loves you for you". [5] Songwriter Autumn Rowe has said in an interview that "Happiness" has an African influence. [6]
Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music awarded the song four stars and said "If Madonna had put this out, it would be hailed as one of the best songs of her long and varied career. And she possibly would struggle to get the crystal purity of those top notes, which means Alexis is officially better than Madonna". [7] Bill Lamb of About.com praised the song for its "danceable beat" and "simple, pleasant melody" but also called the song an "insubstantial fluff" and that its "sound lacks any particular distinction". [3] Kevin O'Donnell of NPR Music called the song an "irresistible pop anthem" and said "this is disco music for a Disney audience — and, amazingly enough, it works". [8]
Nick Levine of Digital Spy awarded the song five stars, describing the song as a "tale of romantic regret, realisation and ultimately exultation". [9] Andrew Butler of Pink Paper magazine was impressed with the song, stating "It really does make you feel happy, through a mixture of its fabulously put together lyrics, infectious humming and danceable tunes". [10] Emma Johnson of Liverpool Echo called the song "one of the most infectious tracks of the year", [11] while AOL Radio named it the sixth top dance song of 2010. [12]
In the United States, "Happiness" debuted on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart at number 40. [13] It climbed the chart in subsequent weeks and peaked at the top position for the week, July 17, 2010. [14] The song held the position for one week before losing it to Wynter Gordon's "Dirty Talk". [15] Also in the US, the song reached number one on the Hot Dance Airplay chart. [16] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted, and peaked, at number three on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending November 13, 2010. [17] [18] It made its Irish debut at number 31 and spent 20 weeks inside the top 50. [19] and peaked at number thirty-one. [20] On the European Hot 100 Singles chart, "Happiness" reached number 13. [21] In Australia, the song debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number 25 on December 19, 2010, [22] before peaking at number three in its sixth week on the chart. It has since been certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales of 210,000 units. In April 2011, the song reached number one for ten weeks in the Dutch Top 40 and It became the biggest hit of 2011 in the Netherlands that year (staying in the top 40 for 30 weeks). [23]
The music video for "Happiness" was directed by Aggressive [24] and premiered online on May 20, 2010. [25] While being interviewed, Jordan described the video as "fun, colorful, and young. The video makes you want to dance. I wanted to do something unique. I want to be an artist that leaves a mark on the industry". [26]
The video is set in a colorful city and has a futuristic theme to it. The storyline of the video begins with Jordan dropping off her boyfriend (portrayed by Tom Williamson) at a bus stop, as they appear to be breaking up. [27] She is seen sitting in the backseat of her orange AMC Pacer, and starts to sing the song's first verse, just as the wind begins to pick up, sliding her car and the bus stop, where her boyfriend is at, in opposite directions. [27] Throughout the video, the city moves in motion. It is intercut with other scenes, including Jordan dancing with four other back-up dancers at a swimming pool, a man reading a newspaper while holding a Dalmatian dog by its leash, and also a woman with a few shopping bags. During the car scenes, Jordan sees flashbacks of her boyfriend in the car's rear-view mirror. She later realizes that he makes her happy and moves to the driver's seat, to stop the car. Jordan then reverses the car, sending her back to the bus stop to reunite with her boyfriend. As the pair reconcile at the bus stop, the wind causes the car and the bus stop to slide off again, as the couple stare bewildered at the sight. [27]
Some critics compared the video to Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head" clip, due to both videos having a futuristic theme, with similar car scenes. [28] MTV's Chris Ryan said "the video has a real "Can't Get You Out of My Head"/altered reality vibe to it, with everyday scenes played out with a dreamlike quality". [29]
|
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [59] | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ |
Belgium (BEA) [60] | Gold | 15,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [61] | Gold | 7,500* |
United Kingdom (BPI) [62] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format † | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United States | September 7, 2010 [32] | Remix EP | StarRoc, Roc Nation |
Ireland [30] [31] | October 29, 2010 | Main version, extended play | Sony Music |
United Kingdom [63] [64] | |||
Australia [33] | December 10, 2010 | Extended play | |
New Zealand [65] | |||
Taiwan | December 12, 2010 | Digital download | |
Japan | January 2, 2011 | Digital download | |
Germany | March 18, 2011 [34] | CD single | |
July 15, 2011 [66] | CD single (Dave Audé Mix) |
"Unfaithful" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her second studio album A Girl like Me (2006). It was written by Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith with the song's producers Stargate. The song was released by Def Jam Recordings on May 1, 2006, as the second single from the album. "Unfaithful" is a pop, dancehall and R&B ballad and was inspired by the music of American rock band Evanescence. Originally titled "Murderer", the single speaks about a woman who regrets cheating on her partner.
"We Ride" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her second studio album A Girl like Me (2006). It was written by Makeba Riddick, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, with production helmed by Stargate. The song was released on August 21, 2006, as the album's third single. "We Ride" is a hip hop, soul and R&B ballad. Critical reception of the song was generally positive, as the majority of reviewers praised its relaxing and carefree qualities.
"With You" is a song by American singer Chris Brown for his second studio album, Exclusive (2007). The song was written by Johntá Austin, Espionage, and Stargate, the latter of which produced the song. The song was released as the album's third single on December 4, 2007, in the United States. It was later released internationally on March 21, 2008. "With You" is composed as a midtempo R&B ballad that features an acoustic guitar as the base of the arrangement.
"Forever" is a song by American singer Chris Brown. Brown co-wrote the song with Andre Merritt, Rob Allen, Brian Kennedy, and Jamal "Polow da Don" Jones; the latter two are also the producers. Initially created to be used for a Doublemint commercial, "Forever" was selected to be released as the lead single from the reissue version of Brown's second studio album Exclusive, titled the Forever Edition, and the fifth single overall from the album. It was first released for digital download on November 2, 2007, in a few countries, followed the next April with a retail single CD released in Europe.
The discography of American group Jonas Brothers consists of six studio albums, three live albums, three soundtrack albums, one compilation album, one video album, three extended plays, and 30 singles.
"So What" is a song recorded by American singer Pink for her fifth studio album, Funhouse (2008). The song was written by Pink, Max Martin, and Shellback, and produced by Martin. Selected as the album's lead single, "So What" was first released on August 11, 2008, and to mainstream radios on August 25, 2008, through LaFace and Zomba Label Group. The song consists of a martial beat and synth backing. The lyrics are based on her separation from freestyle motocross rider Carey Hart, which occurred six months prior to the release.
"Naturally" is a song performed by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene, taken from their debut studio album Kiss & Tell (2009). It was released by Hollywood Records as the album's second single in the United States and select other countries. The song was produced by Antonina Armato and Tim James who wrote the song with Devrim Karaoglu. Musically, "Naturally" is an uptempo dance-pop song which relies on electropop. The song's lyrics speak of a relationship in which feelings are not forced and the protagonist sings of their happiness. The song was released on December 11, 2009 and officially impacted US mainstream radio on January 19, 2010, and was released physically in numerous European countries thereafter. The song also appears on the international standard edition of the band's second album, A Year Without Rain (2010).
"Rude Boy" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna, taken from her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). It was released as the album's fourth overall and third international single on February 5, 2010, through Def Jam. Rihanna co-wrote the song with Ester Dean, Makeba Riddick, and producers Rob Swire and Stargate. "Rude Boy" is a clubby midtempo reggae, dancehall and R&B song which incorporates elements of raggamuffin. The song received mixed to positive reviews from critics; some have called it the highlight of the album, but others criticized Rihanna's "monotone" and "icy" vocal performance. However, opinion of the song has improved over time, and several critics have retrospectively ranked it as one of the strongest releases in her discography.
The discography of Skylar Grey, an American singer-songwriter, consists of four studio albums, seven extended plays (EPs), 21 singles and 14 music videos. Grey was signed to Machine Shop Recordings under the name Holly Brook. She released her debut album Like Blood Like Honey in 2006, but was released from her contract after it did not perform commercially. She began working under the name Skylar Grey in 2010, co-writing the three versions of "Love the Way You Lie" with Alex da Kid, who signed her to his Wonderland Music label. Grey later left KIDinaKORNER/Interscope records and is currently an independent artist.
Alexis Jordan is an American former singer, actress and dancer from Columbia, South Carolina. Jordan rose to fame as a contestant on the first season of America's Got Talent in 2006 at the age of 14. After being eliminated from the show, she began to upload cover songs to YouTube, which received millions of views. The exposure led Jordan to the attention of Norwegian production team Stargate and American rapper Jay Z, who both went on to sign her to their joint label, StarRoc.
"Only Girl (In the World)" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her fifth album, Loud (2010). Serving as the album's lead single, it was released on September 10, 2010. Crystal Johnson wrote the song in collaboration with producers Stargate and Sandy Vee. Rihanna contacted Stargate before Loud's production and asked them to create lively, uptempo music. "Only Girl (In the World)" was the first song composed for the album, and the singer decided to include it on the track list before she recorded her vocals. Backed by strong bass and synthesizer, it is a dance-pop and Eurodance song that has an electronic composition. Its lyrics describe Rihanna demanding physical attention from her lover.
"Who's That Chick?" is a song by French DJ and producer David Guetta featuring vocals from Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released from the reissue of Guetta's fourth studio album One Love (2009), entitled One More Love (2010). The song was written by Guetta, Kinda "Kee" Hamid, Frédéric Riesterer, and Giorgio Tuinfort. Since the song contains an interpolation of "Who's That Girl", Madonna and Patrick Leonard are credited as co-writers as well. It was released internationally as the second single on 22 November 2010 as a digital single, and was also released as a CD single and an Extended play (EP), the latter of which was released in the United States and contained remixes of the song.
"Higher" is the fifth single from English singer-songwriter Taio Cruz's second studio album, Rokstarr. It was written and produced by Cruz and Sandy Vee, and was released on 26 November 2010. This song was originally written for Australian singer Kylie Minogue's album Aphrodite, but plans fell through. However, Cruz and Minogue recorded a version of the song for the European release, while American rapper Travie McCoy recorded guest raps for the American release. The Brazilian and United Kingdom versions have parts of McCoy's rap mixed into the Minogue version. The version on Cruz's albums feature a solo vocal by Cruz with no guest vocalist and an edited version of the solo version was added to Radio Disney's playlist.
"Good Girl" is a song by American recording artist Alexis Jordan, taken from her self-titled debut album. It was released as the album's second single on February 18, 2011. The dance-pop song was written by Autumn Rowe, Stargate, Sandy Vee and Espionage, and it was produced by Stargate and Sandy Vee. Jordan has said the song is a "girl’s anthem" about how "you can better yourself, even if your past isn’t as good as your present." "Good Girl" debuted at number six in the United Kingdom, and charted at number fifteen in Ireland. In the United States, the song peaked at the top of the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
Alexis Jordan is the debut and only studio album by American singer Alexis Jordan. It was released from February 25, 2011, through Roc Nation. After being signed to rapper Jay-Z's Roc Nation label in March 2010, Jordan began working with Norwegian production duo Stargate on the album, Jordan also worked with producers Sandy Vee, Nightwatch, Espionage. The album was recorded between January 2007 and October 2010.
"Got 2 Luv U" is the first single from Jamaican recording artist Sean Paul's fifth studio album Tomahawk Technique. The song features vocals from American singer Alexis Jordan. It was released on 19 July 2011 by Atlantic Records. The song was featured in 2012 film Magic Mike.
"Sexy and I Know It" is a song by American duo LMFAO from their second and final studio album, Sorry for Party Rocking. It was released as the third single from the album on September 16, 2011. The song was written by Stefan Kendal Gordy, GoonRock, Erin Beck, George M. Robertson and Kenneth Oliver, and it was produced by Party Rock. It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 7, 2012, and remained there for two weeks.
The discography of American singer Alexis Jordan consists of one studio album, six singles and five music videos.
"Right Now" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna featuring French DJ and producer David Guetta. It was released as part of Rihanna's seventh studio album, Unapologetic (2012). Guetta co-wrote the song with R&B singers Ne-Yo and The-Dream, while their longtime collaborators, Norwegian production duo Stargate, co-produced the track alongside Guetta and his own longtime collaborators Nicky Romero and Giorgio Tuinfort. It was sent to contemporary hit and rhythmic contemporary radios in the United States as the fourth single from the album on May 28, 2013. Musically, "Right Now" is an EDM and pop song. The lyrical content features Rihanna chanting to live life in the moment.
"Acid Rain" is a song recorded by American recording artist Alexis Jordan. It was written by Sia with co-writing and production from Norwegian production outfit StarGate and Dutch disc jockeys (DJs) Bingo Players. The latter duo are credited for the inclusion of a sample of their own electro house single "Get Up (Rattle)". "Acid Rain" initially premiered on January 14, 2013, featuring two verses of Jordan's label-mate, American rapper J. Cole. An alternate version of the song excluding Cole was released for digital download on February 20, 2013.