Happy (Surface song)

"Happy"
Single by Surface
from the album Surface
B-side	"Let's Try Again"
Released	February 1987 [1]
Genre	Soul [2] synth-pop [2]
Length	3:57
Label	Columbia
Songwriters	Bernard Jackson David Conley David Townsend
Producer	Bernard Jackson
Surface singles chronology
"Let's Try Again" (1986) "Happy" (1987) "Lately" (1987)

"Happy" is a song originally recorded by British funk band Hi-Tension in 1984, titled as "You Make Me Happy". It was later covered by Surface for their self-titled album released in 1986. A hit single, Surface's version reached number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Billboard R&B charts in 1987. ^{[1] [3]} "Happy" was also featured on Surface's compilation album Perfect 10 and was produced by members Bernard Jackson, David "Pic" Conley and David Townsend.

Track listing

• UK and US 7-inch single

1. "Happy" – 3:57
2. "Let's Try Again" – 3:55

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1987) Peak position UK Singles (OCC) [4] 56 US Billboard Hot 100 [3] 20 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [5] 24 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [1] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1987) Position US Hot Crossover Singles (Billboard) [6] 20

MN8 version

"Happy"
Single by MN8
from the album To the Next Level
B-side	"I've Got a Little Something for You" (remix)
Released	3 July 1995 (1995-07-03)
Genre	New jack swing [7]
Length	4:10
Label	Columbia 1st Avenue
Songwriters	Bernard Jackson David Townsend David Conley
Producers	Dennis Charles Ronnie Wilson
MN8 singles chronology
"If You Only Let Me In" (1995) "Happy" (1995) "Baby It's You" (1995)
Music video
"Happy" on YouTube

"Happy" was covered by British R&B group MN8 and released in July 1995 as the third single from their debut album, To the Next Level (1995). ^{[8] [9]} The song was produced by Dennis Charles and Ronnie Wilson, and peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. It also was a top-20 hit in New Zealand, where it reached number 11. The track was remixed by Dalvin DeGrate of Jodeci. ^{[10] [11]}

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton described the song as "another immaculate slice of swingbeat pop and another smash hit to boot". ^[12] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Releasing singles at the speed of sound, here's their third already. It has nothing to do with the same-titled Stones number. The guys in MN8 work out in a very American swingbeat fashion." ^[7] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave "Happy" a score of four out of five, writing, "The lads famous for perv dancing and flashing their knickers slow it down a tad this time. It's not quite as instant as their last two outings but it's soppy and sentimental in an extremely catchy, lovely kind of way. It'll leave you with a nice, warm, jelly like feeling in your tummy." ^[13]

Track listings

• CD 1 and 12-inch

1. "Happy" (radio edit) – 4:10
2. "Happy" (Jodeci mix) – 4:11
3. "Happy" (2B3 Street mix) – 5:17
4. "I've Got a Little Something for You" (OJI remix) – 4:12

• CD 2

1. "Happy" (radio edit) – 4:10
2. "Happy" (dance mix) – 5:55
3. "Happy" (2B3 Pay Black mix) – 5:17
4. "I've Got a Little Something for You" (Bad Boy Main Pass mix) – 4:17

• Cassette single

1. "Happy" (radio edit) – 4:10
2. "I've Got a Little Something for You" (OJI remix) – 4:12

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [14]	33
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [15]	56
Europe (European Dance Radio) [16]	18
Europe (European Hit Radio) [17]	36
France Airplay (SNEP) [18]	89
Ireland (IRMA) [19]	23
Italy Airplay ( Music & Media ) [20]	9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [21]	9
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade) [22]	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [23]	11
UK Singles (OCC) [24]	8
UK Airplay ( Music Week ) [25]	14

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	3 July 1995	CD1 cassette	Columbia 1st Avenue	[26]
	10 July 1995	CD2		[27]
Australia	4 September 1995	CD cassette		[28]

References

1. "Chart History - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS". Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021.
2. Breihan, Tom (3 November 2021). "The Number Ones: Surface's "The First Time". Stereogum . Retrieved 19 December 2023. ...their glossy synth-soul single "Happy," a cover of a song from the UK group Hi-Tension, reached #2 on the R&B charts...
3. "Surface - HOT 100 Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021.
4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 542. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
5. "Chart History - ADULT CONTEMPORARY". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021.
6. "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Hot Crossover Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. 26 December 1987. p. Y-27. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
7. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 29. 22 July 1995. p. 8. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
8. "Billboard Magazine". Billboard Newspaper. August 1995.
9. "Happy – MN8". AllMusic.
10. "From pop star to mystical figure in TV show". Kurrent music. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
11. "MN8 Soul Addict". Soul Addict. 17 January 1996.
12. Masterton, James (9 July 1995). "Week Ending July 15th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
13. Daniels, Leesa (5 July 1995). "Singles". Smash Hits . p. 54. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
14. "MN8 – Happy" (in French). Ultratop 50.
15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 30. 29 July 1995. p. 12. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
16. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 34. 26 August 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
17. "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 33. 19 August 1995. p. 29. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
18. "Top 100 French Radio Airplay". SNEP. 5 November 1995. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Happy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
20. "Major Market Airplay: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 38. 23 September 1995. p. 27.
21. "MN8 – Happy" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 18 July 2021.
22. "MN8 – Happy" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved 18 July 2021.
23. "MN8 – Happy". Top 40 Singles.
24. "Official Singles Chart on 15/7/1995 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
25. "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . 29 July 1995. p. 23. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
26. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 1 July 1995. p. 31.
27. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 8 July 1995. p. 27.
28. "New Releases – Product Available from : 04/09/95: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 290. 3 September 1995. p. 23.