"Happy Ending" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Joe Jackson | ||||
from the album Body and Soul | ||||
B-side | "Loisaida" | |||
Released | 20 April 1984 [1] | |||
Recorded | January 1984 | |||
Studio | Masonic Hall (Manhattan) [2] | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:39 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | Joe Jackson | |||
Producer(s) | Joe Jackson David Kershenbaum | |||
Joe Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"Happy Ending" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was recorded as a duet with Elaine Caswell and released in April 1984 as the second single from Jackson's sixth studio album Body and Soul . The song was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum. [3] "Happy Ending" reached No. 58 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. [4] [5]
In a 1984 interview, Jackson discussed the song's sound and lyrical message,
"I always liked the idea of doing a duet, I always liked the idea of two voices trading off against each other. I had the idea that if I did [a duet], it should be a classic sounding sort of song, it should sound like a '60s kind of pop, boy-and-girl duet, but from an '80s perspective, and I think that's what this song is. On the face of it, it sounds like a bright, cheerful pop song about 'oh yeah, we're in love' and all that sort of thing, but in actual fact there's a lot of cynicism and disillusionment in it. It compares the relationship to like being in a movie. It's kind of like saying, 'well you know movies don't have happy endings anymore, people are suspicious of a movie that has a happy ending'. People seem to feel the same way about relationships and that's kind of what the song is about, and I tried to make it seem more sort of poignant by having it sung as a boy and girl duet." [6]
On its release, Frank Edmonds of the Bury Free Press gave the song a 7.5 out of 10 rating and commented, "Attractive male/female vocal sparring in a catch song, even if they do seem in a hurry to see the end of it." [7]
Billboard described "Happy Ending" as "uptempo pop" that was in "middle ground between the spontaneous-sounding R&B of "You Can't Get What You Want" and the precise craftsmanship of Jackson's Night and Day hits." [8] David Okamoto of The Tampa Tribune felt the song deserved to be a hit and described it as "wonderfully empty-headed boy-meets-girl love song in the '60s tradition". [9]
In a review of Body and Soul, Steve Pond of the Los Angeles Times noted the song "rolls along at an infectious pace while tossing out echoes of the Ronettes along the way". [10] Eleni P. Austin of The Desert Sun praised the song's "killer tenor sax solo" that "blends into a complete brass blast". She also added, "Caswell's voice is somewhat similar to Ronnie Spector's and it lends itself quite nicely to Jackson's breathy vocals". [11]
Happy Ending
Loisaida
Production
Other
Chart (1984) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia Kent Music Report [12] | 47 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [13] | 40 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [14] | 34 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [15] | 19 |
UK Singles (OCC) [16] | 58 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [17] | 57 |
US Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles [18] | 61 |
Look Sharp! is the debut album by Joe Jackson, released in 1979. The album features one of Jackson's most well-known songs, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?", as well as the title track "Look Sharp", "Sunday Papers", "One More Time" and "Fools in Love".
Night and Day is the fifth studio album by Joe Jackson, released in June 1982. It reached the Top 5 in both the UK and US, Jackson's only studio album to do so in either country. It sold over one million copies, earning platinum disc status. It also quickly achieved platinum status in Canada.
Big World is a 1986 live album of original songs by Joe Jackson. The album was recorded in front of an invited audience at the Roundabout Theatre, East 17th Street in New York City on 23, 24 and 25 January 1986. The songs are loosely linked by lyrics covering a general theme of post-World War II international relations and global travel.
I'm the Man is the second album by English musician Joe Jackson, released in October 1979. Released shortly after Jackson's breakthrough debut, Look Sharp!, I'm the Man saw Jackson continue the style of his earlier album. Singles from the album included "I'm the Man" and "It's Different for Girls", the latter of which was his biggest UK chart single, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart.
Blaze of Glory is the tenth studio album by English rock and roll singer Joe Jackson, released in 1989. Jackson has stated that the album and the songs themselves were an examination of his generation as the 1980s were ending, ranging from the optimism of the 1950s to the politics of terrorism and the Cold War, to yuppies ("Discipline") and rockers who are well past their prime. The title track compares the legacy of a classic rock musician who died young with the current wannabes.
Body and Soul is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Joe Jackson, released on 14 March 1984 by A&M Records. Jackson's first fully digital project, it peaked at No. 14 in the UK, while in the US it reached No. 20. Described by one reviewer as a sophisti-pop album, the tracks are a mix of pop, jazz and Latin music, showcasing the hit single "You Can't Get What You Want ". Two other singles fared well, with "Happy Ending" charting in five countries, and "Be My Number Two" enjoying moderate success in the UK.
"Is She Really Going Out with Him?" is a song written and performed by British musician Joe Jackson. It was released in October 1978 as his debut single and was later included on Jackson's debut album, Look Sharp! The track was one of the first Jackson recorded with his new backing band, a band he would perform with for his first three albums. Written as a humorous commentary on women dating unattractive men, the song contains a prominent bass line and a chorus praised by critics as memorable. Jackson has since stated that the song's reputation for being angry was untrue.
Live 1980/86 is a Joe Jackson double live album, released in May 1988. It was recorded during the 1980 Beat Crazy tour, the 1982-83 Night and Day tour, the 1984 Body & Soul tour, and the 1986 Big World tour. Notably, the album contains three different versions of "Is She Really Going Out with Him?"
Will Power is the eighth album by Joe Jackson. Released in 1987, it is his first experiment with classical music, continued in later albums including Night Music, Heaven and Hell, and Symphony No. 1.
Laughter & Lust is the 11th studio album by Joe Jackson, released in 1991. A year before, he left A&M Records, which soon released Steppin' Out: The Very Best of Joe Jackson, which became a Top Ten hit in the UK. Jackson subsequently signed a recording contract with Virgin Records.
Night Music is the 12th studio album by Joe Jackson, released in 1994 on Virgin Records. The album did not chart. Soon after the album's release, Jackson moved to the Sony Classical label.
"Real Men" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1982 as the lead single from his fifth studio album Night and Day. It was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum. The song became a hit only in the Dutch language area and Australia. In the Dutch Top 40 it reached the 15th position, and in the Flemish Radio 2 Top 30 it reached the 25th position. "Real Men" reached No. 89 in the UK and No. 6 in Australia. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Steve Barron. The song was covered by Tori Amos on her 2001 album of gender-swapped covers, Strange Little Girls.
"You Can't Get What You Want " is a single from Joe Jackson's 1984 album Body and Soul.
"Be My Number Two" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1984 as the third and final single from his sixth studio album Body and Soul. It was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum. "Be My Number Two" reached No. 70 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks.
"Right and Wrong" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1986 as the lead single from his live album Big World. It was written by Jackson, and produced by David Kershenbaum and Jackson. "Right and Wrong" peaked at No. 90 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 11 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
"(He's a) Shape in a Drape" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1988 as a single from the soundtrack album of the American biographical comedy-drama film Tucker: The Man and His Dream. The song was written and produced by Jackson.
"Nineteen Forever" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1989 as the lead single from his eighth studio album Blaze of Glory. It was written and produced by Jackson. "Nineteen Forever" reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and No. 16 on Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts.
Vinnie Zummo is a New York City session guitarist. He has also worked as a producer, writer, arranger, and sound designer. Zummo worked with Joe Jackson for seven years. He played on six Jackson albums and three world tours. He has also worked with various other popular artists.
"A Slow Song" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1982 as the closing track on his fifth studio album Night and Day. The song was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum.
"Down to London" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1989 as the second single from his eighth studio album Blaze of Glory. The song was written and produced by Jackson.