I Could Be Happy

Last updated
"I Could Be Happy"
I Could Be Happy Altered Images cover.jpg
Single by Altered Images
from the album Pinky Blue
B-side
  • "Insects"
  • "Disco Pop Stars" (12-inch only)
ReleasedDecember 1981
Genre New wave
Length3:28
Label
Songwriter(s) Altered Images
Producer(s) Martin Rushent
Altered Images singles chronology
"Happy Birthday"
(1981)
"I Could Be Happy"
(1981)
"See Those Eyes"
(1982)
Music video
"I Could Be Happy" on YouTube

"I Could Be Happy" is a song by Scottish new wave band Altered Images, released as the first single from their second album, Pinky Blue . Their second top-10 hit in the UK, the song peaked at number seven in December 1981, and remained on the chart for 12 weeks. It also reached the top 40 in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand and was their first and only single to chart in the United States, on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart at number 45 in April 1982.

Contents

Music video

The music video for this song was a brief mainstay on MTV in its early days. The band members are shown holding different pastel pieces and playing them like they were their musical instruments, and singer Clare Grogan is shown singing the "I could be happy, I could be happy" part in scenes where those lyrics are on the screen with a dot weirdly moving around, but hitting each syllable in time. Near the end, the band members put their pieces down to show it draws a very colorful happy face, then the video ends with Grogan riding out the song with the band playing their real instruments. (MTV initially accidentally said the song was from their Happy Birthday album.)

Track listings

7-inch single [1]

A. "I Could Be Happy"
B. "Insects"

12-inch single [2]

A1. "I Could Be Happy"
B1. "Insects"
B2. "Disco Pop Stars"

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [9] Silver250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. I Could Be Happy (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Altered Images. Epic Records. 1981. EPC A1834.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. I Could Be Happy (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Altered Images. Epic Records. 1981. EPC A13 1834.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 16. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  4. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Could Be Happy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  5. "Altered Images – I Could Be Happy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  6. "Altered Images: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  7. "Altered Images Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  8. "End of Year Charts 1982". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  9. "British single certifications – Altered Images – I Could Be Happy". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 5 December 2020.