Makin' Happy

Last updated

"Makin' Happy"
Makin' happy.jpg
Single by Crystal Waters
from the album Surprise
Released1991
Genre House
Length
  • 5:33 (album version)
  • 6:21 (Hurley's Happy House Mix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Neal Conway
  • Mark Harris
  • Crystal Waters
Producer(s) The Basement Boys
Crystal Waters singles chronology
"Gypsy Woman"
(1991)
"Makin' Happy"
(1991)
"100% Pure Love"
(1994)
Music video
"Makin' Happy" on YouTube

"Makin' Happy" is a song by American singer and songwriter Crystal Waters, released in 1991 by Mercury and A&M as the second single from her debut studio album, Surprise (1991). It was the follow-up to Waters' hugely successful song "Gypsy Woman" and achieved moderate success in European countries. In the US, the song spent one week at number-one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and it also reached the top of the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. In the United Kingdom, the single peaked at number 18.

Contents

Critical reception

Alex Henderson from AllMusic complimented the song as a "highly addictive and enjoyable house/neo-disco fare". [1] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as "a frenetic and hypnotic jam". [2] He remarked that it "maintains a similar deep house vibe [as her first single]. Waters more than proves her songwriting talent here, while her unique feline vocals will test some and delight others." [3] Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer declared it as "a housy tune that's bound to, well, make you happy, what else?" [4] Push from Melody Maker felt it "would certainly do well as a follow-up. You might mistake it for Flowered Up's "Take It" until the oompah-bumped house beats and Crystal's jazzy vocals weigh in. The lyrics are basically all about having sex, when, where and how you fancy." [5]

Machgiel Bakker from Music & Media called it "pop-house". [6] An editor also commented in an album review, "Just repeat the words 'Makin' Happy' endlessly and you'll get a good flavour of 'Gypsy Woman, Part II'." [7] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update wrote that "the strange nasally pitched girl is less Eartha Kitt-like for her follow-up to 'Gypsy Woman', a jauntly trotting repetitive canterer with some "ooh wee ooh wee ooh" (and a guy's "so happy") instead of all the "la da dee, la dee da"." [8] Stuart Maconie from New Musical Express declared it as "a spectacularly bangin' tune". [9] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin described it as "ebullient". [10]

Track listing and formats

  • UK 7-inch vinyl single
  1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix) – 3:49
  2. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix) – 3:31
  • UK CD maxi-single
  1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix) – 3:49
  2. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix II) – 6:22
  3. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix) – 3:31
  4. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix II) – 7:52
  • Netherlands and UK 12-inch vinyl single
  1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's happy house mix) – 6:22
  2. "Makin' Happy" (basement boys happy club mix) – 7:52
  • UK CD maxi-single
  1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix 7") – 3:52
  2. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix 12") – 6:24
  3. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix 12") – 7:52
  • US 12-inch vinyl maxi-single
  1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix) – 6:23
  2. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Insane Mix) – 6:24
  3. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix) – 7:52
  4. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Hump) – 6:14

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [11] 21
Canada Dance/Urban ( RPM ) [12] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [13] 33
Europe (European Dance Radio) [14] 5
France (SNEP) [15] 17
Ireland (IRMA) [16] 22
Italy ( Musica e dischi ) [17] 9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [18] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [19] 27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [20] 22
UK Singles (OCC) [21] 18
UK Dance ( Music Week ) [22] 9
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [23] 1
US Dance Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [24] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [25] 63
US Radio Songs ( Billboard ) [26] 58

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References

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  14. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media . September 28, 1991. p. 13. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
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  26. "Crystal Waters Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2023.