Hamptons Music: Why Pharrell Makes Us So “Happy”
Originally written for the movie Despicable Me 2, Happy was released 7 months ago and since then, the official video on YouTube has been viewed by 77 million people. The unprecedented 24 hour Happy video has had over 7 million views. Happy is currently number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. For years, Pharrell’s work as a music producer has inspire every young producer with beats for sale to keep going at their craft, and now it appears as though he is seeing the sustained chart succss that he deserves.
So just why has “Happy” become so popular worldwide? Happy means something different for anyone who listens and sings along. It speaks to everyone, regardless of your age, ethnicity, nationality, language or religion. The message is something everyone can relate to. It is uplifting and inspiring. So simple yet complex because it makes you reflect on whatever struggles you are going through at the time. Happy reminds us that we can get through anything just by being positive. In the song, Pharrell also refers to people who may try to bring you down with their negativity, asking them to not hold back but also warns them that strength comes from your own happiness and anyone that tries to bring bad news his way is just wasting their time, “no offense.” Happy is universal and will continue to be popular for generations to come. The song is timeless, which may be part of the inspiration for Pharrell making a video that lasts 24 hours. You can listen to it at any time of the day, for as long as you need.
In an interview with USA Today Pharrell takes us back to the time when he was writing Happy. His task was to compose a song that would capture the transformation of the character Gru from Despicable Me 2. 
It took Pharrell nine attempts to finally come up with a song that would actually match the feeling of this character stating in his interview, “How do I make a song about this guy who is so happy, in a relentless mood and can’t be moved away from or distracted from his happiness That’s when I realized that the answer had been hiding in the question.” The answer was Happy.
Pharrell had a major impact on the music industry in 2013. His collaborations with Robin Thicke “Blurred Lines” and “Get Lucky” with Daft Punk, continuously topped the charts. Get Lucky, recently received two awards at the 2014 Grammys: Record of the year and Best Pop Duo Group Performance. Pharrell may soon have one more accolade to add to his success. Happy has been nominated for an Academy Award. The Oscars will air on March 2, 2014 and will feature a performance from Pharrell.
Pharrell has recently announced that his second solo album G I R L will be released on March 3, 2014. The new album which will be released the day after Pharrell receives an Academy Award for Happy (fingers crossed), will feature Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk, Alicia Keys, JoJo and Justin Timberlake.
If you haven’t seen the official Happy video you can check it out here:
For the 24 Hour Video visit 24 Hours of Happy.The first time I visited 24 Hours of Happy, it was around 5:00pm and Steve Carell was on the school bus signing along to Happy. I found this fitting since Steve Carrell voices the character the song was created for in Despicable Me 2. There are many celebrity appearances throughout the 24 hour video: Kelly Osbourne, Magic Johnson, Jimmy Kimmel, Jamie Fox and Miranda Crosgrove. What makes watching Happy even more relatable are the regular, every day people in the video that break out into their own unique dance, strut or walk. There is no right or wrong way to be Happy.
You can download Happy on ITunes and Pharrell’s new Album G I R L on March 3, here:Download Happy
If you’d like to sing or clap along, here are the lyrics:
It might seem crazy what I’m about to say Sunshine she’s here you can take a break I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way Hook: Because I’m Happy Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Because I’m happy Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Because I’m Happy Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Because I’m Happy Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do Here comes bad news talking this and that Well give me all you got and don’t hold it back Well I should probably warm you I’ll be just fine No offense to you, don’t waste your time Here’s why Hook Bridge: Bring me down Can’t nothing bring me down Your love is too high Bring me down Can’t nothing bring me down I said (let me tell you now) Bring me down Can’t nothng bring me down Your love is too high Bring me down Can’t nothing bring me down I said Hook Be “Happy”
New York City, November 12th 2013… Starlit Evening at the Waldorf Astoria, The New York Women’s Foundation celebrated its 26th Anniversary at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. The event was held in the world-famous hotel’s Starlight Rooftop where guests mixed and mingled speaking of the accomplishments of those being honored that evening. Coined a Starlit Evening, the soiree commemorated the philanthropic contributions of world-renowned fashion designer Carolina Herrera, Morgan Stanley and the Ford Foundation. Ruth Porat, the Chief Financial Officer for Morgan Stanley accepted the award for the company’s two decades of philanthropic leadership and support and Darren Walker, President accepted the award on behalf of the Ford Foundation for helping change lives through a distribution of $140 million in annual grants.
