Happy (Surface song)

"Happy"
Single by Surface
from the album Surface
B-side"Let's Try Again"
ReleasedFebruary 1987[1]
Genre
Length3:57
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
ProducerBernard 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

MN8 version

"Happy"
Single by MN8
from the album To the Next Level
B-side"I've Got a Little Something for You" (remix)
Released3 July 1995 (1995-07-03)
GenreNew jack swing[7]
Length4:10
Label
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
UK Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week)[26] 16

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 3 July 1995
  • CD1
  • cassette
[27]
10 July 1995 CD2 [28]
Australia 4 September 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
 [29]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Chart History - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS". Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ "On a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Record Mirror. Music Week. 15 July 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  27. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 1 July 1995. p. 31.
  28. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 8 July 1995. p. 27.
  29. ^ "New Releases – Product Available from : 04/09/95: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 290. 3 September 1995. p. 23.
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