Reading Time: 7 min read

11 Totally Happy Songs features music courtesy of Drake, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, and Pharrell Williams among others.

Prepare to be H-A-P-P-Y – happy! Why? 11 Totally Happy Songs of course – a playlist chocked-full of good vibes. Most specifically, every one of the 11 songs appearing on this list features the word ‘happy’ in its respective song title. Yeah, it’s really that simple. Musicians contributing to the happiness includes Drake, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, and Pharrell Williams among others.

1. Paul McCartney, “Happy with You”

Egypt Station • Capitol • 2018

“I used to drink too much / Forgot to come home… / But these days I don’t / ‘Cause I’m happy with you.” “Happy with You” keeps the momentum of Egypt Station going, incorporating a number of lovely musical cues. Paul McCartney remains sincere and incredibly thoughtful in his songwriting. Essentially, he mentions his mistakes and lack of maturity in the past, but states he’s past it thanks to being “happy with you.”

2. Drake, “Ratchet Happy Birthday”

Scorpion • Cash Money • 2018

“It’s your birthday, baby, it’s your birthday / Yeah, who’s gonna love you on your worst day?” On the enthusiastic “Ratchet Happy Birthday,” Drake is assisted by an uncredited PARTYNEXTDOOR (there’s plenty of uncredited features on Scorpion). While “Ratchet Happy Birthday” is no masterpiece – there’s not much substance – it is a soulful track that definitely makes you want to celebrate. After all, “It’s your fuckin’ birthday… it’s your brrrrrrr…”

3. Zedd & Elley Duhé, “Happy Now”

Happy Now – Single • Interscope • 2018

“You keep on talking sweet, till your fingers bleed / But you don’t dare ask me how I’ve been.” Grammy-winning, Russian-German DJ and producer Zedd returned with hot new single in 2018, “Happy Now”. He’s assisted by rising American pop singer, Elley Duhé. Ultimately, the two work together marvelously well on “Happy Now.” Zedd emphasizes rhythm throughout the course of “Happy Now.” It begins with rhythm guitar, a common EDM production touch, but effective as the chief accompaniment on the first iteration of the chorus.

Duhé sings:

“You’re a world away
Somewhere in the crowd
In a foreign place
Are you happy now?
There’s nothing left to say
So I shut my mouth
So won’t you tell me babe
Are you happy now?”

Duhé sounds distinct, commanding, and nuanced – Her pain is our pleasure. Following the chorus, there’s a nice timbral contrast on the first verse. The sound evolves from more of a rock/pop sound, to integrating more dance and electronic cues. The key piece is the sick beat. The ‘second’ everything seems to be more developed. That includes the second chorus, which includes fuller production, as well as the second verse, which is groovier and more invested into the dance-pop aesthetic. Additionally, there’s the signature EDM solo, combined with a post-chorus, extended following the third chorus. Duhé sings, “You’re the only one who can / You’re the only, you’re the only.” Also, worth noting is the outro, where she sounds like a robot thanks to the use of vocoder.

4. Kacey Musgraves, “Happy & Sad”

Golden Hour • MCA Nashville • 2018

“And I’m the kind of person who stars getting kinda nervous / When I’m having the time of my life.” Consistency is Kacey Musgraves’ best attribute throughout the course of her third studio album, Golden Hour. The song at hand, “Happy & Sad” isn’t among the gems necessarily, but, like everything else, it’s consistent and enjoyable. Also, worth noting is the fact that it’s both groovy and mellow, while regarding the lyrics and form, the chorus is the centerpiece.

“Is there a word for the way that I’m feeling tonight?

Happy and sad at the same time

You got me smiling with tears in my eyes

I never felt so high

No, I’ve never been this far off of the ground

And they say everything that goes up must come down

But I don’t wanna come down.”

5. Paramore, “Fake Happy”

After Laughter • Atlantic • 2017

“So, I’ve been doing a good job of makin’ ‘em think / I’m quite alright, better hope I don’t blink / You see, it’s easy when I’m stomping on a beat / But no one sees me when I crawl back underneath.” “Fake Happy” provides some unpredictability on After Laughter, the fifth studio album by Paramore, with a slow, acoustic-based intro. Following the faux happiness, “Fake Happy” kicks into full force with it pronounced bass line, synths, electric guitar, and hella groovy, punchy drums. Hayley Williams’ vocals remain clear, uninhibited by the production, particularly on the irresistible refrain:

“Oh please, don’t ask me how I’ve been

Don’t make me pretend

Oh no, oh what’s the use

Oh please, I bet everybody here is fake happy too.”

6. Weezer, “Happy Hour”

Pacific Daydream • Atlantic • 2017

“I’m like Ponce de Leon / Setting on a ship for the new world / Check out the birds and flowers / Let’s chill out on this island…” Okay… “Happy Hour” commences with bright, enthusiastic production. Weezer hipster frontman Rivers Cuomo matches the exuberance vocally, making an alluring case for the record. Prior to the aforementioned excerpt from the second verse, he’s “like Stevie Ray Vaughan on the stage, high on music,” his boss serves up buzz kill on the first. Bummer. The chorus is shines like a beacon. It’s simple, but effectively conveys the needs of the ‘down’ singer. All in all, “Happy Hour” is enjoyable, if a bit too loud and somewhat novel.

7. Foo Fighters, “Happy Ever After (Zero Hour)”

Concrete and Gold • RCA • 2017

“The sun went down on another perfect day / Busy counting shadows on the wall The weeds are swallowing up the flower bed / Roses in the whiskey jar / Blood on the thorns Drink until the taste is gone.” Interestingly, within the context of Concrete and Gold, Foo Fighters exhibit some conservativeness on “Happy Ever After (Zero Hour).” Yes, Dave Grohl and company pull back as opposed to punch you in your face. While the hard-hitting stuff provides more of an adrenaline rush, this more melodic, thoughtful side of the band is captivating as well. “Happy Ever After (Zero Hour)” is one of few songs where the ‘cool’ is maintained, not replaced with angst.

8. Hopsin, “Happy Ending”

No Shame • 300 Entertainment • 2017

OMG. What in the world was Hopsin thinking with his 2017 song, “Happy Ending?” It’s pretty hard to decide what’s worse about this song… ugh! Is the faux, offensive, stereotypical, racist Asian accent that’s most disturbing or forced, gross sexual references? The best quality is the production, but that’s not enough to make this a very “bad ending” for Hopsin – worse, anyone who subjects themselves to listening to this. But, since it incorporates the word happy, and it makes me happy to scrutinize it, it ears a spot on this playlist.

9. St. Vincent, “Happy Birthday, Johnny”

MASSEDUCTION • Loma Vista • 2017

“The last time you called, it was on New Year’s Eve / You asked me for dough to get somethin’ to eat / Since we last spoke, you live on the street / Yeah, I wouldn’t believe all the shit that you’ve seen.” One assumes that ‘Johnny’ on “Happy Birthday, Johnny” is the same ‘Johnny’ who appeared in “Prince Johnny” from St. Vincent (2014). Ultimately, St. Vincent (Annie Clark) delivers a thoughtful ballad, contrasting the more cutting-edge “Los Ageless” that precedes it on MASSEDUCTION. “Happy Birthday, Johnny” features strong vocals and is a well-rounded song. “Happy birthday, Johnny / Wherever you are.”

10. Thomas Rhett, “Die a Happy Man”

Tangled Up • Valory • 2015

“And if I never get to see the Northern lights / Or if I never get to see the Eiffel Tower at night / Oh, if all I got is your hand in my hand / Baby, I could die a happy man.” No sugarcoating it – “Die A Happy Man” is the biggest hit of country musician Thomas Rhett’s career. In the context of his sophomore album, Tangled Up, it opts for a more traditional sound. Even so, the record recalls the Ed Sheeran mega-hit, “Thinking Out Loud”, a soulful pop record that recalls classic soul. “Die A Happy Man” is country – the pedal steel itself is enough to signify this – but also soulful with crossover appeal.

11. Pharrell Williams, “Happy”

G I R L • Columbia • 2014

“It might seem crazy what I’m ‘bout 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.” If you don’t recognize the lyrics of the Grammy-winning Pharrell Williams record “Happy,” then maybe you’ve totally been living under a rock. “Happy” was ubiquitous when it arrived in 2014 – totally inescapable. It’s totally understandable though – it’s infectious, positive, and incredibly thoughtful. Yeah, it was totally overplayed, but it’s tough to deny the power of this contemporary classic.

“(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…”

11 Totally Happy Songs | Playlist