
NOTE: I WANTED TO SHARE THIS NEW
SECTION I AM ADDING TO CHAPTER
EIGHT - MORE HEAVEN ON EARTH -
LOVE AND HAPPINESS, WHICH FEATURES
THE "HAPPY" SONG/VIDEO PHENOMENON
SPARKED BY PHARRELL WILLIAMS' MEGA
HIT SONG, "HAPPY." IF YOU HAVE NOT
ALREADY VISITED THE WE ARE HAPPY
FROM SITE , BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE
FOLLOWING LINK, WHICH IS NOW POSTING
OVER 1950 VIDEOS FROM 153 COUNTRIES.
WE ARE HAPPY FROM SITE
_____________________________________________________________________
The belief that we can rely on shortcuts
to happiness, joy, rapture, comfort, and
ecstasy, rather than be entitled to these
feelings by the exercise of strengths and
virtues, leads to legions of people who in
the middle of great wealth are starving
spiritually.
Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D.,
Founder of Positive Psychology
THE “HAPPY” SONG PHENOMENON
Although Dr. Seligman, quoted above, reminds us that there are no shortcuts to happiness: I would argue the point, citing an outbreak of happiness created by Pharrell Williams’ hit song and video, simply titled, “Happy.” The song has been extremely successful, peaking at number one in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and 19 other countries. It sold 5.6 million copies in the U.S. alone. The video has created a virtual phenomenon. Before, I fill in the details, let’s test my hypothesis, by watching the original video below, and honestly assessing if we feel a surge of happiness, and maybe, even a few tears of joy. (Click on the download below to view the video.)
Download Happy (from Despicable Me 2)
Ok, first, was the happiness contagious? Did the lyrics fully convey that this emotion we call happiness, does not just happen to you, it springs from you? Let’s look at the lyrics:
"Happy" By Pharrell Williams
Verse 1:
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
Chorus:
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
Verse 2:
Here come bad news talking this and
that, yeah,
Well, give me all you got, and don't hold it
back, yeah,
Well, I should probably warn you I'll be just
fine, yeah,
No offense to you, don't waste your time
Here's why
Chorus repeated
Bridge:
(Happy) Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
My level's too high bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
I said (let me tell you now) bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
My level's too high
Bring me down
Can't nothing bring me down
I said
Chorus Repeated x2
(Happy) [repeats]
Bring me down... can't nothing...
Bring me down... my level's too high...
Bring me down... can't nothing...
Bring me down, I said (let me tell you now)
Chorus Repeated x2
{Hey C'mon}
It was Ann, who late one night in early 2014, suggested I watch this video - by Pharrell Williams, a singer, songwriter, and producer, originally from Virginia Beach - based on a song that was featured on the soundtrack of the 2013 movie Despicable Me 2, and republished in early 2014 as lead song of Williams’ second studio album, titled Girl. I said to Ann, that it was strange she should mention Pharrell Williams, since he was featured on two Grammy nominated songs I had been listening to, Get Lucky by Daft Punk, and Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. Although, I really hadn’t heard his Happy song, since our grandson had seen the movie with his other grandparents.
A little later that evening, as we were getting ready for bed, I could hear Ann repeatedly watching this Happy video, over and over, its catchy melody and lyrics repeating on her iPad. I asked, cautiously, why she kept listening to the same video - she looked up, smiling, and said, “you should see this, there are thousands of “Happy” videos, from all over the world, even our hometown has produced a very sophisticated video, with local notables dancing and singing to the soundtrack.”
It turns out, when the Happy song was originally rereleased as a single, in November of 2013 - in preparation for what I would assume was Williams’ early 2014 release of his studio CD, Girl - accompanied with the video above, along with a companion website - 24HourHappy.com - featuring the world’s first 24 hour music video; overflowing with a host of guest celebrities singing and dancing to this Happy song, as Pharrell Williams opened each song segment. The Happy videos became an instant sensation, spawning countless cover videos on YouTube, usually labeled Pharrell Williams – Happy – We Are Happy from (name of the city). Inspired by this global phenomenon, a French couple launched a website http://www.wearehappyfrom.com to gather all the Happy videos at one internet location. As of August 2014, more than 1,950 Happy music videos from 153 countries had been created. Want a thrill, go to the site and take a world Happy tour – it is amazing!
I want to continue our experiment, doing some low cost mood altering, as we proceed on with the remainder of this chapter and the book, by asking you to invest $1.99 in the on-line purchase of the Happy song from iTunes, or whatever site you use to download music via the internet; that is, if you are not already one of the millions who own the song. Next, I am going to suggest that you set the Happy song as the alarm sound on your phone, or related device, to wake you up in the morning, or whatever time of day you actually start. If you participate in this experiment, I believe you will find it hard to shake this songs meme like qualities, and you will spend the start of your day, everyday, focusing on being happy. Feel free to email me directly at FindingGodOnTheTrain@gmail.com with your reactions, and I will share all these responses on the blog.
I believe, this Happy song phenomenon, is a clear indication that a vast number of people on our planet are just tired of living in an unhappy world, wishing desperately for something positive and awe inspiring to lift them, their families, their communities, their countries, and all humankind in general, out of the mire of depression and hopelessness we seem to have created for ourselves. You may say this is only a band-aid, but I say, when you are bleeding, a band-aid is essential.
So, as I am putting on the finishing touches to this revised addition to Chapter Eight – More Heaven On Earth – Finding Love And Happiness, with the inclusion of the Happy song phenomenon section above: Ann, a Green Bay Packers fan and shareholder, receives an email from the Packers home office that Pharrell Williams will musically kickoff the opening Thursday night football game of the 2014 NFL season, between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers, in Seattle. I am sure the Happy song will be a featured on the set list, and I would not be surprised to see a - We Are Happy from the NFL music video to support this effort.
Thanks for reading,
With love, G.