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    Happy Nation

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 13 min
    For the song, see Happy Nation (song).
    See also: The Sign (Ace of Base album)
    Happy Nation
    Studio album by
    Ace of Base
    Released2 November 1992
    RecordedJanuary-May 1992
    GenreDance-pop,[1] reggae-pop
    Length49:21
    Label
    • Mega
    • PolyGram
    • Mushroom
    • Festival
    Producer
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Johnny Lindén
    • Denniz Pop
    • T.O.E.C.
    Ace of Base chronology
    Happy Nation
    (1992)     		The Sign
    (1993)
    Alternative cover
    U.S. version (re-release)
    Singles from Happy Nation
    1. "Wheel of Fortune"
      Released: 29 May 1992
    2. "All That She Wants"
      Released: 31 August 1992
    3. "Happy Nation"
      Released: 7 December 1992
    4. "Waiting for Magic"
      Released: 12 April 1993
    5. "The Sign"
      Released: 1 November 1993
    6. "Don't Turn Around"
      Released: 14 March 1994
    7. "Living in Danger"
      Released: 4 October 1994
    Professional ratings
    Review scores
    SourceRating
    The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
    The Guardian(favorable)[3]
    Music Week[4]

    Happy Nation is the debut studio album by Swedish pop group Ace of Base. It was initially released in Denmark on 2 November 1992 by Mega Records. During development of the record, the group was heavily influenced by a Jamaican reggae band residing in a nearby studio.[5] For a release in North America, Japan and some Latin American countries, the album was retitled The Sign with a heavily revised track listing and three new tracks. To coincide with this, Happy Nation was reissued with the new tracks in other territories as Happy Nation (U.S. Version). In 1995, Guinness Book of World Records named the LP the best-selling debut studio effort in music history, at more than 19 million copies sold worldwide.[6] By 1998, Happy Nation/The Sign had sold approximately 21 million units including 9 million in the US alone.[7] Happy Nation/The Sign is one of the best-selling albums of all time.

    Background and release[edit]

    Speaking with Music & Media magazine about the album, Metronome Records managing director Albert Slendebroek said of the album:

    Everything was being driven by grunge or techno, then suddenly these people arrived and did something which was completely different and happy and simple. I just think they write brilliant pop tunes and it hit a nerve at the time. (...) I think they've developed their own style. If you listen to the radio and you hear a record, you immediately recognise that it's Ace of Base.

    — Albert Slendebroek, [8]

    Following its initial release in Denmark in November 1992, Happy Nation was gradually released across Europe throughout 1993; first in Norway in January, then in Sweden and Germany in February, and in the UK in June. It would also be released in Africa, and Latin America, and reached the number one position in at least 10 countries.

    Happy Nation (U.S. Version) came on 22 November 1993 to coincide with the album's release in North America under the title The Sign. This edition included the new tracks "The Sign", "Living in Danger", and the Tina Turner cover "Don't Turn Around", along with a remix of "Waiting for Magic" and a version of "Voulez-Vous Danser" with revised vocals. It also included the new track "Hear Me Calling", which did not appear on The Sign. The songs "Münchhausen (Just Chaos)" and "Dimension of Depth" from the original album were removed altogether. The new version of the album was released in the UK on 14 March 1994, and climbed to number 1 on the UK Albums Chart on 26 June, beating the number 21 peak of the original release.

    In 2016, Russian label Mirumir released an "Ultimate Edition" on vinyl containing the original track list from the 1992 release, the additional tracks from The Sign/Happy Nation (U.S. Version) releases and the iTunes bonuses from the three releases.

    Critical reception[edit]

    Alan Jones from Music Week viewed it as a "diverse but largely dance-orientated album. It includes more gentle reggae stuff but also some techno and house." He felt that "nothing here compares favourably" with "All That She Wants", "though if the right tracks are picked and remixed there are more hits."[4]

    Track listing[edit]

    Happy Nation – original version (1992)[9]
    No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
    1."Voulez-Vous Danser"
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • T.O.E.C.
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:17
    2."All That She Wants"
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Denniz Pop
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:30
    3."Münchhausen (Just Chaos)"
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:27
    4."Happy Nation"
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		4:11
    5."Waiting for Magic"
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		5:17
    6."Fashion Party"JokerJoker
    • Joker
    • Johnny Lindén[a]
    • Martin Selwall[b]
    		4:10
    7."Wheel of Fortune"
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • T.O.E.C.
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:52
    8."Dancer in a Daydream"
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:37
    9."My Mind" (mindless mix)
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		4:09
    10."Wheel of Fortune" (original club mix)
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • T.O.E.C.
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:58
    11."Dimension of Depth"N/AJoker
    • Joker
    • Buddha[b]
    		1:45
    12."Young and Proud"
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:54
    13."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Denniz Pop
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		4:14
    Happy Nation – remastered standard version (bonus track)[10]
    No.TitleLength
    14."Moogoperator"3:31
    Happy Nation – U.S. version[11]
    No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
    1."All That She Wants"
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Denniz Pop
    		3:30
    2."Don't Turn Around"
    • Albert Hammond
    • Diane Warren
    • Hammond
    • Warren
    • Tommy Ekman
    • Per Adebratt
    		3:48
    3."Young and Proud"
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:56
    4."The Sign"
    • Joker
    		Joker
    • Joker
    • Denniz Pop
    • Douglas Carr
    • Buddha[d]
    		3:08
    5."Living in Danger"
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Ekman
    • Adebratt
    • T.O.E.C.[d]
    		3:41
    6."Voulez-Vous Danser"
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • T.O.E.C.
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:17
    7."Happy Nation"
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		4:13
    8."Hear Me Calling"
    • Linn
    • Jenny
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Linn
    • Jenny
    • Buddha
    • Stonestream[a]
    • John Ballard[a]
    		3:48
    9."Waiting for Magic" (total remix 7")
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Buddha
    • Stonestream
    		3:50
    10."Fashion Party"
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		Joker4:10
    11."Wheel of Fortune"
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • T.O.E.C.
    		3:52
    12."Dancer in a Daydream"
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:37
    13."My Mind" (mindless mix)
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		4:08
    14."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    • Denniz Pop
    		4:14
    15."Happy Nation" (Remix)
    • Joker
    • Buddha[c]
    • Joker
    • Buddha
    		3:45
    Happy Nation – remastered U.S. version (bonus track)[12]
    No.TitleLength
    16."Giving It Up" (Ace Version)3:29
    Happy Nation - China edition[13]
    No.TitleLength
    1."All That She Wants"3:30
    2."Happy Nation"4:11
    3."Wheel of Fortune" (original club mix)3:58
    4."Voulez-Vous Danser"3:17
    5."Young and Proud"3:54
    6."Dancer in a Daydream"3:37
    7."Wheel of Fortune"3:52
    8."Waiting for Magic"5:17
    9."My Mind" (mindless mix)4:09
    10."Fashion Party"4:10
    11."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)4:14
    Happy Nation – U.S. version (All That She Wants: The Classic Collection)
    No.TitleLength
    14."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)4:14

    Notes

    • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
    • ^[b] signifies re-editing
    • ^[c] signifies rap lyrics
    • ^[d] signifies pre-production
    • ^[e] signifies a remixer

    Release history[edit]

    Region Date Label
    Denmark 2 November 1992 Mega
    Germany 22 February 1993 PolyGram
    United Kingdom 7 June 1993 London Records 90
    Europe (re-issue) 22 November 1993 Mega / PolyGram
    United Kingdom (re-issue) 14 March 1994 London Records 90

    Charts[edit]

    Certifications and sales[edit]

    Region Certification Certified units/sales
    Australia (ARIA)[42] Platinum 70,000^
    Austria (IFPI Austria)[43] Platinum 50,000*
    Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[44] 2× Platinum 160,000^
    Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[45] Gold 82,715[45]
    France (SNEP)[46] Diamond 1,000,000*
    Germany (BVMI)[47] 3× Platinum 1,500,000^
    Korea — 700,000[48]
    Netherlands (NVPI)[49] 2× Platinum 200,000^
    Malaysia — 200,000[48]
    New Zealand (RMNZ)[50] Platinum 15,000^
    Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51] Platinum 100,000^
    Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[52] Platinum 50,000^
    Sweden — 50,000[53]
    Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[54]
    Happy Nation (US version)     		Platinum 50,000^
    United Kingdom (BPI)[55] 2× Platinum 600,000^
    Summaries
    Worldwide — 21,000,000[7]

    * Sales figures based on certification alone.
    ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

    See also[edit]

    • List of best-selling albums in France
    • List of best-selling albums in Germany
    • List of best-selling albums
    • List of diamond-certified albums in Canada
    • List of number-one albums of 1994 (U.S.)
    • List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 1990s

    References[edit]

    1. ^ Larkin, Colin (2010). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Volume 1. Guinness Publishing. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-5615-9176-3. When Ace of Base scored a massive worldwide number 1 in 1993 with 'All That She Wants', the comparisons to fellow Swedish group, Abba, seemed obvious: Two female vocalists, one blonde, one brunette, and two male musicians, playing catchy dance pop.
    2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
    3. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (1993-06-11). "Music: Rock/pop". The Guardian.
    4. ^ a b Jones, Alan (1993-06-19). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
    5. ^ "Ulf Ekberg (Ace of Base): The Interview". EuroMenTravel. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
    6. ^ Tortorici, Frank (2000-05-18). "Ace of Base's Jenny Berggren". MTV. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
    7. ^ a b Ferro, Charles (30 May 1998). "Ace Of Base Sprouts 'Flowers'". Billboard. p. 70. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
    8. ^ Stratton, Sally. "Radio Plays Key Role In New Ace Of Base Album" (PDF). Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    9. ^ The Sign (booklet). Ace of Base. Mega Records. 1992. MRCD 3206.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    10. ^ "Happy Nation (Remastered) av Ace of Base". June 1993 – via itunes.apple.com.
    11. ^ The Sign (booklet). Ace of Base. Mega Records. 1993. MRCD 3239.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    12. ^ "Happy Nation (U.S. Version) [Remastered] av Ace of Base". January 1994 – via itunes.apple.com.
    13. ^ "Cartula Trasera De Ace Of Base". Coveralia.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
    14. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
    15. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
    16. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
    17. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Ace of Base". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 9. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
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    19. ^ "Archívum › Kereső - előadó/cím szerint". Mahasz. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
    20. ^ Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Album 1964–2019 (in Italian). ISBN 9781094705002.
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    47. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ace Of Base; 'Happy Nation')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
    48. ^ a b "Aces High" (PDF). Billboard. 1 October 1994. p. 45. Retrieved 6 May 2021 – via World Radio History.
    49. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Happy Nation in the "Artiest of titel" box.
    50. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
    51. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 937. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
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    53. ^ Tilli, Robert (27 March 1993). "Ace Of Base Hops From Region To Region" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 19. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
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    Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy Nation
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