Happy (Surface song)

Song by Surface

"Happy"

Single by Surface
from the album  Surface
B-side| "Let's Try Again"
Released| February 1987[1]
Recorded| 1986
Genre|

* Soul[2]
* synth-pop[2]

Length| 3:57
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)|

* Bernard Jackson
* David Conley
* David Townsend

Producer(s)| Bernard 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

[edit]

* UK & US 7" single

1. "Happy" – 3:57
2. "Let's Try Again" – 3:55

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1987)  | Peak
position

|

UK Singles (OCC)[4] | 56
US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 20
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[5] | 24
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[1] | 2

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1987)  | Position

|

US Hot Crossover Singles (Billboard)[6] | 20

## MN8 version

[edit]

"Happy"

Single by MN8
from the album  To the Next Level
B-side| "I've Got a Little Something for You" (remix)
Released| 3 July 1995 (1995-07-03)[7]
Genre| New jack swing[8]
Length| 4:10
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)|

* Bernard Jackson
* David Townsend
* David Conley

Producer(s)|

* 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 by Columbia Records as the third single from their debut album, To the Next Level (1995).[9][10] 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.[11][12]

### Critical reception

[edit]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton described the song as "another immaculate slice of swingbeat pop and another smash hit to boot".[13] 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."[8] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave 'Happy' 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."[14]

### Track listings

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

Chart (1995)  | Peak
position

|

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[15] | 33
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] | 56
Europe (European Dance Radio)[17] | 18
Europe (European Hit Radio)[18] | 36
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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Chart History - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021.
2. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (November 3, 2021). "The Number Ones: Surface's "The First Time". Stereogum. Retrieved December 19, 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 November 18, 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 November 17, 2021.
6. ^ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Hot Crossover Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52\. December 26, 1987. p. Y-27. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
7. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. July 1, 1995. p. 31.
8. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 29\. July 22, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
9. ^ "Billboard Magazine". Billboard Newspaper. August 1995.
10. ^ "Happy – MN8". AllMusic.
11. ^ "From pop star to mystical figure in TV show". Kurrent music. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
12. ^ "MN8 Soul Addict". Soul Addict.
13. ^ Masterton, James (July 9, 1995). "Week Ending July 15th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
14. ^ Daniels, Leesa (July 5, 1995). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 54. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
15. ^ "MN8 – Happy" (in French). Ultratop 50.
16. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 30\. July 29, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
17. ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 34\. August 26, 1995. p. 15. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
18. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 33\. August 19, 1995. p. 29. Retrieved April 10, 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\. September 23, 1995. p. 27.
21. ^ "MN8 – Happy" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
22. ^ "MN8 – Happy" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
23. ^ "MN8 – Happy". Top 40 Singles.
24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 May 2023.

* v
* t
* e

MN8

Studio albums|

* To the Next Level
* Freaky

Singles|

* "I've Got a Little Something for You"
* "If You Only Let Me In"
* "Happy"
* "Baby It's You"
* "Pathway to the Moon"
* "Tuff Act to Follow"
* "Dreaming"

Related articles|

* Dee Tails

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