Happy (from the film, Despicable Me 2)

It’s snowy and cold today in Winnipeg, Canada, where I live. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun. Just maybe not outside today, as it’s pretty windy on top of all that. So it was a good morning to do 55 kilometres (34 miles) on the indoor bike trainer with some pals on Zwift.

Our city hasn’t had a snowfall record like last year (so far), but I still needed to rake snow off the summer porch roof this weekend, as it was getting quite deep. It was heavy work but made lighter with my sweety helping shovel away the stuff that fell onto the sidewalks.

Working together is always better as it makes the job go faster, and I managed not to pull any ice chunks off the roof onto Sweety. I won’t say we were dancing like the people in today’s video, but we felt accomplished getting such a big job done together.

In 2010, Black American neo-soul singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer Pharrell Williams (b. 1973) worked on the soundtrack for the animated film Despicable Me. In 2013 he wrote three songs for the sequel, Despicable Me 2, including today’s selection, “Happy.” In addition to writing it, he produced and performed the song, the sole single from the movie soundtrack album. (Williams sings lead and some of the backup vocals and plays all the instrumental parts — drums, bass and keyboards — on the studio recording.)

“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

(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

Here come bad news, talking this and that (Yeah!)
Well, give me all you got, don’t hold it back (Yeah!)
Well, I should probably warn ya, I’ll be just fine (Yeah!)
No offense to you, don’t waste your time, here’s why

(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

Bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down
My level’s too high to bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down, I said
Bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down
My level’s too high to bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down, I said”

“Happy,” by Pharrell Williams.
Lyrics retrieved from Genius.com.

The uptempo soul/neo-soul song has been highly successful for Williams, charting at number one in Canada, the USA, the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand upon release. The song spawned an official music video (see below), plus the world’s first “24-hour video,” a series of 24, one-hour videos.

It’s a great song for a cold day, a hot one, a Monday, or any day when the energy level is low (or high!). William’s exuberant vocals and the cheery cameos by many people, including some celebrities, will surely have you smiling and your toes tapping.

Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here. Please enjoy the official video from the Pharrell Williams YouTube channel:

With my best wishes,

Steve