Be Happy (Mary J. Blige song): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Binksternet (talk | contribs) Reverted 1 edit by 35.128.24.120 (talk): Rv unimportant |
||
(23 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown) | |||
Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
| album = [[My Life (Mary J. Blige album)|My Life]] |
| album = [[My Life (Mary J. Blige album)|My Life]] |
||
| released = {{Start date|1994|10|26|mf=y}} |
| released = {{Start date|1994|10|26|mf=y}} |
||
| recorded = |
| recorded = |
||
| studio = |
| studio = |
||
| venue = |
| venue = |
||
| genre = |
| genre = |
||
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] |
|||
* [[hip hop soul]] |
|||
| length = 5:49 |
| length = 5:49 |
||
| label = |
| label = |
||
* [[Uptown Records|Uptown]] |
|||
*[[MCA Records|MCA]] |
* [[MCA Records|MCA]] |
||
| writer = |
| writer = |
||
* Mary J. Blige |
|||
*Arlene DelValle |
* Arlene DelValle |
||
*[[Sean Combs|Sean "Puffy" Combs]] |
* [[Sean Combs|Sean "Puffy" Combs]] |
||
*[[Trackmasters|Jean-Claude Olivier]] |
* [[Trackmasters|Jean-Claude Olivier]] |
||
*[[Curtis Mayfield]] |
* [[Curtis Mayfield]] |
||
| producer = |
| producer = |
||
* Sean "Puffy" Combs |
|||
*[[Trackmasters|Poke]] |
|||
* [[Trackmasters|Poke]] |
|||
| prev_title = [[My Love (Mary J. Blige song)|My Love]] |
| prev_title = [[My Love (Mary J. Blige song)|My Love]] |
||
| prev_year = 1994 |
| prev_year = 1994 |
||
| next_title = [[I'm Going Down (Rose Royce song)#Mary J. Blige version|I'm Going Down]] |
| next_title = [[I'm Going Down (Rose Royce song)#Mary J. Blige version|I'm Going Down]] |
||
| next_year = 1995 |
| next_year = 1995 |
||
| misc = {{Extra album cover |
|||
| type = single |
|||
| caption = US retail cassette edition; the US CD release was promo-only{{ffdc|1=Be Happy (Mary J. Blige song).jpg|log=2020 December 25|date=December 2020}} |
|||
}} |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
"'''Be Happy'''" is a song by American singer [[Mary J. Blige]]. It was written by Blige, [[Sean "Puffy" Combs]], Arlene DeValle, and [[Trackmasters Entertainment|Jean-Claude Olivier]] from duo [[Poke & Tone]] for her second studio album, ''[[My Life (Mary J. Blige album)|My Life]]'' (1994), while production was helmed by Combs and Olivier. "Be Happy" contains an instrumental sample of the song "You're So Good to Me" (1979) by musician [[Curtis Mayfield]] and a re-sung vocal portion of the record "[[I Want You (Marvin Gaye album)|I Want You]]" (1976) by [[Marvin Gaye]]. |
"'''Be Happy'''" is a song by American singer [[Mary J. Blige]]. It was written by Blige, [[Sean "Puffy" Combs]], Arlene DeValle, and [[Trackmasters Entertainment|Jean-Claude Olivier]] from duo [[Poke & Tone]] for her second studio album, ''[[My Life (Mary J. Blige album)|My Life]]'' (1994), while production was helmed by Combs and Olivier. "Be Happy" contains an instrumental sample of the song "You're So Good to Me" (1979) by musician [[Curtis Mayfield]] and a re-sung vocal portion of the record "[[I Want You (Marvin Gaye album)|I Want You]]" (1976) by [[Marvin Gaye]]. |
||
The song was released as the lead single from the album and reached number 29 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], while reaching number six on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]], becoming her fifth top-ten single on that particular chart, and number thirty on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Upon its release, Blige performed the song on |
The song was released as the lead single from the album and reached number 29 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], while reaching number six on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]], becoming her fifth top-ten single on that particular chart, and number thirty on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Upon its release, Blige performed the song on ''[[Friday Night Videos]]'', ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'', ''[[Soul Train]]'', ''[[Teen Summit]]'', and ''[[Showtime at the Apollo]]'' among others. |
||
==Remixes== |
==Remixes== |
||
Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
==Critical reception== |
==Critical reception== |
||
[[Larry Flick]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' described the song as "a jam that deftly combines classic [[Soul music|soul]] flavors with a jeep-smart [[Urban contemporary music|urban]]/[[hip hop music|hip-hop]] spice." He added, "Her already stylish delivery has a pleasing new maturity and a warmth that will only broaden her audience. Factor in a sing-along chorus and a sweet melody, and you have the recipe for a multiformat smash."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date= November 5, 1994 |page= 95 |accessdate= March 21, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-11-05.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}</ref> Steve Baltin from ''[[Cash Box (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' |
[[Larry Flick]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' described the song as "a jam that deftly combines classic [[Soul music|soul]] flavors with a jeep-smart [[Urban contemporary music|urban]]/[[hip hop music|hip-hop]] spice." He added, "Her already stylish delivery has a pleasing new maturity and a warmth that will only broaden her audience. Factor in a sing-along chorus and a sweet melody, and you have the recipe for a multiformat smash."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date= November 5, 1994 |page= 95 |accessdate= March 21, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-11-05.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}</ref> Steve Baltin from ''[[Cash Box (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' felt that "Be Happy" "is a little more [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]-oriented that her previous hits, making it a work that needs to grow on listeners rather than exploding with them. But once audiences catch up to Blige, they’re sure to be drawn in by her sultry vocals during the chorus and the strong repetitive groove found throughout. A worthy song to carry on her growing success."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Steve|last=Baltin|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-11-05.pdf|title=Pop Singles — Reviews|magazine=[[Cash Box (magazine)|Cash Box]]|date=November 5, 1994|page=|accessdate=March 7, 2022}}</ref> Chuck Campbell from ''[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]'' noted the "chugging '70s groove" of the track.<ref>Campbell, Chuck (December 23, 1994). "Germans Put New Spin On Punk Music". ''[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]''.</ref> |
||
Pan-European magazine ''[[Music & Media]]'' commented, "The queen of [[swingbeat]] sings her life motto on a prominent bass pattern. For the chorus the melody gets a [[What's Going On (Marvin Gaye song)|What's Going On]] twist with synth violins and all."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= New Releases: Singles |magazine= [[Music & Media]] |date= January 14, 1995 |page= 7 |accessdate= May 17, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-01-14.pdf}}</ref> Ralph Tee from ''[[Music Week]]'''s ''RM'' Dance Update gave it four out of five, writing that "the queen of [[hip hop soul]] returns, this time utilising a massive great chunk of [[Curtis Mayfield]]'s [[1979]] gem |
Pan-European magazine ''[[Music & Media]]'' commented, "The queen of [[swingbeat]] sings her life motto on a prominent bass pattern. For the chorus the melody gets a "[[What's Going On (Marvin Gaye song)|What's Going On]]" twist with synth violins and all."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= New Releases: Singles |magazine= [[Music & Media]] |date= January 14, 1995 |page= 7 |accessdate= May 17, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-01-14.pdf}}</ref> Ralph Tee from ''[[Music Week]]'''s ''RM'' Dance Update gave it four out of five, writing that here, "the queen of [[hip hop soul]] returns, this time utilising a massive great chunk of [[Curtis Mayfield]]'s [[1979]] gem "You're So Good to Me" as her accompaniment. In fact she creates new lyrics and melodies over the original instrumental and cheekily includes the instrumental on the [[12-inch]] as a self penned bonus track! However, while this isn't in the league of "[[Love No Limit]]" with its [[Keni Burke]] sample, it's already set to be huge with fans."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Ralph |last= Tee |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-11-19.pdf |title= Hot Vinyl |magazine= [[Music Week]], in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= November 19, 1994 |page= 9 |accessdate= April 22, 2021}}</ref> Another editor, [[James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)|James Hamilton]], declared it as "superb" and "slinky".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-11-26.pdf |title= Dj directory |magazine= [[Music Week]], in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= November 26, 1994 |page= 11 |accessdate= April 22, 2021 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}</ref> |
||
==Music video== |
==Music video== |
||
There were produced two official |
There were produced two official music videos for "Be Happy", both directed by [[Puff Daddy]]. |
||
==Track listings== |
|||
{{col-begin}} |
|||
{{col-2}} |
|||
* '''US cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Be Happy|others=[[Mary J. Blige]]|year=1994|type=US Cassette single liner notes|publisher=[[MCA Records]]|id=UPTCS 54927}}</ref> |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Radio edit)</small> – 4:29 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Acapella version)</small> – 4:34 |
|||
* '''US 12-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Be Happy|others=[[Mary J. Blige]]|year=1994|type=US 12-inch single liner notes|publisher=[[MCA Records]]|id=UPT12 54928}}</ref> |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Album version)</small> – 5:49 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Instrumental)</small> – 5:49 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Acapella)</small> – 4:34 |
|||
* '''UK CD single – CD1'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Be Happy|others=[[Mary J. Blige]]|year=1994|type=UK CD1 single liner notes|publisher=[[MCA Records]]|id=MCSTD 2033}}</ref> |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Radio edit)</small> – 3:53 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Album version)</small> – 5:49 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Maurice's Muthafunkin' mix)</small> – 4:42 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Uno Clio mix)</small> – 7:19 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Maurice's Be Happy House mix)</small> – 7:32 |
|||
{{col-2}} |
|||
* '''UK CD single – CD2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Be Happy|others=[[Mary J. Blige]]|year=1994|type=UK CD2 single liner notes|publisher=[[MCA Records]]|id=UPT5P-3148}}</ref> |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(U.S. Radio edit)</small> – 4:29 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Ron G H. & R. Funk mix)</small> – 3:42 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Bad Boy Butter mix)</small> – 4:41 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(UBQ Dub Be Happy)</small> – 6:16 |
|||
* '''UK 12-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Be Happy|others=[[Mary J. Blige]]|year=1994|type=UK 12-inch single liner notes|publisher=[[MCA Records]]|id=MCST 2033}}</ref> |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Album version)</small> – 5:49 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Uno Clio mix)</small> – 7:19 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Maurice's Be Happy House mix)</small> – 7:32 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(UBQ Dub Be Happy)</small> – 6:16 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Maurice's Muthafunkin' mix)</small> – 4:42 |
|||
* '''UK cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Be Happy|others=[[Mary J. Blige]]|year=1994|type=UK Cassette single liner notes|publisher=[[MCA Records]]|id=MCSC 2033}}</ref> |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Radio edit)</small> – 4:29 |
|||
# "Be Happy" <small>(Maurice's Muthafunkin' mix)</small> – 4:42 |
|||
{{col-end}} |
|||
==Credits and personnel== |
|||
Credits are adapted from the ''My Life'' liner notes.<ref name="Booklet">{{cite AV media notes |title=My Life |others=Mary J. Blige |year=1994|first=Mary J.|last=Blige|author-link=Mary J. Blige |type=Compact Disc |publisher=MCA Records }}</ref> |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}} |
|||
* Mary J. Blige – lead vocals |
|||
* LaTonya J. Blige – background vocals |
|||
* Nashiem Myrick – recording engineer |
|||
* [[Prince Charles Alexander]] – recording engineer, audio mixing |
|||
* [[Tony Maserati]] – audio mixing |
|||
* [[Chucky Thompson]] – additional instruments |
|||
{{div col end}} |
|||
==Charts== |
==Charts== |
||
Line 55: | Line 104: | ||
===Weekly charts=== |
===Weekly charts=== |
||
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
||
! Chart ( |
! Chart (1994–1995) |
||
! Peak<br/>position |
! Peak<br/>position |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/yAr1aC4.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 07 May 1995|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]])|access-date=April 25, 2017}}</ref> |
! scope="row"|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/yAr1aC4.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 07 May 1995|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]])|access-date=April 25, 2017}}</ref> |
||
|align="center"|76 |
|align="center"|76 |
||
|- |
|||
! scope="row"|Europe ([[European Dance Radio Chart|European Dance Radio]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=European Dance Radio|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-02-18.pdf|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|date=February 18, 1995|page=21|accessdate=September 28, 2022}}</ref> |
|||
|align="center"|13 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{Single chart|UKsinglesbyname|30|artist=Mary J Blige|song=Be Happy|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 10, 2020}} |
{{Single chart|UKsinglesbyname|30|artist=Mary J Blige|song=Be Happy|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 10, 2020}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{Single chart|UKdance|5|date=19941204|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 1, 2022}} |
|||
! scope="row"|[[UK R&B|UK R&B Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-singles-chart/19941204/114/|title=Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="row"|[[UK R&B|UK R&B Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-singles-chart/19941204/114/|title=Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company|website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] }}</ref> |
|||
|align="center"|2 |
|align="center"|2 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"|[[Record Mirror Club Chart|UK Club Chart]] (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-11-26.pdf|title=The ''RM'' Club Chart|magazine=[[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=November 26, 1994|page=8|accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref> |
|||
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|29|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 10, 2020|refname="Billboardhot100"}} |
|||
|align="center"|1 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{ |
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|29|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 10, 2020|refname="Billboardhot100"}} |
||
|- |
|||
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|7|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 30, 2022}} |
|||
|- |
|||
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|6|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 10, 2020|refname="Billboardrandbhiphop"}} |
|||
|- |
|||
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|14|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 30, 2022}} |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
{{col-2}} |
{{col-2}} |
||
===Year-end charts=== |
===Year-end charts=== |
||
{| class="wikitable |
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
||
! Chart (1995) |
! Chart (1995) |
||
! Position |
|||
! Peak<br/>position |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="row"|UK Club Chart (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-12-24.pdf|title=The ''RM'' Club Chart of the Year|magazine=[[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=December 24, 1994|page=10|accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref> |
|||
| style="text-align:center;"|46 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"|US |
! scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref name="year-end1995">{{cite magazine|title= Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 1995|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|access-date=August 10, 2020}}</ref> |
||
| style="text-align:center;"|41 |
| style="text-align:center;"|41 |
||
|} |
|} |
||
Line 83: | Line 147: | ||
==Release history== |
==Release history== |
||
{| |
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
||
!scope="col"|Region |
|||
|- |
|||
! |
!scope="col"|Date |
||
! |
!scope="col"|Format(s) |
||
! |
!scope="col"|Label(s) |
||
!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
!scope="row"|United States |
||
| |
|October 1994 |
||
|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|cassette}} |
|||
| rowspan="4"| [[MCA Records]] |
|||
|rowspan="4"|{{hlist|[[Uptown Records|Uptown]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]}} |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|United Kingdom |
||
| |
|November 28, 1994 |
||
|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD1|cassette}} |
|||
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=27|date=November 26, 1994}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
|December 5, 1994 |
|||
! scope="row"|[[United Kingdom]] |
|||
|CD2 |
|||
| December 8, 1994 |
|||
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=December 3, 1994}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! |
!scope="row"|Japan |
||
|December 7, 1994 |
|||
| January 20, 1995 |
|||
|CD |
|||
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/168109/products/161450/1/|title=ビー・ハッピー {{!}} メアリー・J.ブライジ|trans-title=Be Happy {{!}} Mary J. Blige|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=August 30, 2023}}</ref> |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
==Credits and personnel== |
|||
Credits adapted from the ''My Life'' liner notes.<ref name="Booklet">{{cite AV media notes |title=My Life |others=Mary J. Blige |year=1994|first=Mary J.|last=Blige|author-link=Mary J. Blige |type=Compact Disc |publisher=MCA Records }}</ref> |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}} |
|||
*Mary J. Blige – lead vocals |
|||
*LaTonya J. Blige - background vocals |
|||
*Nashiem Myrick – recording engineer |
|||
*[[Prince Charles Alexander]] – recording engineer, audio mixing |
|||
*[[Tony Maserati]] – audio mixing |
|||
*[[Chucky Thompson]] - additional instruments |
|||
{{div col end}} |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
||
{{Mary J. Blige singles}} |
{{Mary J. Blige singles}} |
||
{{Authority control}} |
|||
{{authority control}} |
|||
[[Category:1993 songs]] |
[[Category:1993 songs]] |
||
[[Category:1994 singles]] |
|||
[[Category:Mary J. Blige songs]] |
[[Category:Mary J. Blige songs]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Music videos directed by Hype Williams]] |
||
[[Category:Songs written by Mary J. Blige]] |
|||
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Teddy Riley]] |
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Teddy Riley]] |
||
[[Category:Music videos directed by Hype Williams]] |
|||
[[Category:1994 singles]] |
|||
[[Category:Uptown Records singles]] |
|||
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Trackmasters]] |
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Trackmasters]] |
||
[[Category:Songs written by Jean-Claude Olivier]] |
[[Category:Songs written by Jean-Claude Olivier]] |
||
[[Category:Songs |
[[Category:Songs written by Mary J. Blige]] |
||
[[Category:Songs written by Sean Combs]] |
|||
[[Category:Uptown Records singles]] |
Latest revision as of 23:11, 5 July 2024
"Be Happy" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CD variant used for non-US retail releases | ||||
Single by Mary J. Blige | ||||
from the album My Life | ||||
Released | October 26, 1994 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:49 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
|
"Be Happy" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Arlene DeValle, and Jean-Claude Olivier from duo Poke & Tone for her second studio album, My Life (1994), while production was helmed by Combs and Olivier. "Be Happy" contains an instrumental sample of the song "You're So Good to Me" (1979) by musician Curtis Mayfield and a re-sung vocal portion of the record "I Want You" (1976) by Marvin Gaye.
The song was released as the lead single from the album and reached number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while reaching number six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming her fifth top-ten single on that particular chart, and number thirty on the UK Singles Chart. Upon its release, Blige performed the song on Friday Night Videos, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Soul Train, Teen Summit, and Showtime at the Apollo among others.
Remixes
[edit]The official remix features Def Squad rapper Keith Murray, which samples 1980s hip hop artist Jimmy Spicer's "Money (Dollar Bill Ya'll)". Blige and Murray performed the remix version during Showtime at the Apollo's 200th episode that aired in early February 1996.
Critical reception
[edit]Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a jam that deftly combines classic soul flavors with a jeep-smart urban/hip-hop spice." He added, "Her already stylish delivery has a pleasing new maturity and a warmth that will only broaden her audience. Factor in a sing-along chorus and a sweet melody, and you have the recipe for a multiformat smash."[1] Steve Baltin from Cash Box felt that "Be Happy" "is a little more R&B-oriented that her previous hits, making it a work that needs to grow on listeners rather than exploding with them. But once audiences catch up to Blige, they’re sure to be drawn in by her sultry vocals during the chorus and the strong repetitive groove found throughout. A worthy song to carry on her growing success."[2] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel noted the "chugging '70s groove" of the track.[3]
Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "The queen of swingbeat sings her life motto on a prominent bass pattern. For the chorus the melody gets a "What's Going On" twist with synth violins and all."[4] Ralph Tee from Music Week's RM Dance Update gave it four out of five, writing that here, "the queen of hip hop soul returns, this time utilising a massive great chunk of Curtis Mayfield's 1979 gem "You're So Good to Me" as her accompaniment. In fact she creates new lyrics and melodies over the original instrumental and cheekily includes the instrumental on the 12-inch as a self penned bonus track! However, while this isn't in the league of "Love No Limit" with its Keni Burke sample, it's already set to be huge with fans."[5] Another editor, James Hamilton, declared it as "superb" and "slinky".[6]
Music video
[edit]There were produced two official music videos for "Be Happy", both directed by Puff Daddy.
Track listings
[edit]
|
|
Credits and personnel
[edit]Credits are adapted from the My Life liner notes.[13]
- Mary J. Blige – lead vocals
- LaTonya J. Blige – background vocals
- Nashiem Myrick – recording engineer
- Prince Charles Alexander – recording engineer, audio mixing
- Tony Maserati – audio mixing
- Chucky Thompson – additional instruments
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | October 1994 |
|
||
United Kingdom | November 28, 1994 |
|
[26] | |
December 5, 1994 | CD2 | [27] | ||
Japan | December 7, 1994 | CD | [28] |
References
[edit]- ^ Flick, Larry (November 5, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 95. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
- ^ Baltin, Steve (November 5, 1994). "Pop Singles — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- ^ Campbell, Chuck (December 23, 1994). "Germans Put New Spin On Punk Music". Knoxville News Sentinel.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. January 14, 1995. p. 7. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ Tee, Ralph (November 19, 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 9. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ Hamilton, James (November 26, 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ Be Happy (US Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. UPTCS 54927.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Be Happy (US 12-inch single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. UPT12 54928.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Be Happy (UK CD1 single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. MCSTD 2033.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Be Happy (UK CD2 single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. UPT5P-3148.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Be Happy (UK 12-inch single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. MCST 2033.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Be Happy (UK Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. MCSC 2033.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Blige, Mary J. (1994). My Life (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records.
- ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 07 May 1995". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. February 18, 1995. p. 21. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). November 26, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart of the Year" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). December 24, 1994. p. 10. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 1995". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. November 26, 1994. p. 27.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 3, 1994. p. 31.
- ^ "ビー・ハッピー | メアリー・J.ブライジ" [Be Happy | Mary J. Blige] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 30, 2023.