Happy Nation
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
Happy Nation is the debut studio album by Swedish pop group Ace of Base. It was initially released in Denmark on 16 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.[1] 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.[2] By 2007, Happy Nation/The Sign had sold approximately 23 million units including 9 million in the US alone.[3]
Background
"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."
—Managing director of Metronome Records, Albert Slendebroek talking to Music & Media about the album.[4]
Happy Nation was released in 1992 in Scandinavia and early 1993 in the rest of Europe, Africa, and Latin America on Festival Records. It reached the number one position in at least 14 countries, and has sold over 23 million copies worldwide.[5]
A second release in Europe, Happy Nation (U.S. Version), came on September 25, 1993, to coincide with the album's release in North America under the title The Sign. The Sign was released in North America on November 23, 1993. Despite its title, Happy Nation (U.S. Version) was never released in the United States. Both versions have revised track listings.
These releases include new tracks, including "The Sign", and "Hear Me Calling", "Living in Danger", and the Tina Turner cover "Don't Turn Around", along with alternate versions of other tracks. Certain songs included on the original Happy Nation were removed altogether. The re-release climbed to number one in the UK Albums Chart, beating the number 21 peak of the original release.
The Sign is listed among the Top 100 Best-selling Albums of All Time by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[6] Several songs on the album became Number One singles in the United States, Europe, and North Africa, including "The Sign", "All That She Wants" and "Don't Turn Around".
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 (US Version) releases and the iTunes bonuses from the three releases.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Voulez-Vous Danser" |
|
| 3:17 | |
| 2. | "All That She Wants" |
|
|
| 3:30 |
| 3. | "Münchhausen (Just Chaos)" |
|
|
| 3:27 |
| 4. | "Happy Nation" |
|
|
| 4:11 |
| 5. | "Waiting for Magic" |
|
|
| 5:17 |
| 6. | "Fashion Party" | Joker | Joker | 4:10 | |
| 7. | "Wheel of Fortune" |
|
|
| 3:52 |
| 8. | "Dancer in a Daydream" |
|
|
| 3:37 |
| 9. | "My Mind" (mindless mix) |
|
|
| 4:09 |
| 10. | "Wheel of Fortune" (original club mix) |
|
|
| 3:58 |
| 11. | "Dimension of Depth" | N/A | Joker |
| 1:45 |
| 12. | "Young and Proud" |
|
|
| 3:54 |
| 13. | "All That She Wants" (Banghra version) |
|
|
| 4:14 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Moogoperator" | 3:31 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "All That She Wants" |
|
|
| 3:30 |
| 2. | "Don't Turn Around" |
|
| 3:48 | |
| 3. | "Young and Proud" |
|
|
| 3:56 |
| 4. | "The Sign" |
| Joker |
| 3:08 |
| 5. | "Living in Danger" |
|
|
| 3:41 |
| 6. | "Voulez-Vous Danser" |
|
|
| 3:17 |
| 7. | "Happy Nation" |
|
|
| 4:13 |
| 8. | "Hear Me Calling" |
| 3:48 | ||
| 9. | "Waiting for Magic" (total remix 7") |
|
|
| 3:50 |
| 10. | "Fashion Party" |
|
| Joker | 4:10 |
| 11. | "Wheel of Fortune" |
|
|
| 3:52 |
| 12. | "Dancer in a Daydream" |
|
|
| 3:37 |
| 13. | "My Mind" (mindless mix) |
|
|
| 4:08 |
| 14. | "All That She Wants" (Banghra version) |
|
|
| 4:14 |
| 15. | "Happy Nation" (Remix) |
|
| 3:45 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Giving It Up" (Ace Version) | 3:29 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a co-producer
- ^[b] signifies re-editing
- ^[c] signifies rap lyrics
- ^[d] signifies pre-production
- ^[e] signifies a remixer
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart | 3 |
| Danish Albums Chart | 1 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 2 |
| French Albums Chart | 1 |
| German Albums Chart | 1 |
| Greek Albums Chart | 1 |
| Hungarian Albums Chart[12] | 1 |
| Israeli Albums Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart | 1 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 1 |
| Portuguese Albums Chart | 1 |
| Spanish Albums Chart | 5 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 2 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 3 |
| UK Albums Chart | 1 |
| US Billboard 200[13] | 1 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina (CAPIF)[citation needed] | 4× Platinum | 240,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[14] | Platinum | 50,000* |
| China (SARFT)[citation needed] | Platinum | 30,000 |
| Czech Republic (IFPI)[citation needed] | Gold | 5,000 |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[15] | 2× Platinum | 197,000^ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[16] | Gold | 82,715[16] |
| France (SNEP)[18] | Diamond | 1,295,500[17] |
| Germany (BVMI)[19] | 3× Platinum | 1,500,000^ |
| India (IMI)[citation needed] | Platinum | 20,000 |
| Indonesia (ASIRI)[citation needed] | 4× Platinum | 200,000 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[citation needed] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| Italy (FIMI)[citation needed] | Gold | 50,000* |
| Greece (IFPI Greece)[citation needed] | Gold | 30,000^ |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[20] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[citation needed] | 3× Platinum | 45,000^ |
| Portugal (AFP)[citation needed] | Platinum | 40,000 |
| Singapore (RIAS)[citation needed] | 3× Platinum | 45,000 |
| South Korea (RIAK)[citation needed] | 7× Platinum | 700,000 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[citation needed] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[21] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[22] Happy Nation (US version) |
Platinum | 50,000^ |
| South Africa and Lesotho (RISA)[citation needed] | Gold | 25,000 |
| Thailand (TECA)[citation needed] | Gold | 20,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | 2× Platinum | 600,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[citation needed] | 9x Platinum | 9,000,000 |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
See also
- 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
- ^ "Ulf Ekberg (Ace of Base): The Interview". EuroMenTravel. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ Tortorici, Frank (2000-05-18). "Ace of Base's Jenny Berggren". MTV. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
- ^ Fletcher, Alex (2007-10-26). "Ace Of Base announce reunion tour". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
- ^ Stratton, Sally. "Radio Plays Key Role In New Ace Of Base Album" (PDF). Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Ace of Base". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ^ RIAA - Gold & Platinum - November 03, 2010 Archived October 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Sign (booklet). Ace of Base. Mega Records. 1992. MRCD 3206.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ https://itunes.apple.com/se/album/happy-nation-remastered/id951696344
- ^ The Sign (booklet). Ace of Base. Mega Records. 1993. MRCD 3239.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ https://itunes.apple.com/se/album/happy-nation-u.s.-version/id951700379
- ^ "Cartula Trasera De Ace Of Base". Coveralia.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "Archívum › Kereső - előadó/cím szerint". Mahasz. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Ace of Base - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ Heick, Annette (1993-06-13). "Dobbelt platin". BT (in Danish). Copenhagen.
- ^ a b "Ace of Base" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ^ "Les Albums Diamant :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "French album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ace Of Base; 'Happy Nation')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Happy Nation')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Happy Nation (U.S. version)')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Happy Nation in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.