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Happy Song (Bring Me the Horizon song)

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"Happy Song"
Song

"Happy Song" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit. The song was also released as the second single from the album on 13 July 2015, reaching number 55 on the UK Singles Chart and topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

Being the first "heavy song" written for That's the Spirit, "Happy Song" features lyrics about depression and is considered the unofficial title track for the album due to its use of the titular phrase. Many critics have hailed the track as a highlight of the album, praising its heavier style including prominent guitar riff, whilst also identifying it as a change in musical style from the band's earlier material.

Composition and lyrics

In line with the loose concept of That's the Spirit,[1] the lyrics for "Happy Song" were written about "making light of a shitty situation", in particular referring to depression.[2] Due to its use of the phrase "that's the spirit", the song has been described by the band's frontman Oliver Sykes as the album's "unofficial title track".[1] Speaking in a track-by-track commentary for Spotify, the vocalist described the phrase as "ironically bleak", noting that "It's only ever really used by people when they have no idea what to say. There's no answer, no solution; the only thing you can say is just 'get on with it', and that's what "Happy Song" is all about".[2]

Speaking to BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac during a session at Maida Vale Studios, guitarist Lee Malia revealed that the band were influenced by Rage Against the Machine on "Happy Song", with Sykes adding that their intention with the track was to create "something heavy ... but not the same heavy you've heard from us before".[3] The vocalist also recalled that it was "the first heavy song [the band] wrote on the record", suggesting that it "set the tone for the rest of the album".[3] The track features a prominent children's group vocal section throughout, as well as string and brass instruments in places, built around a number of notable guitar riffs.[1][4] The song has been categorised as alternative rock with post-hardcore influences by SA Music Scene,[5] and as nu metal with grunge influences by Exclaim!.[6]

Promotion and release

In the weeks leading up to the release of "Happy Song", Bring Me the Horizon teased news of their upcoming fifth studio album That's the Spirit by sharing images of the album's umbrella artwork and the smiley face cover for the single.[7][8] On 12 July 2015, the song was premiered on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show with Daniel P. Carter as that day's "Rockest Record", before it was made available for individual purchase online.[9][10] In September, it was released as a limited edition 7" vinyl exclusive to HMV.[11] No music video was produced for the track, although a live video filmed at Leeds Festival in August 2015 was released in October,[12] which featured a parody health and safety video introduction described by DIY magazine's Tom Connick as "loony".[13] Also in October, the song (along with "Throne") was used as an official theme song for the professional wrestling show NXT TakeOver: Respect.[14] In March 2016, it was featured on the soundtrack of the video game EA Sports UFC 2.[15]

On 17 February 2016, Bring Me the Horizon played "Happy Song" at the NME Awards show in Austin, Texas. During the performance, frontman Oliver Sykes jumped on the table at which Godlike Genius award winners Coldplay were sitting, causing it to collapse.[16] Some news writers claimed that Sykes had intentionally targeted Coldplay as a "protest", although the vocalist later responded by confirming that "It was in no way a protest against Coldplay".[17][18] Coldplay frontman Chris Martin reacted positively, describing the incident as "great, very rock n roll".[19] Writing about the event, the NME praised the group's performance as "a real reminder of the power of raw performance ... it went down an absolute storm".[20]

Reception

Commercial performance

"Happy Song" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 55 on 17 July 2015,[21] whilst also topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.[22] It remained at the top of the chart the following week,[23] before the band's next single "Throne" took its place.[24] The song returned to the UK Singles Chart on 18 September at number 66, following the release of That's the Spirit.[25] In the United States, the track reached number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and number 19 on the Hot Rock Songs chart,[26][27] as well as registering on the year-end Hot Rock Songs chart at number 90.[28] Elsewhere, it peaked at number 68 on the Australian Singles Chart.[29]

Critical reception

Revealing news of the track's release, Rock Sound writer Andy Biddulph described "Happy Song" as "absolutely massive",[9] and in a review of That's the Spirit later dubbed it "epic, thunderous and skyscraping in equal measure".[30] Gigwise's Andrew Trendell also dubbed the song "massive", describing it as "a monolothic [sic] slab of rock – and a promising sign of things to come".[31] Music Feeds writer Emmy Mack described the song as "a monstrous new rock anthem", comparing it to the music of Royal Blood by dubbing it "a throbbing, chugging rock belter".[32] AllMusic's James Christopher Monger selected "Happy Song" as the highlight from That's the Spirit, describing it as "auspicious" and "fevered".[33]

Some critics claimed that "Happy Song" joined previous single "Drown" in marking a stylistic departure from the band's earlier releases. Brian Leak of the Alternative Press noted that the track "follows suit with a slightly new direction for BMTH with plenty of melody and next to no screaming from Oli Sykes".[34] Similarly, Mack of Music Feeds suggested that "the tune will no doubt divide longtime fans already dismayed by what seems to be the metalcore giant’s sudden yellow-brick quest for mainstream crossover appeal".[32] Exclaim! writer Bradley Zorgdrager criticised the song, claiming that while "Lyrically, the album is poignant and clever ... it does occasionally falter, as on ... 'Happy Song.'"[6]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Happy Song"3:59
Total length:3:59
7" vinyl
No.TitleLength
1."Happy Song"3:59
2."Happy Song" (instrumental)3:59
Total length:7:58

Chart positions

References

  1. ^ a b c Haynes, Gavin (21 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon On New Album 'That's The Spirit' - And Riding Around Greek Islands On Quad Bikes". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b Sykes, Oliver (Narrator) (4 September 2015). That's the Spirit (Track by Track Commentary) by Bring Me the Horizon. Spotify. {{cite AV media}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Bring Me The Horizon in session". BBC Radio 1. BBC. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  4. ^ Bakare, Lanre (10 September 2015). "Bring Me the Horizon: That's the Spirit review – nu-metal reanimators". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  5. ^ Roxburgh, Craig (13 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Release "Happy Song"". SA Music Scene. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  6. ^ a b Zorgdrager, Bradley (11 September 2015). "Bring Me the Horizon That's the Spirit". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2 April 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Carter, Emily (29 June 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Start Teasing New Album". Kerrang!. Bauer Media. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  8. ^ Carter, Emily (7 July 2015). "Are Bring Me The Horizon Releasing A New Song This Weekend?". Kerrang!. Bauer Media. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  9. ^ a b Biddulph, Andy (12 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Just Premiered A New Track Called 'Happy Song'". Rock Sound. Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  10. ^ Carter, Emily (12 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Unveil New Track, Happy Song". Kerrang!. Bauer Media. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Happy Song (Hmv Exclusive): Vinyl". HMV. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  12. ^ Carter, Emily (20 October 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Release Happy Song, Live From Leeds Festival". Kerrang!. Bauer Media. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  13. ^ Connick, Tom (21 October 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Reveal Live Video Of 'Happy Song' From Leeds Festival". DIY. Sonic Media Group. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  14. ^ Melok, Bobby (23 September 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon is the NXT: LOUD band for TakeOver: Respect". WWE. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  15. ^ "EA Sports UFC 2 Soundtrack". EA Sports. Electronic Arts. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  16. ^ Langford-Biss, Georgina (18 February 2016). "Bring Me The Horizon Trash Coldplay's Table At The 2016 NME Awards". MTV. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  17. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (18 February 2016). "Bring Me The Horizon deny that smashing Coldplay's table was a 'protest'". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon: Breaking Coldplay's NME table wasn't 'dirty protest'". Newsbeat. BBC. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  19. ^ Renshaw, David (17 February 2016). "Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes jumps on Coldplay's table at NME Awards 2016 with Austin, Texas". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  20. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon Trashed Coldplay's Table At The NME Awards 2016 With Austin, Texas". NME. Time Inc. UK. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  21. ^ a b "17 July 2015 - 23 July 2015". Official Singles Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  22. ^ a b "17 July 2015 - 23 July 2015". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  23. ^ "24 July 2015 - 30 July 2015". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  24. ^ "31 July 2015 - 06 August 2015". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  25. ^ "18 September 2015 - 24 September 2015". Official Singles Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  26. ^ a b "Mainstream Rock Songs: Bring Me the Horizon - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  27. ^ a b "Hot Rock Songs: Bring Me the Horizon - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  28. ^ a b "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  29. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (25 July 2015). "ARIA Singles: Belgium's Lost Frequencies Tops Singles Chart". Noise11. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  30. ^ Biddulph, Andy (17 September 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit". Rock Sound. Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  31. ^ Trendell, Andrew (12 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Unveil New Track 'Happy Song'". Gigwise. Giant Digital. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  32. ^ a b Mack, Emmy (13 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Bring The Rock With Monster New 'Happy Song'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 1 April 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "That's the Spirit - Bring Me the Horizon: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  34. ^ Leak, Brian (12 July 2015). "Stream Bring Me The Horizon's new single, "Happy Song"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 1 April 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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