Be Happy (Mary J. Blige song)
| "Be Happy" | ||||
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.jpg) CD variant used for non-US retail releases | ||||
| Single by Mary J. Blige | ||||
| from the album My Life | ||||
| Released | October 26, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1993–94 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:49 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
"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 shows such as Friday Night Videos, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Soul Train, Teen Summit, 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 wrote 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]
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."[3] 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 '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."[4] Another editor, James Hamilton deemed it "superb" and "slinky".[5]
Music video[edit]
There were produced two official music videos for "Be Happy", both directed by Puff Daddy.
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Release history[edit]
| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| United States | October 14, 1994 | MCA Records |
| Canada | November 7, 1994 | |
| United Kingdom | December 8, 1994 | |
| China | January 20, 1995 |
Credits and personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from the My Life liner notes.[12]
- 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
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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 07 May 1995". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company".
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 1995". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ Blige, Mary J. (1994). My Life (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records.
