Happy Song (Bring Me the Horizon song)

Last updated

"Happy Song"
Bring Me The Horiozn Happy Song Cover.jpg
Single by Bring Me the Horizon
from the album That's the Spirit
Released13 July 2015 (2015-07-13)
Genre Nu metal
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jordan Fish
  • Oliver Sykes
Bring Me the Horizon singles chronology
"Drown"
(2014)
"Happy Song"
(2015)
"Throne"
(2015)

"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 and released as the second single from the album on 13 July 2015. The single topped the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and reached number 55 on the UK Singles Chart, number 2 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and number 19 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart.

Contents

One of the first songs written for the album, "Happy Song" embodies the main theme of That's the Spirit, with lyrics primarily written about depression. Due to its repeated use of the titular phrase, the song is considered the unofficial title track of the album, and has been performed as the opening song at the majority of dates on the album's promotional concert tour. Many critics have hailed the track as a highlight of the album, praising its heavier style and prominent guitar riff.

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. [1] [2] 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. [3] [4] In September, it was released as a limited edition 7" vinyl exclusive to HMV. [5] No music video was produced for the track, although a live video filmed at Leeds Festival in August 2015 was released in October, [6] which featured a parody health and safety video introduction described by DIY magazine's Tom Connick as "loony". [7] Also in October, the song (along with "Throne") was used as an official theme song for the professional wrestling show NXT TakeOver: Respect. [8] In October 2015, the song was featured during a montage sequence on the Castle season 8 episode "PhDead". [9] In March 2016, it was featured on the soundtrack of the video game EA Sports UFC 2 . [10] The song was later included on the video game soundtrack for WWE 2K22 , released in 2022. [11]

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. [12] 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". [13] [14] Coldplay frontman Chris Martin reacted positively, describing the incident as "great, very rock n roll". [15] 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". [16]

Composition and lyrics

In line with the loose concept of That's the Spirit, [17] the lyrics for "Happy Song" were written about "making light of a shitty situation", in particular referring to depression. [18] 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". [17] 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". [18]

Speaking to DJ Annie Mac, 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". [19] 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". [19] 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. [17] [20] The song has been categorised as nu metal with grunge influences. [21]

Critical reception

Revealing news of the track's release, Rock Sound writer Andy Biddulph described "Happy Song" as "absolutely massive", [3] and in a review of That's the Spirit later dubbed it "epic, thunderous and skyscraping in equal measure". [22] 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". [23] 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". [24] AllMusic's James Christopher Monger selected "Happy Song" as the highlight from That's the Spirit, describing it as "auspicious" and "fevered". [25]

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". [26] 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". [24] 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.'" [21]

Commercial performance

"Happy Song" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 55 on 17 July 2015, [27] whilst also topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. [28] It remained at the top of the chart the following week, [29] before the band's next single "Throne" took its place. [30] The song returned to the UK Singles Chart on 18 September at number 66, following the release of That's the Spirit. [31] In the United States, the track reached number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and number 19 on the Hot Rock Songs chart, [32] [33] as well as registering on the year-end Hot Rock Songs chart at number 90. [34] Elsewhere, it peaked at number 68 on the Australian Singles Chart. [35]

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

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [36]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Happy Song"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [45] Platinum70,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [46] Gold30,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [47] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me the Horizon</span> British rock band

Bring Me the Horizon are a British rock band, formed in Sheffield in 2004. The group currently consists of lead vocalist Oli Sykes, drummer Matt Nicholls, guitarist Lee Malia and bassist Matt Kean. They are signed to RCA Records globally and Columbia Records exclusively in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me the Horizon discography</span>

British rock band Bring Me the Horizon have released seven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, two extended plays (EPs), one demo album, 35 singles, two video albums, 38 music videos, two other releases and three other appearances. Formed in Sheffield in 2004 by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarists Lee Malia and Curtis Ward, bassist Matt Kean and drummer Matt Nicholls, the band released their debut EP This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For on Thirty Days of Nights Records in 2005, which reached number 41 on the UK Budget Albums Chart. After signing with British independent record label Visible Noise, the group released their debut full-length studio album Count Your Blessings in 2006, which reached the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart and the top 10 of the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. The 2008 follow-up Suicide Season reached the UK top 50 and charted in the US for the first time when it reached number 107 on the Billboard 200. In November 2009, an expanded version of the album titled Suicide Season Cut Up! was released, featuring remixes and videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Never Ends</span> 2010 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"It Never Ends" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by Fredrik Nordström and Henrick Udd, it was featured on the band's 2010 third studio album There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. The song was released as the lead single from the album on 20 August 2010, and was the band's first song to chart when it reached number 103 on the UK Singles Chart, number 3 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and number 11 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.

<i>Sempiternal</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Bring Me the Horizon

Sempiternal is the fourth studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. It was released on 1 April 2013 worldwide through RCA Records, a subsidiary label of Sony Music, and 2 April 2013 in the United States and Canada through Epitaph Records. It is the first album to feature former Worship keyboardist Jordan Fish and the first with guitarist Lee Malia playing both lead and rhythm parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drown (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2014 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Drown" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon released on 21 October 2014. Originally released as a stand-alone single, a remixed version features on the band's fifth studio album That's the Spirit and was released as the lead single. The track, musically, marks a shift away from the band's previously established metalcore sound. Rather, it was described by critics as a pop punk-leaning emo and rock song, being the later showcased as arena rock. It is available to play in the music video game Guitar Hero Live, added on 12 January 2016.

<i>Thats the Spirit</i> 2015 studio album by Bring Me the Horizon

That's the Spirit is the fifth studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. The album was released on 11 September 2015, and marks a departure from the group's metalcore roots, in favour of a less aggressive alternative rock and metal style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throne (song)</span> 2015 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Throne" 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 and released as the third single from the album on 24 July 2015. The single topped the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and reached number 51 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Friends (song)</span> 2015 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"True Friends" 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 fourth single from the album on 20 November 2015, reaching number 91 on the UK Singles Chart and topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Follow You (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2016 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Follow You" 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 fifth single from the album on 26 February 2016, reaching number 95 on the UK Singles Chart and topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

"Doomed" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured as the opening track on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit. Although it was not released as a single, the song reached number 87 on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avalanche (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2016 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Avalanche" 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 sixth single from the album on 27 June 2016, reaching number 97 on the UK Singles Chart and number seven on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh No (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2016 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Oh No" 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, when it reached number 166 on the UK Singles Chart and number ten on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. It was later released as the seventh and final single from the album on 18 November 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantra (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2018 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Mantra" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it is featured on the group's 2019 sixth studio album Amo. The track was released as the lead single from the album on 21 August 2018, topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and spending three weeks at that spot.

<i>Amo</i> (Bring Me the Horizon album) 2019 studio album by Bring Me the Horizon

Amo is the sixth studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Originally scheduled for release on 11 January 2019, it was released on 25 January 2019. The album was announced on 22 August 2018, a day after the release of the lead single "Mantra". It was produced by vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, and was written and recorded primarily in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Honey Ice & Tea</span> 2019 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Sugar Honey Ice & Tea" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it is featured on the group's 2019 sixth studio album Amo. The track was released as the sixth single from the album on 26 July 2019. The title is a euphemism and acronym for "shit".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderful Life (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2018 single by Bring Me the Horizon featuring Dani Filth

"Wonderful Life" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon featuring Cradle of Filth vocalist Dani Filth. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it is featured on the group's 2019 sixth studio album Amo. The track was released as the second single from the album on 21 October 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludens (song)</span> 2019 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Ludens" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was released as the fifth single of the soundtrack Death Stranding: Timefall on 6 November 2019, and was featured as the first single from the group's 2020 commercial release Post Human: Survival Horror.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parasite Eve (song)</span> 2020 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Parasite Eve" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish and written by the entire band, it was released as the second single from the group's 2020 commercial release Post Human: Survival Horror on 25 June 2020. The song samples "Erghen Diado" written by Petar Lyondev and performed by the Bulgarian Female Vocal Choir; Lyondev is credited as a co-writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teardrops (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2020 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Teardrops" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was released as the fourth and final single from the group's 2020 commercial release Post Human: Survival Horror on 22 October 2020.

"Maybe" is a song by American musician Machine Gun Kelly. It was released on March 16, 2022, as the fourth single from his sixth studio album Mainstream Sellout. The song features performances from members of the British rock band Bring Me the Horizon.

References

  1. Carter, Emily (29 June 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Start Teasing New Album". Kerrang! . Bauer Media . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  2. Carter, Emily (7 July 2015). "Are Bring Me The Horizon Releasing A New Song This Weekend?". Kerrang! . Bauer Media . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 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.
  4. Carter, Emily (12 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Unveil New Track, Happy Song". Kerrang! . Bauer Media . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  5. "Happy Song (Hmv Exclusive): Vinyl". HMV . Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  6. Carter, Emily (20 October 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Release Happy Song, Live From Leeds Festival". Kerrang! . Bauer Media . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  7. 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.
  8. Melok, Bobby (23 September 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon is the NXT: LOUD band for TakeOver: Respect". WWE . Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  9. "Bring Me The Horizon Songs". Whatsong. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  10. "EA Sports UFC 2 Soundtrack". EA Sports . Electronic Arts. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  11. Aguilar, Matthew (23 February 2022). "Machine Gun Kelly Reveals WWE 2K22 Soundtrack Lineup". ComicBook.com . Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  12. Langford-Biss, Georgina (18 February 2016). "Bring Me The Horizon Trash Coldplay's Table At The 2016 NME Awards". MTV . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  13. 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.
  14. "Bring Me The Horizon: Breaking Coldplay's NME table wasn't 'dirty protest'". Newsbeat . BBC. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  15. 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.
  16. "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.
  17. 1 2 3 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.
  18. 1 2 Sykes, Oliver (Narrator) (4 September 2015). That's the Spirit (Track by Track Commentary) by Bring Me the Horizon. Spotify.
  19. 1 2 "Bring Me The Horizon in session". BBC Radio 1 . BBC . Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  20. Bakare, Lanre (10 September 2015). "Bring Me the Horizon: That's the Spirit review – nu-metal reanimators". The Guardian . Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  21. 1 2 Zorgdrager, Bradley (11 September 2015). "Bring Me the Horizon That's the Spirit". Exclaim! . Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  22. Biddulph, Andy (17 September 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit". Rock Sound . Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  23. Trendell, Andrew (12 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Unveil New Track 'Happy Song'". Gigwise . Giant Digital. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  24. 1 2 Mack, Emmy (13 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Bring The Rock With Monster New 'Happy Song'". Music Feeds . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  25. Monger, James Christopher. "That's the Spirit - Bring Me the Horizon: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  26. Leak, Brian (12 July 2015). "Stream Bring Me The Horizon's new single, "Happy Song"". Alternative Press . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  27. "17 July 2015 – 23 July 2015". Official Singles Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  28. "17 July 2015 – 23 July 2015". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  29. "24 July 2015 – 30 July 2015". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  30. "31 July 2015 – 06 August 2015". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  31. "18 September 2015 – 24 September 2015". Official Singles Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  32. "Mainstream Rock Songs: Bring Me the Horizon - Chart History". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  33. "Hot Rock Songs: Bring Me the Horizon - Chart History". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  34. "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  35. 1 2 Ryan, Gavin (25 July 2015). "ARIA Singles: Belgium's Lost Frequencies Tops Singles Chart". Noise11. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  36. "Bring Me the Horizon – Happy Song". Tidal . Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  37. Bring Me the Horizon — Happy Song. TopHit. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  38. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  39. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  40. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  41. "Bring Me the Horizon Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  42. "Bring Me the Horizon Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  43. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  44. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  45. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  46. "Brazilian single certifications – Bring Me the Horizon – Happy Song" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  47. "British single certifications – Bring Me The Horizon – Happy Song". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 13 December 2019.