In 1967, Los Angeles band The Sunshine Company had a big hit with “Happy,” a song about finding your soul mate, which is definitely a good reason to be be happy.
Fast-forward to today, and “Happier” is about how to be happy in a whole different way. A sad way.
This “happy” isn’t about finding your true love, rather, it’s concluding that the only way to make her happy is to let her go, as in “break-up.”
Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier
I want to raise your spirits
I want to see you smile but
Know that means I’ll have to leave
The words are important, but so is the sound, and this one is delightful, original, creative, impactful and memorable.
“Happier” is a collaboration between British band Bastille and Marshmello (real name Christopher Comstock) a 26 year old DJ/producer from Philadelphia.
Bastille singer Dan Smith said that Marshmello “…managed to find joy in the melancholy.”