"Be Happy"
CD variant used for non-US retail releases
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album My Life
ReleasedOctober 1994 (1994-10)
Genre
Length5:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Sean "Puffy" Combs
  • Poke
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"My Love"
(1994) 		"Be Happy"
(1994) 		"I'm Going Down"
(1995)

"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 Friday Night Videos, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Soul Train, Teen Summit, and Showtime at the Apollo among others.

Remixes

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

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 felt 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] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel noted the "chugging '70s groove" of the track.[3]

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."[4] Ralph Tee from Music Week's RM Dance Update gave it four out of five, writing that here, "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."[5] Another editor, James Hamilton, declared it as "superb" and "slinky".[6]

Music video

There were produced two official music videos for "Be Happy", both directed by Puff Daddy.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the My Life liner notes.[13]

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 1994
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • cassette
United Kingdom November 28, 1994
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD1
  • cassette
 [26]
December 5, 1994 CD2 [27]
Japan December 7, 1994 CD [28]

References

  1. ^ Flick, Larry (November 5, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 95. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  2. ^ Baltin, Steve (November 5, 1994). "Pop Singles — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  3. ^ Campbell, Chuck (December 23, 1994). "Germans Put New Spin On Punk Music". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  4. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. January 14, 1995. p. 7. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Tee, Ralph (November 19, 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 9. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Hamilton, James (November 26, 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Be Happy (US Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. UPTCS 54927.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Be Happy (US 12-inch single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. UPT12 54928.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Be Happy (UK CD1 single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. MCSTD 2033.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Be Happy (UK CD2 single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. UPT5P-3148.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Be Happy (UK 12-inch single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. MCST 2033.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Be Happy (UK Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1994. MCSC 2033.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Blige, Mary J. (1994). My Life (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records.
  14. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 07 May 1995". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  15. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. February 18, 1995. p. 21. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  16. ^ "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  17. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  18. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  19. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). November 26, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  21. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  22. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  23. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  24. ^ "The RM Club Chart of the Year" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). December 24, 1994. p. 10. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  25. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 1995". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  26. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. November 26, 1994. p. 27.
  27. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 3, 1994. p. 31.
  28. ^ "ビー・ハッピー | メアリー・J.ブライジ" [Be Happy | Mary J. Blige] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
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