2009 single by Kid Cudi
"Pursuit of Happiness" is a song by American musician Kid Cudi, respectively featuring production and vocals from American electronic rock duo Ratatat and American neo-psychedelic act MGMT. The song was officially released on September 15, 2009, as the third single from Cudi's debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009).
The meaning of the song is often misconstrued with being about the positive side of a carefree lifestyle, when rather it tells a dark tale of drinking and driving as well as the regret and pain associated with drug abuse and how it leads to escapism.[1][2]
The song was certified diamond (10 million units) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in December 2022.[3]
Background and release
On the album, the track is titled "Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)", following the album's dream sequence. The final version of the song was premiered on September 4, 2009, on the DJ Semtex BBC Radio 1 show.[4]
In 2021, Kid Cudi released an acoustic version of the song, which originally premiered on Amazon’s Prime Day Show.[5] The song was included on an extended play (EP) titled Prime Day Show x Kid Cudi, issued exclusively on Amazon Music, on June 17, 2021.[6]
The original song was later included on Cudi’s first greatest hits album The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 (2022).
Music and lyrics
Luke Hinz of HotNewHipHop wrote "'Pursuit of Happiness' is a melancholic return to self-examination from the perspective of an addict looking for their next hit. The happiness of the track is fleeting, confined within the limits of each high; it's a glimpse into a search that seemingly will never come to an end. Cudi understands that the happiness of each addiction is only temporary and ultimately unsatisfactory, yet he can't manage to break free of the cycle that always seems to end in failure."[7]
Steve Aoki Remix
Upon the song's release, American electro house DJ Steve Aoki, produced a remix of "Pursuit of Happiness", which went on to become as popular as the original and became a staple at Aoki's concerts. Steve Aoki released his remix on December 5, 2009.[8][9] In 2012, the remix was heavily featured in the trailers for the comedy film Project X and was later included on the film's soundtrack. On May 1, 2012, an "Extended Steve Aoki Remix" was released via digital distribution, such as iTunes and Amazon.com.[10] Also in May 2012, Kid Cudi received a nomination for Best Song from a Movie at the MTV Movie Awards, for the Steve Aoki remix to "Pursuit of Happiness", being used in Project X.[11]
Reception
Emma Silvers of SF Weekly called the song a "self-aware 2009 party anthem—or chronicle of a person's thinking as they veer into a drunk and drugged out downward spiral, depending on how you spin it—is a pretty lonely song to begin with."[12]
Chart performance
"Pursuit of Happiness" debuted and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 59 on the week ending October 3, 2009. The following week, it fell 41 spots to number 100. The song re-entered at number 95 on the week ending January 8, 2011. As of March 2013, it sold over 2,000,000 downloads since its release.[13] The song originally peaked at number 137 on the UK Singles Chart, but it re-entered the chart in 2012 attaining a new peak of 72 and entered for the first time on the Irish Singles Chart, peaking at 24. In 2012, it has also charted for the first time in Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.
Music videos
The first music video released, directed by Brody Baker and produced by Josh Hartnett, displays Kid Cudi at a party. While everyone is having a good time, the whole party goes into a slow-motion state. Ratatat does not appear in the video, however MGMT member Ben Goldwasser does make an appearance. Other cameo appearances include Cudi's then GOOD Music label-mate Consequence, actor Jake Hoffman along with fellow rappers Johnny Polygon and Drake.
The second music video released, directed by Megaforce, shows Kid Cudi waking up and interacting with a swiveling couch, and a party scene. The members of Ratatat are featured.
Covers and influence
In February 2010, Los Angeles–based electro-pop folk trio Barbara, released a cover version of the song.[14] In early 2010, Australian alternative rock band Cloud Control, covered "Pursuit of Happiness", on multiple occasions throughout their concert tours, which received high praise.[15][16]
In 2010, American folk-rock singer Lissie, began covering the song live in concert.[17] Her cover earned praise from Kid Cudi, who posted the video on his official website, commenting that Lissie did a "great job" and that it was "just really beautiful and extremely flattering."[17] She included the cover on her extended play/cover album, Covered Up with Flowers (2011).[18] In 2012, Los Angeles–based rapper Schoolboy Q, sampled Lissie's cover version, for his song "Hands on the Wheel", taken from his album Habits & Contradictions (2012). In June 2014, Kid Cudi and Lissie performed the song together for the very first time at Le Divan du Monde in Paris, France.[19][20][21]
In 2013, American rock band Nebraska Jones, also released a cover of "Pursuit of Happiness".[22] In 2014, San Francisco–based indie dream pop musician Katie Day, released a cover version of "Pursuit of Happiness", where she played all the parts solo, supporting her melancholy sing-song with thick layers of drums, synth, piano, and eventually strings (each via keyboard).[12]
In September 2017, American rapper KYLE, covered "Pursuit of Happiness", saying he chose to cover the song because it's one of his favorites and it helped him through a dark part of his life: "That song just got me just through a lot of tough times. I think Kid Cudi has this special gift to make music that can pick somebody off from a super dark place and put them in this happy, awesome, positive Pikachu filled place. And I always aspire to do the same thing. It almost taught me like why even I became a rapper in the first place."[23]
In other media
In 2012, the remix produced by Steve Aoki was featured in the trailers for the comedy film Project X and was later included on the film's soundtrack.
In 2016, American singer Lissie's cover version of the song was used for Nike's Unlimited Pursuit campaign, featuring American athletes Serena Williams and Simone Biles.[27]
In 2020, the original song was heavily featured in a trailer for the Judd Apatow film The King of Staten Island, and was also included in the film.[28]
In 2021, the song was used as part of the Montreal Canadiens pregame show as part of the playoff's montage.
That same year, Google UK featured the song's instrumental in the TV and YouTube ads for their new Pixel 6 smartphone.[29]
In 2023, Apple TV's Shrinking, utilized "Pursuit of Happiness" for the show's official teaser.[2]
The Toronto Maple Leafs currently use the Steve Aoki remix as their goal song, having done so since the 2023–24 season. However, this was dropped after one game due to complaints about lyrics relating to drunk driving.[30]
