"Happy" is a song originally recorded by British funk band
Hi-Tension in 1984, titled as "You Make Me Happy". It was later
covered by
Surface for their self-titled album released in 1986. A hit single, Surface's version reached number 20 on the US
Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1987.[1][3]
"Happy" was also featured on Surface's compilation album Perfect 10 and was produced by members
Bernard Jackson, David "Pic" Conley and David Townsend.
"Happy" was covered by British R&B group
MN8 and released in July 1995 as the third single from their debut album, To the Next Level (1995).[8][9] The song peaked at number eight on the
UK Singles Chart and entered the top 20 in New Zealand, where it reached number 11. The track was also remixed by
Dalvin DeGrate of
Jodeci.[10][11]
Critical reception
In his weekly UK chart commentary,
James Masterton described the song as "another immaculate slice of
swingbeat pop and another smash hit to boot".[12]
^
abBreihan, Tom (November 3, 2021).
"The Number Ones: Surface's "The First Time". Stereogum. Retrieved December 19, 2023. ...their glossy synth-soul single "Happy," a cover of a song from the UK group Hi-Tension, reached #2 on the R&B charts...