Happy
Writing
This was the last song written for the album. In fact, I resisted this song as it tried to pry its way out because I already had over 20 songs I was trying to weed down to a dozen. But, I couldn't get the chords and melody out of my head. So I acquiesced, and the words came pouring out in one sitting at my rehearsal space on April 29th, 2009.
I loved the juxtaposition of the overtly happy pop music underneath a song about how unhappy and miserable the person is.
Here is part of the scratch demo I made right after I wrote the music so I wouldn't forget the chords:
Recording
We recorded this with the band as our sixth song in two days of recording. We had worked out the arrangement on our rehearsal day but when the record button was hit, Dave came blasting with the drums, then paused, then settled into the agreed groove. It was a brilliant move and captured the fun of the song.
Peter was a big help on this song with his suggestion that the ending should be altered to focus in on the "I know you'll never understand" by repeating it over and over for the ending. Again, a brilliant suggestion that gave the song an extra push and force at the end.
Fab and I worked on the overdubs the following week. We had a great time adding the backing vocals with Fab singing most of them including the lovely high notes.
We got a bit stuck working on some ideas played on an old Korg analogue mono-note synth. So, we took a dinner break traveling back to Fab and Nina's apartment with food cooked by my wife Kusi. After lovely food and wine, a good chat and playing with Fab and Nina's super cute daughter Caia, we headed back to work and instantly found the right feel with the Korg and finished off the song shortly after. It's amazing what a good meal with family and friends can do for you.
A true collaboration.
This was another track that had a number of mixing and re-mixing done to get just the right blend of things.
Final version
Here is the final version of "Happy". If you right click on the link below the MP3 player you can download this track for free by choosing "save link as" for Mac users or "save target as" for PC users.
Video
Directed by Graeme Pearce. Painters & helpers Kusi Okamura,
Graeme Pearce, Julie Freedman, Gordon Raphael (producer for The
Strokes, Imogen Heap), Roula Kontogianni, and Nijen Hegenbarth. Filmed in Berlin, Germany.
Director
Graeme Pearce dreamed up the idea of filming four of us drawing or
painting simultaneously on a big moving scroll of paper whatever were
inspired to while we listened to "Happy". We had enough paper for four
takes of this and finally settled on take 2. Then, Graeme had the
bright idea of having me lay down on the paper and let everyone throw
paint and feathers on me while I attempted to sing the song.
I have to say, we had an absolute blast filming this in my apartment in Berlin and I think it shows in the video.
Track Information
Eric:
Electric Guitars (Hohner Semi-Hollow body (live with the band) & Washburn), Classical acoustic guitar (weird tuning) Korg analogue synth, Lead Vocal, Backing Vocals
Fab:
Backing Vocals, Korg analogue synth, organ
Dave Hingerty:
Drums (two 16" cymbals put together as the hi-hat)
Peter Cheevers:
Bass
Tom Fanore:
Percussion
Lyrics
Happy
Happy. I’ll never be happy
I’m telling you please don’t come my way
Sorry. I’ll always be sorry
I begging you please don’t come my way
Chorus:
I know you’ll never understand
I know you’ll never understand
I try to fight it but the truth don’t lie
There's too much darkness in this heart of mine
Tempted. I’ll always be tempted
I’m hurting you please don’t come my way
Lonely. I’ll always be lonely
I’m saving you please don’t come my way
Chorus:
I know you’ll never understand
I know you’ll never understand
I try to fight it but the truth don’t lie
There's too much darkness in this heart of mine
I swear. The wind has carved upon the cliffs
A picture of the night we kissed. Now it’s gone
Chorus:
I know you’ll never understand
I know you’ll never understand
II want redemption but the truth don't lie
There's too much darkness in this heart of mine
I know you’ll never understand
I know you’ll never understand
I know you’ll never understand