If You Wanna Be Happy
Encyclopedia
"If You Wanna Be Happy" is a song recorded by Jimmy Soul
, written by Frank Guida
. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100
on May 18, 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart. The song is based on the calypso
"Ugly Woman" by Roaring Lion
. It was issued on Guida's S.P.Q.R. label and distributed by London Records
, and in the UK on EMI
's Stateside
label. The original single lists a running time of 2:14; some later releases are slightly longer due to a longer fade-out. The song was banned on many radio stations, due to the use of the word "Ugly Girl/ Woman". Towards the end of the song, a brief dialogue takes place between Soul and a backup singer, based on Bo Diddley's song "Say Man": "Say Man!!"/ "Hey baby"/ "I saw your wife the other day."/ "Yeah??"/ "Yeah, and she's ugly-y-y-y-y!!!"/ "Yeah, she's ugly, but she sure can cook, baby"./ "Yeah, alright."/ Soul's counterpoint melody in a falsetto is heard as the song fades out.
The song is featured in the film Mermaids
(1990) and on the soundtrack
of My Best Friend's Wedding
(1997). It can also be heard in the 1959 film "Tiger Bay", sung by a group of West Indian street musicians at a wedding. The Polish seaman played by Horst Buchholz sees them singing shortly after discovering that his fiancee has changed addresses.
The song was also sampled by Canadian Synth-Pop group Kon Kan
in the track "Could Have Said I Told You So", taken from their second album entitled Syntonic.
Jimmy Soul
Jimmy Soul was an American vocalist. He is best remembered for his 1963 million selling recording, "If You Wanna Be Happy."...
, written by Frank Guida
Frank Guida
Frank Guida was a Sicilian-American songwriter and music producer credited with discovering Gary U.S. Bonds, whose hits, including "New Orleans" and "Quarter to Three", he produced. He was also a songwriter for Leroy Toombs...
. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
on May 18, 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart. The song is based on the calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
"Ugly Woman" by Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion was a calypsonian...
. It was issued on Guida's S.P.Q.R. label and distributed by London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
, and in the UK on EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
's Stateside
Stateside Records
Stateside Records is a British record label which initially released licenced American recordings and is now a reissue label....
label. The original single lists a running time of 2:14; some later releases are slightly longer due to a longer fade-out. The song was banned on many radio stations, due to the use of the word "Ugly Girl/ Woman". Towards the end of the song, a brief dialogue takes place between Soul and a backup singer, based on Bo Diddley's song "Say Man": "Say Man!!"/ "Hey baby"/ "I saw your wife the other day."/ "Yeah??"/ "Yeah, and she's ugly-y-y-y-y!!!"/ "Yeah, she's ugly, but she sure can cook, baby"./ "Yeah, alright."/ Soul's counterpoint melody in a falsetto is heard as the song fades out.
The song is featured in the film Mermaids
Mermaids (film)
Mermaids is a 1990 comedy-drama film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder , and Christina Ricci in her first film role...
(1990) and on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of My Best Friend's Wedding
My Best Friend's Wedding
My Best Friend's Wedding is a 1997 romantic comedy film directed by P. J. Hogan. It stars Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Dermot Mulroney, Rupert Everett, and Philip Bosco.The film received mostly positive reviews from critics...
(1997). It can also be heard in the 1959 film "Tiger Bay", sung by a group of West Indian street musicians at a wedding. The Polish seaman played by Horst Buchholz sees them singing shortly after discovering that his fiancee has changed addresses.
Covers
- In the wake of the original version, Dutch-based Surinamese singer Max Woiski jr. recorded the song as Want je bent nog niet gelukkig met een mooie vrouw.
- Former The Rolling Stones bass player, Bill WymanBill WymanBill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
released a version on his solo album Stone Alone, in 1976. - The band Rocky Sharpe and The ReplaysRocky SharpeRocky Sharpe is the pseudonym of an English rock/pop singer who, with Rocky Sharpe and the Replays, first found fame in the late 1970s. The usual line-up of the group was Rocky , Helen Highwater , Johnny Stud and Eric Rondo...
released a cover version of the song in 1983. - The artists/bands Kid Creole and the CoconutsKid Creole and the CoconutsKid Creole and the Coconuts is an American musical group created and led by August Darnell. Its music incorporates a variety of styles and influences, in particular "American and Latin American, South American, Caribbean, Trinidadian, Calloway" and conceptually inspired by the big band era...
, RaceyRaceyRacey was a British pop group, formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare, by singer Phil Fursdon and Clive Wilson. The group was formerly known as Alive 'n' Rockin.-Career:...
, Joe DolceJoe DolceJoseph "Joe" Dolce is an American-born, Australian singer/songwriter who achieved fame with his multi-million-selling song, "Shaddap You Face", released under the name of his one-man show, Joe Dolce Music Theatre, in 1980...
, The SkatalitesThe SkatalitesThe Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone". They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period...
and Barnes & BarnesBarnes & BarnesBarnes & Barnes, fictional twin brothers Art Barnes and Artie Barnes , are a comedy rock duo based in "Lumania", a fictional mythological civilization . Most of their music is standard rock or pop with heavy comedic elements...
have released cover versions as well. - French singer Claude FrancoisClaude FrançoisClaude François was a French pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He wrote "Comme d'habitude," the original version of "My Way."-Early life:...
recorded an adaptation of the song in French as "Si tu veux être heureux" (June, 1963).
The song was also sampled by Canadian Synth-Pop group Kon Kan
Kon Kan
Kon Kan was a Canadian synthpop band formed in 1988 in Toronto, Ontario. The band was awarded a 1990 Juno for their song "I Beg Your Pardon " and nominated for a 1991 Juno Award for their single "Puss n' Boots/These Boots ".-History:The band members consisted of Barry Harris and Kevin Wynne...
in the track "Could Have Said I Told You So", taken from their second album entitled Syntonic.