"Happiness"
Single by The Blue Nile
from the album Peace at Last
Released1996
Length
  • 4:39 (album version)
  • 4:28 (single version)
LabelWarner
Songwriter(s)Paul Buchanan
Producer(s)The Blue Nile
The Blue Nile singles chronology
"Saturday Night"
(1991)		 "Happiness"
(1996)		 "Sentimental Man"
(1996)

"Happiness" is a song by Scottish band The Blue Nile, which was released in 1996 as the lead single from their third studio album Peace at Last. It was written by Paul Buchanan and produced by the band. "Happiness" reached No. 88 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for two weeks.[1]

Critical reception

In a review of Peace at Last, The Dundee Courier & Advertiser wrote, "Peace at Last arrives in superb style with the opening 'Happiness', a song which has little to do with its title but is as magnificently grandiose as anything you're likely to hear."[2] Music & Media described "Happiness" as "a great gospel song, climaxing with the help of a choir".[3]

In a 1996 feature on the band, George Byrne said, "There's the presence of a gospel choir at the close of 'Happiness' which caused me to jump when I first heard it but even that departure from [the band's] usual form fits in perfectly with the tone of the song."[4] Adrian Dawson of The Stage described the song as a "hymn to triumph over adversity".[5]

Track listing

Cassette single
  1. "Happiness" (Edit) – 4:28
  2. "O Lolita" – 3:37
CD single (CD #1)
  1. "Happiness" (Edit) – 4:28
  2. "O Lolita" – 3:37
  3. "War Is Love (A Different Day)" – 3:33
CD single (CD #2)
  1. "Happiness" (Edit) – 4:28
  2. "New York Man" – 3:55
  3. "Wish Me Well" – 4:28
CD single (promo)
  1. "Happiness" – 4:28

Personnel

The Blue Nile

  • Paul Buchanan – vocals, guitar, synthesizer
  • Robert Bell – bass, synthesizer
  • Paul Joseph Moore – keyboards, synthesizer

Additional musicians

  • Nigel Thomas – drums
  • Eddie Tate & Friends – gospel choir

Production

Other

  • The Blue Nile, Central – sleeve design

Charts

Chart (1996) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 88

References

  1. ↑ "BLUE NILE; full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Albumreview". The Courier & Advertiser. 20 June 1996. p. 8.
  3. ↑ Dawson, Adrian (22 June 1996). "New Releases: Albums". Music & Media. p. 12.
  4. ↑ George, Byrne (11 June 1996). "A cruise up the Blue Nile". Irish Independent. p. 26.
  5. ↑ Dawson, Adrian (24 October 1996). "Tuneful rivers of emotion". The Stage. p. 17.
  6. ↑ "Blue Nile: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
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