Don't Worry, Be Happy
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"Don't Worry, Be Happy" is the title and famous principal lyric of a song by popular musician Bobby McFerrin, the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, holding that position for two weeks in September of 1988. At the 1988 Grammy Awards, "Don't Worry Be Happy" won 'Best Song of the Year'. The song's title is taken from a famous quote by Meher Baba.[1] The original music video stars Robin Williams and Bill Irwin.
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[edit] History
Meher Baba (1894-1969) often used the expression "Don't worry, be happy" when cabling his followers in the west. Later, in the 1960's, this well used expression by Baba was printed up on inspiration cards and even day-glo posters of the era. In 1988, Bobby McFerrin noticed a similar poster in the apartment of the jazz band Tuck & Patti in San Francisco. Inspired by the expression's charm and simplicity McFerrin wrote the now famous song.
Meher Baba did not mean to convey by this expression that one should avoid facing and solving problems, the sentiment that led to the satyrical iconic image of a smiley face with a bullet through its head. He was scrupulous about tending to personal duties and facing reality head on. This is evidenced by the fact that his words were often, "Do your best, then don't worry, be happy." [2]
[edit] Usage in films, popular culture, and advertising
- Public Enemy referenced the song in their song "Fight the Power," which featured the lyric, "Don't Worry Be Happy was a number one jam/Damn, if I say it you can slap me right here."
- It was featured on the soundtrack of the Tom Cruise film Cocktail, which may have helped its popularity.
- Comedian George Carlin wrote in his book Napalm and Silly Putty that he figured that many Americans would embrace the philosophy of denial in the song.
- It was featured in the film Jarhead, in which it was used as an ironic soundtrack to many violent and distressing war scenes — it is also a reference to the war in the film which was led by George H. W. Bush, who (as written below) used the song in his presidential campaign.
- It was also used in the movie Dawn of the Dead (2004 film),in which it was playing on the speakers when they first entered the mall.
- Montenegrin musician Rambo Amadeus made a parody titled "Don't Happy, Be Worry," as critique to the mindless optimism of the music scene in former Yugoslavia in the face of catastrophic war and economic depression.
- The song was used in George H. W. Bush's campaign in the 1988 U.S. presidential election until McFerrin objected, and the campaign desisted.
- The phrase has entered the English language, often used as an ironic criticism of the attitude someone has about a worrisome issue. For example: "His attitude towards flood insurance was, 'Don't Worry, Be Happy.'"
- The song is also a Karaoke favorite and has been parodied on the animated show The Simpsons, which claimed McFerrin released a sequel called "I'm Worried, Need Money."
- In the animated series Futurama, the characters sing the song "Don't Worry, Bee Happy" during one of Leela's hallucinations in "The Sting".
- The novelty toy Big Mouth Billy Bass sings the song.
- The song was adapted for several Alamo Rent-a-car commercials to coincide with their slogan "Drive Happy." It has also recently been used in advertisements for Walkers crisps in the UK which feature Gary Lineker.
- In the Nintendo DS game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, one of the suspects, Redd White, says his motto is "Don't worry, be happy".
- In the film Flushed Away, the song is sung in a helium-induced voice by a quartet of slugs.
- In the show Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, it is used in an episode while the cast plays a round of golf.
[edit] Misconceptions
The song is also commonly mistaken for a Bob Marley song, due to lyrics that are very similar to one of Marley's songs, "Three Little Birds".
| Preceded by "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single September 24, 1988- October 1, 1988 |
Succeeded by "Love Bites" by Def Leppard |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Time Magazine, Oct. 17, 1988
- ^ Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba. Bhau Kalchuri, Manifestation, Inc. 1986. Volume 20, page 6742
