Welcome to this brand new feature series on Trendrod Music, Titlemates. Let’s explore the vast world of music from around the globe by listening to good songs that share the same title.
For the introductory presentation of Titlemates, let’s listen to some of K-pop’s legendary girls, 2NE1 and Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon. Interestingly, they both have songs that are entitled “Happy.” Let’s dive in and look onto more details about these songs.
Happy by 2NE1
In 2014, 2NE1 released what would be their last album titled Crush. With nine songs from the Korean version of the album, Happy is featured as one of the B-sides released for the album. The Japanese versions of I Love You and Crush, along with Gotta Be You, and the title track Come Back Home were considered as the four singles of the said album.
Heading onto the music video now, it shows the four members walking along the streets of California. With their distinct style and color, the M/V is without a doubt a 2NE1 product. Not only that, but the song itself is also representative of what the group is all about. The blend of English and Korean languages, coupled with the upbeat tempo of the song, it makes a good song while driving, among other tasks.
Despite the colorful vibe of the song and the accompanying music video, the lyrics mean otherwise. Happy describes a break-up that had occurred, with a fall-out seemingly took place between the two people involved. However, (sarcastic or not), the persona in the point-of-view of 2NE1 still wishes their ex to be happy now that they have broken up.
Happy was produced by Teddy, who is now in charge of The Black Label — a subsidiary of 2NE1’s record company YG Entertainment.
Happy by Taeyeon
Just last year, 2020, Taeyeon gifted SONEs with a special gift. Supposedly part of her Purpose album in 2019, Taeyeon said that due to the song’s different vibe from the rest of that album’s track list, it was decided to be released as a special single instead.
With its slow beat, along with a calming combination of rhythm and blues and pop sounds, Happy delivers an enchanting sound. It’s also effective enough to bring its listeners onto a different dimension, with a sense of nostalgia kicking in after a few minutes. True to that is the lyrics itself, which encourages people to enjoy moments with everyone dear to them, especially in the middle of a pandemic.
Enchanting? Well, the music video also lives up to the vibes that the song presents. Greens and flowers are certainly the motif in this one. Moreover, to ground the video to reality, a segment was filmed in a way that it would like as if it’s from a webcam — symbolic of what many of us are stuck to for the time being as in-person gatherings are regulated.
Upon the release of the extended play What Do I Call You in late 2020, Happy was included as one of the songs in the said EP.
So, are you ready to enjoy both songs now? Or have you already listened to them? Whatever your answer is, one thing is for certain and that is the fact that these two songs are good to listen to.