Happy Nation (song)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Happy Nation"
One of Scandinavian variants of 1993 European artwork
Single by Ace of Base
from the album Happy Nation/The Sign
B-side"Remix"
Released7 December 1992
StudioTuff Studios
Genre
Length4:16
LabelMega
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jonas Berggren
  • Ulf Ekberg
Ace of Base singles chronology
"All That She Wants"
(1992) 		"Happy Nation"
(1992) 		"Waiting for Magic"
(1993)
Music video
"Happy Nation" on
YouTube

"Happy Nation" is a song recorded by Swedish group Ace of Base from their debut album with the same name (1992). It was first released in Scandinavia in December 1992 by Mega Records and later released twice in the UK. The first appearance was in October 1993, when it peaked at number 42, it re-entered the chart twelve months later at number 40.[2] "Happy Nation" reached number-one on the singles charts of Denmark, Finland, France in 1993 and 1994. Its music video was directed by Matt Broadley. In 2008, the song was remade by Ace of Base for a remix kit.

"Happy Nation" is a mid-tempo dance-pop song with strong influences from reggae fusion and Euro house. It was written by group members Jonas "Joker" Berggren and Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg and contains both English and Latin lyrics. The first verse is sung in Latin by Joker, and Linn Berggren sings the rest as the lead singer. The band has described the song, written as a response to reports of Ekberg's past associations with neo-Nazi skinheads, as an "anti-fascist song and a hymn to life".[3] Ekberg has also said the song is a response to "everybody talking about how bad everything is! ... I think [the] best thing is to see [the] positive."[4]

Chart performance

"Happy Nation" was quite successful on the charts in Europe and some other countries. Although not as big as "

Eurochart Hot 100, which was based on national singles sales charts in 17 European countries, "Happy Nation" peaked at number 19 in September 1993.[16] It had made its debut on the chart nine months earlier, at number 94, at the beginning of January 1993,[17]
after charting in Denmark. Elsewhere, the single peaked at number 22 and 80 in New Zealand and Australia, respectively. It did not chart in the US.

"Happy Nation" was awarded with a gold record in Germany with 250,000 singles sold and a silver record in France, after 125,000 units were sold.

Critical reception

Göteborgsposten stated that the reggae-rhythms from "All That She Wants" also "shows up" in the song, but "most of the sound is taken from European synth-based music."[21] Chuck Eddy from LA Weekly named it "the record's saddest-sounding song".[22] Andrew Balkin from Kingston Informer noted that "the Aces go downbeat" on "Happy Nation" and "Wheel of Fortune", adding further that both songs "have a soul/dance feel about them and wouldn't be out of place on the dance floor, or setting the mood in a smoky club."[23] In another article, the newspaper described it as "a luvvly bubbly song".[24] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton viewed it as "another piece of darkly brilliant dub reggae".[1] Mario Tarradell from Miami Herald stated, "Just try to shake the irresistible hook of "All That She Wants" and "Happy Nation": you won't succeed."[25]

When the single was released for the second time in the UK, Alan Jones from

The Vindicator stated that "the blend of melody and rhythm" in a song like "Happy Nation" "is all but irresistible".[33]

Music video

The accompanying music video of "Happy Nation" was directed by Swedish-based director Matt Broadley, who had previously directed the video of "All That She Wants".[34] It was shot in Gothenburg, Sweden in January 1993.[35] The video was later made available on Ace of Base's official YouTube channel in 2010 and had generated more than 183 million views as of March 2025.[36]

Synopsis

The video begins with a lit candle, the flame of which blowing to the side. During

atomic bomb exploding, people walking, and deforestation. When the music fades out, the lit candle shown at the start of the video is blown out.[36]

Track listings

  • 7" single
  1. "Happy Nation" (Radio Edit) — 3:32
  2. "Happy Nation" (Album Version) — 4:11
  • CD single - UK
  1. "Happy Nation" (Radio Edit) — 3:32
  2. "Happy Nation" (12 inch Version) — 6:39
  3. "Happy Nation" (Album Version) — 4:11
  • CD maxi
  1. "Happy Nation" (Gold Zone Club Mix)
  2. "Happy Nation" (Gold Zone 7" Edit)
  3. "Happy Nation" (Gold Dub Edit)
  4. "Happy Nation" (Moody Gold Mix)

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[55] Silver 125,000*
Germany (BVMI)[56] Gold 250,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

  • Vocals by Linn Berggren
  • Latin Choir by Jonas Berggren
  • Backing Vocals by John Ballard
  • Written by Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg
  • Produced by Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg
  • Recorded at Tuff Studios

Release history

Region Date Label
Denmark 7 December 1992 Mega
United Kingdom 1 November 1993 London Records 90
United Kingdom (re-issue) 3 October 1994 London Records 90

Other recordings

During the 6th series of Så mycket bättre in 2015, Niklas Strömstedt performed the song in Swedish as "Lyckolandet", with lyrics against racism and xenophobia.[57]

In other media

Television

The song was used in the X-Men '97 episode "Remember It", played during the Hellfire Gala that directly preceded genocide on the island of Genosha.

Legacy

The song experienced a resurgence in 2024 through the short-form video hosting service TikTok.[58] Usually in a video of the S.W.A.T. or corruption and violence.

References

  1. ^ a b Masterton, James (9 October 1994). "Week Ending October 15th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved 10 April 2008)
  3. ^ Capozzoli, Michael (13 July 1994). "A good 'Sign' for the Ace of Base quartet". The Hour. Norwalk, Connecticut. p. 21. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. ^ Ace of Base (1994). The Sign: The Home Video (videotape). 6 West Home Video. At time 20:24. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 3. 16 January 1993. p. 16. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5
    .
  7. ^ a b "Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in French). Les classement single.
  8. ^ "Happy Nation" spent 3 weeks at number one on the Israeli singles chart in March 1993:
    • Week 1: 2 March 1993
    • Week 2: 9 March 1993
    • Week 3: 16 March 1993
  9. ^ a b "M-1 Top 40". M-1.fm. 19 September 1993. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2022. See LW column.
  10. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – Ace of Base" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  11. ^ a b "Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Singles Top 100.
  12. ^ a b "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (14.10.1993 - 20.10.1993)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 4 February 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^
    Musica e Dischi
    (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Ace Of Base".
  14. ^ a b "Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Swiss Singles Chart.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 09 October 1994 - 15 October 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 39. 25 September 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 2. 9 January 1993. p. 11. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  18. ^ Promis, Jose F. "Ace of Base - Singles of the 90s". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  19. ^ Zaleski, Annie (19 February 2018). "Good timing turned Ace Of Base's The Sign into the luckiest hit of the '90s". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Positive songs for positive thinking". Fort Worth Examiner. 20 November 2012.
  21. Göteborgsposten
    . 27 January 1993.
  22. ^ Eddy, Chuck (21 April 1994). "Music Reviews: Ace of Base – The Sign". p. 83. LA Weekly.
  23. ^ Balkin, Andrew. (23 July 1993). "Leisure Centre: Balkin talkin'". page 20. Kingston Informer.
  24. ^ "Ace of Cookies". Kingston Informer. 7 October 1994. page 22.
  25. ^ Tarradell, Mario (5 January 1994). "Album Reviews: Ace of Base, The Sign". p. 40. Miami Herald.
  26. ^ Jones, Alan (10 September 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 20. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: The Sign". People. 28 February 1994. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  28. Plugged In (publication). Focus on the Family
    . Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  29. ^ Hamilton, James (1 October 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 10. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  30. Scripps Howard News Service
    .
  31. ^ Patterson, Sylvia (23 June 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 51. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  32. ^ Gundersen, Edna. (6 April 1994). "Ace of Base: `The Sign' spells success". USA Today.
  33. The Vindicator
    . 13 February 1994. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  34. ^ "Credits - Matt Broadley". mattbroadley.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  35. ^ Ace of Base gallery
  36. ^ a b "Ace of Base - Happy Nation (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 17 October 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  37. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles – Week Ending 20 Mar 1994". ARIA. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  38. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  39. ^ "Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  40. ^ "Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  41. ^ "Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  42. ^ "Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  43. ^ "Ace of Base – Happy Nation". VG-lista.
  44. Top 40 Singles
    .
  45. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  46. ^ "Oops, there was an error! | Haven".
  47. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 6 November 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  48. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  49. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  50. GfK Entertainment
    . Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  51. ^ "Single top 100 over 1993" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1993". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  53. ^ "Årstopplistan 1993, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on 16 February 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  54. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1994" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  55. ^ "French single certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  56. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ace of Base; 'Happy Nation')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  57. ^ "Strömstedt hyllas för Lyckolandet". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 9 November 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  58. ^ "Ulf Ekberg (Ace of Base) interview SVT Morgonstudion 26 February 2024" (video). youtube.com. SVT1. 26 February 2024.


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