Happy People (Little Big Town song)

"Happy People" is a song recorded by American country group Little Big Town from their eighth studio album, The Breaker (2017). The song was released digitally February 3, 2017 as the album's first promotional single and was released to country radio as the album's second official single on April 3, 2017.[1][2] "Happy People" was written by Lori McKenna and Hailey Whitters. McKenna later included her own rendition of the song on her 2018 album The Tree and Whitters recorded a version for her 2020 album The Dream.

"Happy People"
Single by Little Big Town
from the album The Breaker
ReleasedApril 3, 2017 (2017-04-03)
GenreCountry pop
Length2:47
LabelCapitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jay Joyce
Little Big Town singles chronology
"Better Man"
(2016)		 "Happy People"
(2017)		 "When Someone Stops Loving You"
(2017)

Content

"Happy People" features positive lyrics that encourage kindness and self-actualization.[3] The song is backed by a "driving percussion rhythm" and incorporates influences of pop and folk genres.[3][4] Perri Blumberg of Rolling Stone wrote that the optimistic lyrics of "Happy People" serve as a thematic counterpoint to previous single, "Better Man".[5] Karen Fairchild sings lead vocals on the song, with harmonies provided by the remaining group members.

Promotion

Little Big Town first performed "Happy People" on The Today Show on February 24, 2017.[6] The group also performed the song at the 2016 ACM Awards on April 2, 2017, which Billboard called "one of the most memorable performances" of the night.[7]

Critical reception

In a review of The Breaker, Annie Reuter of Sounds Like Nashville wrote that the "standout" song "immediately pulls the listener in with its slick beats and memorable lyrics."[8] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday wrote that "Happy People" sounds "more like Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac than the bro country that currently fills country radio," and that its lyrics are "surprisingly poignant."[9]

Commercial performance

"Happy People" debuted at number 56 on the Country Airplay chart dated April 22, 2017.[10] The song debuted at number 47 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated February 25, 2017 from digital downloads.[11] Following its release as a single, it re-entered at number 49 on the chart dated April 15, 2017,[12] and reached a peak of number 40, while it peaked at number 46 on the Country Airplay chart, becoming their lowest-peaking single to date.

Charts
Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[13] 46
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[14] 40

References
  1. "Happy People - Little Big Town | Release Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  2. "Future Release for Country Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  3. Reuter, Annie (February 8, 2017). "Little Big Town Debut New Song, 'Happy People' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  4. Stefano, Angela (March 20, 2017). "Hear Little Big Town's New 'The Breaker' Single, 'Happy People'". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  5. Blumberg, Perri O. (February 3, 2017). "Hear Little Big Town's Optimistic New Song, 'Happy People'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  6. "Watch Little Big Town perform 'Happy People' live on TODAY" (video). The Today Show. NBC. February 24, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  7. Unterberger, Andrew (April 2, 2017). "Little Big Town Bring the Flower Power With 'Happy People' Performance at the 2017 ACM Awards". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  8. Reuter, Annie (February 22, 2017). "Album Review: Little Big Town's 'The Breaker'". Sounds Like Nashville. SpinMedia. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  9. Gamboa, Glenn (February 22, 2017). "'The Breaker' review: Little Big Town redefining country music". Newsday. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  10. "Country Airplay: The Week of April 22, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  11. "Hot Country Songs: The Week of February 25, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  12. "Hot Country Songs: The Week of April 15, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  13. "Little Big Town Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  14. "Little Big Town Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
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