Happy Now (Take That song)

"Happy Now" is a song by English pop group Take That from their sixth studio album, Progress. The song features Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams performing lead vocals. The song was released as the third single from the album, mainly to promote the group's Comic Relief sketch, "Fake That".

"Happy Now"
Single by Take That
from the album Progress
Released	18 March 2011
Recorded	Sarm West Studios (London, United Kingdom) Electric Lady Studios (New York City, United States) Abbey Road Studios (London, United Kingdom)
Genre	Pop synth-pop house electro-rock
Length	3:58
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Gary Barlow Howard Donald Jason Orange Mark Owen Robbie Williams
Producer(s)	Stuart Price
Take That singles chronology
"Kidz" (2011) "Happy Now" (2011) "Love Love" (2011)
Music video
Take That / Fake That "Happy Now" on YouTube

Background

The song was first announced as the album's third single when it was revealed that the band would perform the song live on the Comic Relief telethon on Red Nose Day 2011 – Friday 18 March. The group performed the song at 9:15pm, following which an announcement was made that a video for the track would premiere on the same night at 10:30pm. The video premiered on digital music channels on 6 April 2011, which subsequently was the same date that the track was placed on the BBC Radio 1 B-Playlist, on 6 April 2011.^[1] In the United Kingdom, the single was only released digitally, though a promotional physical release of the single, complete with remixes from Paul Oakenfold and Benny Benassi, was made available in Europe.^[2]

Critical reception

The Guardian praised the "glam stomp" sound of the song.^[3] Virgin Media praised the production: "While this could easily have been traditional Take That fare, Stuart Price touches it up with a trendy electro fringe."^[4]

Music video

The official music video for "Happy Now" was recorded at the BBC Television Studios during February 2011. The video premiered on the Red Nose Day 2011 telethon on 18 March and Take That also performed the number live.^[5][6] The video begins with the band sitting as a Judges' panel in a small room. The band bring on participants who are hoping to be formed into the group's ultimate tribute act, Fake That. Many bands appear on stage, including a group of youths, a mixed gender group and five OAPs. The band are then introduced to a five piece made up of comedians Alan Carr, James Corden, John Bishop, David Walliams and Catherine Tate, impersonating Owen, Barlow, Williams, Donald and Orange respectively. The five comedians appear on stage in the group's outfits from their "Do What U Like" video in 1991. The real Take That heckle them off stage, however, they return disguised as the group from their video for "The Flood", complete with the Progress rowing boat. In similar fashion, they are heckled off; however, they return in outfits from the group's videos for "Pray" and "Back For Good", with each impersonator performing the dance moves of the member of Take That they are pretending to be. Gary Barlow and the rest of the band then agree that the group look good in their "Back For Good" outfits, and decide to make them into Fake That. The real Take That then appear on stage and perform the final piece of the track with them, before leaving what seems to be a television set. In the end, Carr says "Bye, thanks for coming" to them.

Personnel

• Gary Barlow – co-lead vocals
• Robbie Williams – co-lead vocals, backing vocals
• Howard Donald – backing vocals
• Jason Orange – backing vocals
• Mark Owen – backing vocals

Track listing

European promo single^[7][8]

1. "Happy Now" (main version) – 3:56
2. "Happy Now" (live version) – 3:45
3. "Happy Now" (Paul Oakenfold Radio Edit) – 3:31
4. "Happy Now" (Benny Benassi Radio Edit) – 3:52
5. "Happy Now" (Paul Oakenfold Remix) – 7:19
6. "Happy Now" (Benny Benassi Remix) – 7:00

UK iTunes package^[9][10]

1. "Happy Now" (live version) – 3:45
2. "Happy Now" (video) – 4:44
3. "Happy Now" (behind the scenes footage) – 14:18

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Scotland (OCC)[11]	48
UK Singles (OCC)[12]	52
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[13]	52

Release history

Region	Date	Format
United Kingdom	18 March 2011	Digital download[10]
Europe	18 June 2011	Promotional CD single[8]

References

1. "BBC - Radio 1 Playlist". BBC. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
2. "Music House - Hyperactive". www.music-house.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
3. "Take That: Progress | CD review". the Guardian. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
4. "Take That Progress album review - Red Room - Virgin.com". 23 January 2012. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
5. Youtube – Fake That
6. "Comic Relief: Take That mocked by 'Fake That'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 March 2011.
7. "Music House – Hyperactive".
8. "Take That – Happy Now – Remixes – 2011". 6 April 2011.
9. "Red Nose Day | Comic Relief".
10. "Take That / Fake That's Happy Now on iTunes". robbiewilliams.com. 19 March 2011. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
12. "Take That: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
13. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.