Happiness (Ai song)

"Happiness" (ハピネス) is a song written and recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. Originally released digitally on November 18, 2011 as the second single from Ai's ninth studio album, Independent, it was released physically on December 14, 2011, by EMI Music Japan alongside "Letter in the Sky".

"Happiness"
2013 reissue cover
Single by Ai
from the album Independent
Language
  • Japanese
  • English
A-side"Letter in the Sky"
ReleasedDecember 14, 2011 (2011-12-14)
Recorded2011
Genre
Length4:17
Label
Songwriter(s)Ai Uemura
Producer(s)
  • Uta
  • Uemura
Ai singles chronology
"Stronger"
(2010)		 "Happiness" / "Letter in the Sky"
(2011)		 "Beautiful Life"
(2012)
Music video
"Happiness" on YouTube
Original cover
Original cover
Original cover

Used as a commercial theme song for Coca-Cola's Christmas campaign in Japan from 2011 to 2015, "Happiness" became one of Ai's best performing singles in the 2010's to date with 3 million digital downloads.[1][2] In 2013, the single received a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[3]

Background and release

In October 2011, "Letter in the Sky" was released digitally as the lead single for Independent. With the release, it was announced the song would be released physically in December.[4]

"Happiness" originally was released to Chaka-Uta, a digital transmission technology in Japan used to distribute ringtones and songs to Japanese mobile phones in November 2011.[1] It later was released to other digital stores. On December 14, "Happiness" was released physically with "Letter in the Sky" as a double A-side single.[5]

Music videos

Three music videos were made for "Happiness" and its remixes. The original music video was released in December 2011. In the video, Ai portrays a janitor, a high school principal, and a salesman driving a Coca-Cola delivery truck. The video switches between the three characters she portrays. At the end of the music video, Ai is seen performing the song as herself with the students of the school.

In 2012, a music video for the "Smile Version" of "Happiness" was released. The music video was shot in Yokohama.[6]

In 2013, a music video for the "Giving Version" of "Happiness" was released.[7]

Commercial performance

The physical release of "Happiness / Letter in the Sky" debuted at number 14 on the Oricon weekly singles chart.[5] On the Billboard Japan charts, "Happiness" debuted at number 4 and peaked at number 2 on the Japan Hot 100. The physical single peaked at number 13 on the Top Singles Sales chart. "Happiness" appeared in many year-end rankings.[8][9][10]

Track listing

All tracks written and produced by Ai Uemura unless noted. All tracks produced by Uta unless noted.

"Happiness"– Digital single
No.TitleLength
1."Happiness"4:17
"Happiness / Letter in the Sky" – CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Happiness"  4:15
2."Letter in the Sky" (featuring The Jacksons)
  • Uemura
  • Curtis Jenkins
  • Danny Lashine
  • King David "The Future"
  • King David
  • Uemura
4:43
"Happiness / Letter in the Sky" – DVD bonus
No.TitleLength
1."Happiness" (music video) 
2."Letter in the Sky" (music video) (featuring The Jacksons) 
3."Legendary Night at Nippon Budokan with Super Special Guests" (Digest trailer) 
Happiness EP – Digital EP
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Happiness" (Smile Version) 4:24
2."Happiness" 4:18
3."Happiness" (English Version)
4:17
4."Happiness" (Mighty Crown Reggae Summer Remix) 5:04
5."Happiness" (Live in Budokan 2012) 5:29
6."Happiness" (Karaoke Mix) 4:18
Happiness Gift Pack – CD EP
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Happiness" 4:18
2."Happiness" (Smile Version) 4:24
3."Happiness" (Giving Version) 4:16
4."Happiness" (English Version)
  • Uemura
  • Hyman
4:18
5."Happiness" (Mighty Crown Reggae Summer Remix) 5:04
6."Happiness" (Karaoke Mix) 4:18
7."Happiness" (Smile Version, Karaoke Mix) 4:26
8."Happiness" (Giving Version, Karaoke Mix) 4:16
Happiness Gift Pack – DVD bonus
No.TitleLength
1."Happiness" (music video) 
2."Happiness" (Smile Version) (music video) 
3."Happiness" (Giving Version) (music video) 
4."Happiness" (Giving Version) (Behind the Scenes) 
Happiness Pack – Digital EP
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Happiness" 4:18
2."Happiness" (Smile Version) 4:24
3."Happiness" (Giving Version) 4:16
4."Happiness" (English Version)
  • Uemura
  • Hyman
4:18
5."Happiness" (Mighty Crown Reggae Summer Remix) 5:04

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart performance for "Happiness"
Chart (2011-12) Peak
position
Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay (Billboard Japan)[11] 1
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)[12] 2
Japan Singles Chart (Oricon)[13] 14
Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)[14] 13
Chart performance for "Happiness"
Chart (2013) Peak
position
Japan Albums Chart (Oricon)[note 1] 139

Year-end charts
Year-end chart performance for "Happiness"
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay (Billboard Japan)[16] 14
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)[10] 5
Japan Radio Songs (Billboard Japan)[17] 12

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[18][19]

Original version
  • Ai Uemura – vocals, songwriter, producer
  • Uta – producer, programming, recording arranger

English version
  • Ai Uemura – vocals, songwriter, producer
  • Uta – producer, programming, recording arranger
  • Latisha Hyman – songwriter

Reggae Summer remix
  • Ai Uemura – vocals, songwriter, producer
  • Uta – producer, programming, recording arranger
  • Mighty Crown – arranger, work arranger
  • Danny Bassic – bass (vocals)
  • Kirk Drummie – drums
  • Monti – guitar
  • Deen Fraser – horn
  • Devon – keyboards
  • Sami-T – programming, recording arranger

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "Happiness"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[20]
PC download 		2× Platinum 500,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[21]
Full-length ringtone 		Platinum 250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Happiness (Gospel Version)
"Happiness (Gospel Version)"
Promotional single by Ai
from the album Kansha!!!!! - Thank You for 20 Years New and Best
Language
  • Japanese
  • English
ReleasedOctober 30, 2019 (2019-10-30)
Recorded2019
Genre
Length4:21
Label
Songwriter(s)Ai Uemura
Producer(s)
  • Gerald Haddon
  • Uemura

On October 30, 2019, Ai released a gospel version of "Happiness" as promotional single from her 2019 compilation album, Kansha!!!! - Thank You for 20 Years New and Best.[22]

Background

To celebrate her twenty-year anniversary in the music industry and the then upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics, Ai traveled to Los Angeles, California to record new material, which later was revealed to be It's All Me, Vol. 1 (2020) and It's All Me, Vol. 2 (2021). While recording new material, Ai recorded gospel arrangements of her previously released hit singles.[23]

Release history
Release history and formats for "Happiness (Gospel Version)"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various October 30, 2019
EMI [22]

Eito version
"Happiness"
Single by Eito
Language
  • Japanese
  • English
ReleasedNovember 11, 2020 (2020-11-11)
Recorded2020
Length4:16
LabelA.S.A.B
Songwriter(s)Ai Uemura
Eito singles chronology
"Right Now"
(2020)		 "Happiness"
(2020)		 "Piece of Cake"
(2021)

Japanese musician Eito covered "Happiness" for the Coca-Cola winter 2020 campaign. His cover was released on November 11, 2020, by A.S.A.B.[24][25] His cover was included as a bonus track on his debut studio album, Sukkarakan.[24]

Live performances

Eito performed the song live with Ai at the "Coca-Cola" Ribbon Bottle Happiness Night on December 10, 2020.[24]

Release history
Release history and formats for "Happiness"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various November 11, 2020
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 A.S.A.B [26]

Release history
Release history and formats for "Happiness"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
Japan November 23, 2011
  • Digital download
 Original EMI Music Japan [27]
December 14, 2011
  • Digital download
  • streaming
  • CD
  • DVD
 [28]
January 16, 2013
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 EP [29]
December 3, 2013
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Pack EP EMI Records Japan [30]
December 11, 2013
  • CD
  • DVD
 Gift Pack EP [31]
Various October 30, 2019
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 EP EMI Records [32]

Footnotes
  1. On Japanese charts, the Happiness Gift Pack was considered an album.[15]

References
  1. "AI、EMIへの移籍第一弾シングルがコカ・コーラCMソングに。PVでは初のコスプレ姿も披露". BARKS (in Japanese). November 8, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  2. "AI、「ハピネス」が5年連続の『コカ・コーラ』キャンペーンソングに決定". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). October 29, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  3. "レコ協、12月度着うた等有料音楽配信認定を公表 | Musicman". 音楽業界総合情報サイト | Musicman (in Japanese). January 20, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  4. "AI、移籍第1弾はジャクソンズ共演曲＆伝説ライブ映像化". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  5. "ハピネス/Letter In The Sky feat.The Jacksons | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  6. "AI×総勢1000人のコーラスによる「ハピネス - スマイル・バージョン」MV完成 | OKMusic". okmusic.jp. November 29, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  7. "AI、「ハピネス –あげようバージョン」感動のコラボMV完成 | OKMusic". okmusic.jp. November 9, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  8. "iTunesの2012年間ランキング、ソング1位はシェネル、アルバム1位はBENI". BARKS (in Japanese). December 17, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  9. "mora、2012年間ダウンロードランキング発表 | Musicman". 音楽業界総合情報サイト | Musicman (in Japanese). December 11, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  10. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End Charts | 2012". Billboard Japan.
  11. "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay: 2011/12/28".
  12. "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2011/12/28". Billboard Japan.
  13. "ハピネス/Letter In The Sky feat.The Jacksons | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  14. "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales: 2011 December 21". Billboard Japan.
  15. "ハピネス-ギフト・パック | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  16. "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay Year-end Charts (2012)". Billboard Japan.
  17. "Billboard Japan Radio Songs Year-end Charts (2012)". Billboard Japan.
  18. "Credits / Independent / AI". Tidal. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  19. "Credits / Happiness EP / AI". Tidal. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  20. "Japanese digital single certifications – Ai – Happiness" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved August 31, 2021. Select 2012年12月 on the drop-down menu
  21. "Japanese ringtone certifications – Ai – Happiness" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 11, 2021. Select 2012年3月 on the drop-down menu
  22. ハピネス - Gospel Version, retrieved September 9, 2021
  23. "AI「IT'S ALL ME - Vol.2」インタビュー｜今この世界で掲げる、ずっと歌い続けてきた"ラブ＆ピース" - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  24. "瑛人、「コカ･コーラ」ウィンターキャンペーン2020TVCMで「ハピネス」カバーを披露". BARKS (in Japanese). October 26, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  25. "瑛人、「コカ･コーラ」ウィンターキャンペーン2020 TV-CMソング「ハピネス」配信開始 - CDJournal ニュース". www.cdjournal.com (in Japanese). Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  26. "ハピネス - Single by Eito". Spotify. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  27. "AIの「ハピネス - Single」をApple Musicで". Apple Music. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  28. "Happiness / Letter In The Sky feat.The Jacksons [CD+DVD] AI CD Maxi". CDJapan. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  29. "Happiness - EP by AI". Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  30. "Happiness Pack - EP by AI". Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  31. "Happiness - Gift Pack - [CD+DVD] Ai CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  32. "Happiness - EP / AI". Tidal. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
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