Happy Nation

Updated on Oct 21, 2023

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Recorded 1992 Artist Ace of Base Label Edel-Mega Records		Happy Nation (1992) The Sign (1993) Release date 24 December 1992

Released 24 December 1992 (Scandinavia) 19 February 1993 Producer Buddha Joker Johnny Lindén Denniz Pop T.O.E.C. Genres Pop music, Dance music, Techno, Reggae Awards Grammis Award for Pop Group of the Year Similar Ace of Base albums, Pop music albums

Ace of base happy nation official music video

Happy Nation is the debut studio album by Swedish pop group Ace of Base. It was initially released in Scandinavia on 24 December 1992 by Mega Records. During development of the record, the group was heavily influenced by a Jamaican reggae band residing in a nearby studio. In 1995, Guinness Book of World Records named the LP the best-selling debut studio effort in music history, at more than 19 million copies sold worldwide. By 2007, Happy Nation/The Sign had sold approximately 23 million units.

Ace of base all that she wants official music video

Background

Happy Nation was released in early 1993 in Europe, Africa, and Latin America on Festival Records. It reached the number one position in at least 14 countries, and has sold over 23 million copies worldwide.

A second release in Europe, Happy Nation (U.S. Version), came on September 25, 1993, to coincide with the album's release in North America under the title The Sign. The Sign was released in North America on November 23, 1993. Both versions feature revised track listings.

These releases featured new tracks, including "The Sign", and "Hear Me Calling", "Living in Danger", and the Tina Turner cover "Don't Turn Around", along with alternate versions of other tracks. Certain songs included on the original Happy Nation were removed altogether. The re-release climbed to number one in the UK Albums Chart, beating the number 21 peak of the original release.

The Sign is listed among the Top 100 Best-selling Albums of All Time by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Several songs on the album, including "The Sign", "All That She Wants" and "Don't Turn Around", became Number One singles in the United States, Europe, and North Africa.

In 2016, Russian label Mirumir released an "Ultimate Edition" on vinyl containing the original track list from the 1992 release, the additional tracks from the The Sign/Happy Nation (US Version) releases and the iTunes bonuses from the three releases.