B-side "Oi to the World" Recorded 1995 | Format CD Length 3:43 | |
Released January 20, 1997 (1997-01-20) Genre Ska punk
alternative rock | ||
"Happy Now?" is a song recorded by American rock band No Doubt. It was released as the fifth single from their third studio album Tragic Kingdom (1995). The single was issued on January 20, 1997 as a CD single. It was written by Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, and Tony Kanal, with its production handled by Matthew Wilder. Its lyrics allude to Stefani's relationship status with Kanal, who broke up their seven-year relationship when creating Tragic Kingdom.
Contents
Musically, "Happy Now?" is an alternative rock and ska punk song, like the majority of its parent album. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, with one of them calling it an improvement over No Doubt's previous releases. Commercially, the single was unsuccessful and the only from Tragic Kingdom not to peak on any record chart.
Background and release
"Happy Now?" was recorded during sessions for No Doubt's third studio album Tragic Kingdom (1995). Band members Eric Stefani, Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, Adrian Young, and producer Gary Angle collaborated for the effort. However, after their record label Interscope brought in outside producer Matthew Wilder to improve the album's sessions, Eric became distraught and decided to leave the group. The single was recorded at eleven different studios in California in 1995.
A CD single featuring the song was released in both Australia and Sweden; however, the single was the only one released from Tragic Kingdom that did not peak on any significant record chart. The Australian CD included three tracks: the album version of "Happy Now?", plus bonus tracks "Let's Get Back" and a cover of Sublime's song "D.J.'s". The Swedish CD featured the single and a cover of the ska-holiday song "Oi to the World". The CD's cover art would be later used for Tragic Kingdom's seventh and final single, "Hey You!".
Composition and lyrics
"Happy Now?" was written by Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, and Tony Kanal, while Matthew Wilder solely produced it. A critic from Sputnikmusic stated the track had a "great melody", while calling the guitar-driven lead "melancholic". Similarly, Thomas Bleach from his music blog stated it "brought back the ska/rock sound that they created on their earlier releases". A critic from Classic Rock Review called it "a more vocal and lyric driven track with strong guitar riffing and chords", while Maggie Lange of GQ labeled it a "real classic breakup song".
Lyrically, the song details Stefani's former relationship with Kanal. The same critic from Classic Rock Review agreed that it "deal[s] with Gwen Stefani's recent breakup with Kanal". Kenneth Partridge's Billboard review stated that the song's lyrics involved Stefani's feelings towards Kanal, adding that it was "written about the guy that got away – and who was standing a few feet away with a bass around his neck". Similarly, David Browne of Entertainment Weekly approved of the "taunt[ing]" and "savor[y]" lyrics that describe a man who ended a relationship but "wants back in", such as "All by yourself / You have no one else".
Critical reception
"Happy Now?" received generally favorable reviews upon its release. Mike Boehm of the Los Angeles Times favored the single and cited it as an "example of the band's improved craft". Kenneth Partridge, writing for The A.V. Club, enjoyed the song, mentioning that although it "didn't chart as high... the damage was done". A reviewer from Sputnikmusic listed it under his "recommended" tracks from Tragic Kingdom, while Thomas Bleach from his self-titled blog similarly called it one of his favorites.
Credits and personnel
Credits and personnel adapted from the Tragic Kingdom liner notes.