Pursuit of Happiness (song)

Background

On the album, the track is titled "Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)", following the album's dream sequence. The final version of the song was premiered on September 4, 2009, on the DJ Semtex BBC Radio 1 show. The song made its US television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman on September 11, 2009. Cudi later performed the song on September 23, 2009, on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Music videos

The first music video released, directed by Brody Baker and produced by Josh Hartnett, displays Kid Cudi at a party. While everyone is having a good time, the whole party goes into a slow-motion state. Ratatat does not appear in the video, however MGMT member Ben Goldwasser does make an appearance. Other cameo appearances include Cudi's then GOOD Music label-mate Consequence, along with fellow rappers Johnny Polygon and Drake.

The second music video released, directed by Megaforce, shows Kid Cudi waking up and interacting with a swiveling couch, and a party scene. The members of Ratatat are featured.

Remix

Upon the songs release, American electro house DJ Steve Aoki, produced a remix of "Pursuit of Happiness", which went on to become as popular as the original and became a staple at Aoki's concerts. Steve Aoki released his remix on December 5, 2009. In 2012, the remix was featured on the trailers for the comedy film Project X and was later included on the film's soundtrack. On May 1, 2012, an "Extended Steve Aoki Remix" was released via digital distribution, such as iTunes and Amazon.com. Also in May 2012, Kid Cudi received a nomination for Best Song from a Movie at the MTV Movie Awards, for the Steve Aoki remix to "Pursuit of Happiness", being used in Project X.

Reception

Emma Silvers of SF Weekly, called the song a "self-aware 2009 party anthem — or chronicle of a person's thinking as they veer into a drunk and drugged out downward spiral, depending on how you spin it — is a pretty lonely song to begin with."

Covers and influence

In February 2010, Los Angeles-based electro-pop folk trio Barbara, released a cover version of the song. In early 2010, Australian alternative rock band Cloud Control, covered "Pursuit of Happiness", on multiple occasions throughout their concert tours, which received high praise.

In 2010, American folk-rock singer Lissie, began covering the song live in concert. Her cover earned praise from Kid Cudi, who posted the video on his official website, commenting that Lissie did a "great job" and that it was "just really beautiful and extremely flattering." She included the cover on her extended play/cover album, Covered Up with Flowers (2011). In 2012, Los Angeles-based rapper Schoolboy Q, sampled Lissie's cover version, for his song "Hands on the Wheel", taken from his album Habits & Contradictions (2012). In June 2014, Kid Cudi and Lissie performed the song together for the very first time at Le Divan du Monde in Paris, France.

In 2013, American rock band Nebraska Jones, also released a cover of "Pursuit of Happiness". In 2014, San Francisco-based indie dream pop musician Katie Day, released a cover version of "Pursuit of Happiness", where she played all the parts solo, supporting her melancholy sing-song with thick layers of drums, synth, piano, and eventually strings (each via keyboard).

In other media

In 2010, the remix composed by Steve Aoki was featured in a Vitamin Water commercial, in which NBA athlete LeBron James narrates and stars in. The original version of the song was included on the soundtrack to the 2011 film Fright Night. In 2012, the Steve Aoki remix was featured on the trailers for the comedy film Project X and was later included on the film's soundtrack. Aoki's remix is also heard in the 2014 superhero film, The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Lissie's live cover of "Pursuit of Happiness", was included on the soundtrack to the 2013 comedy-drama film, The Dirties. In August 2016, Nike, Inc. used Lissie's cover version of the song for their "Unlimited Pursuit" commercial. The commercial, produced by Los Angeles advertising agency Dirty Robber, features Olympic athletes such as Serena Williams, Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles.

Track listing

1. Pursuit of Happiness (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 3:21

1. Pursuit of Happiness (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 3:21

1. Pursuit of Happiness (Extended Steve Aoki Remix) (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 6:13

1. Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare) (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 4:55
2. Pursuit of Happiness (Benny Benassi Remix) [Extended] (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 5:28
3. Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix) [Extended] (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 6:13
4. Pursuit of Happiness (Sandy Vee Remix) [Extended] (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 5:26

Chart performance

"Pursuit of Happiness" debuted and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #59 on the week ending October 3, 2009. The following week, it fell 41 spots to #100. The song recharted at #95 on the week ending January 8, 2011. It has now sold over 2,000,000 downloads since its release. The song originally peaked at number 137 on the UK Singles Chart, but it re-entered the chart in 2012 attaining a new peak of 72 and entered for the first time on the Irish Singles Chart, peaking at 24. In 2012, it has also charted for the first time in Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.