Happy Pills (song)

"Happy Pills" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Norah Jones. It is the lead single from her fifth studio album Little Broken Hearts and was released digitally on March 6, 2012. Written by Jones and co-written and produced by Brian Burton, it tells the story of Jones emancipating herself from a relationship and finding that she is better off alone. Musically, it is a gritty, bluesy song with a playful pop sound. It received mostly positive reviews, with many critics complimenting its style and the chemistry between Jones and Burton.

"Happy Pills"
Single by Norah Jones
from the album Little Broken Hearts
ReleasedMarch 6, 2012
GenreIndie pop, rock, jazz
Length3:36
LabelBlue Note, EMI
Songwriter(s)Norah Jones, Brian Burton[1]
Producer(s)Danger Mouse
Norah Jones singles chronology
"More Than This"
(2011)		 "Happy Pills"
(2012)		 "Carry On"
(2016)

Production

"Happy Pills" was written by Jones and co-written and produced by Brian Burton.[1] The song surprised Jones and Burton from the moment they wrote it. Jones called it "too much fun," saying that they "couldn't stop singing it" and while they didn't know if it would fit on the record, once they listened to the song "it had to be there."[1][2]

The song revolves around a breakup as Jones admits to be feeling good about not having to deal with her lover anymore.[3] One lyric pleads, "Would you please just let me go now?" addressing a man who crushed her feelings.[4] The song has been described as "upbeat" and "jazzy".[2]

Release

On February 28, 2012, Jones premiered "Happy Pills" on her Facebook page via SoundCloud.[5] After she announced that she would be performing at SXSW in 2012, she added that she would perform the single for the first time at that event.[6]

Live performances

Jones has performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman, Later... with Jools Holland and Good Morning America.[7][8][9]

Critical reception
"'Happy Pills' tells the story of Jones emancipating herself from a relationship and finding that she’s better off alone – or at least without whoever it is she’s leaving behind. The narrative is far from groundbreaking and the lyrics themselves read like a high school poetry assignment (“with you gone, I’m alive / makes me feel like I took happy pills / and time stood still”), yet the song itself is undeniably addictive and pleasant. Thick, clean percussion fills the track – what else would you expect from a Danger Mouse production? – and Jones’ soulful voice takes on an almost sinister tone, as if she wants to make the mate she’s left behind writhe with the realization that she’s happier without him."

—review by Andrew Bailey from "Beats Per Minute"[10]

Becky Bain of Idolator described the song as "a sunny, languid tune".[11] In a second review, Bain said that it "is a lethargic but lovely lark of a song."[12] Simon Vozick-Levinson from Rolling Stone wrote that her voice is "breezy" and that "breaking up never sounded so fun."[4] Glenn Gamboa from Newsday called the track "stellar" and wrote that the song "shows how Jones is still looking to stretch musically, while maintaining her core appeal, and is destined to be in heavy rotation at cafes near you."[13] Ray Rahman from Entertainment Weekly wrote that "the song is a simple, catchy, pop-leaning number that makes us that much more excited about Jones’ comeback year."[14]

Chris Coplan from Consequence of Sound wrote that "the track features a bluesy guitar line as filtered through an ’80s pop sensibility, with vocals that are equal parts cooing sex kitten and retro soul songbird."[15] Katherine St Asaph, a writer of "Pop Dust", wrote that "her vocals are serviceable and frequently better" and that the song "is likely neither to alienate fans or placate those with words for Come Away With Me (2002). It’s exactly what a Norah Jones record would sound like in the current alt-pop climate, where breezy usually does better than torchy."[16]

Chart performance

Music video

A lyric video for the track was released on March 5, 2012.[2] The official music video, directed by Isaiah Seret, premiered on VH1 on April 6, 2012.[25] According to "Under the Gun" the video features Jones crooning about the feeling of being in love against visuals of simple elegance, murder, and grace.[26] Jones told VH1 that "It’s like a murder-not-so-much-of-a-mystery. It’s more like a murder-thriller. A thriller!"[27]

Personnel
  • Norah Jones – piano, electric guitar & vocals
  • Brian Burton – drums & synthesizer
  • Dan Elkan – electric guitar
  • Johnathan Hischke – bass guitar
  • Blake Mills – electric guitar
  • Todd Monfalcone – electric guitar
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References
  1. "Happy Pills by Norah Jones Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  2. "Norah Jones' 'Happy Pills' Lyric Music Video Released". Huffington Post. March 5, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  3. Gotay, Denise (March 20, 2012). "Norah Jones Debuts a new sound in "Happy Pills"". The Scribe. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  4. Vozick-Levinson, Simon (February 29, 2012). "Happy Pills | Song Reviews | Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  5. "Happy Pills by norahjonesofficial on SoundCloud – Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  6. "Need We Say More? > News > Norah Jones to Debut New Songs at SXSW". Jambands.com. February 22, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  7. "Norah Jones – Happy Pills (Live on Letterman)". Norah Jones VEVO. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  8. "Norah Jones – Happy Pills (Live on Later with Jools Holland 24.04.2012)". Norah Jones VEVO. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  9. "Norah Jones – Happy Pills (live @ GMA)". Norah Jones. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  10. "Track Review: Norah Jonas – "Happy Pills" | Beats Per Minute". Beats Per Minute. April 6, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  11. Bain, Becky (February 28, 2012). "Norah Jones Grooves With Danger Mouse On "Happy Pills"". Idolator. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  12. Bain, Becky (March 26, 2012). "Norah Jones Unveils "Happy Pills" Lyric Video". Idolator. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  13. Gamboa, Glenn (March 9, 2012). "Hot Song: Norah Jones' 'Happy Pills'". Newsday. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  14. Rahman, Ray (March 6, 2012). "Norah Jones releases lyric video for new song 'Happy Pills': Watch it here". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  15. Coplan, Chris (February 28, 2012). "Check Out: Norah Jones – "Happy Pills"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  16. St. Asaph, Katherine (March 7, 2012). "The Singles Bar: Norah Jones, "Happy Pills" – Popdust". Popdust. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Norah Jones – Happy Pills" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  18. "Ultratop.be – Norah Jones – Happy Pills" (in French). Ultratip.
  19. "Lescharts.com – Norah Jones – Happy Pills" (in French). Les classement single.
  20. "Norah Jones Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  21. "Norah Jones Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  22. "Happy Pills – Norah Jones | Billboard.com". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  23. "Japan Hot 100 – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  24. "Adult Contemporary Pop Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  25. Blanton, Kristen (April 5, 2012). "Watch Norah Jones' New Music Video for "Happy Pills"". Paste Magazine. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  26. "MUSIC VIDEO: NORAH JONES – HAPPY PILLS". Under the Gun. April 5, 2012. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  27. Graham, Mark (April 4, 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: Go Behind The Scenes Of "Happy Pills", The New Music Video From Norah Jones". VH1. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
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