Pursuit of Happiness (song)

"Pursuit of Happiness" is a song by American recording artist Kid Cudi, released January 25, 2010, as the third single from his debut studio album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009). The song was produced by American electronic rock duo Ratatat and features vocals from American neo-psychedelic act, MGMT.

"Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)"
Single by Kid Cudi featuring MGMT and Ratatat
from the album Man on the Moon: The End of Day
ReleasedJanuary 25, 2010
Recorded2009
Genre
Length4:55 (album version)
4:03 (radio edit)
6:13 (Steve Aoki Remix)
Label
Kid Cudi singles chronology
"Make Her Say"
(2009)		 "Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)"
(2010)		 "Memories"
(2010)
MGMT singles chronology
"Kids"
(2009)		 "Pursuit of Happiness"
(2010)		 "Flash Delirium"
(2010)
Ratatat singles chronology
"Mirando"
(2009)		 "Pursuit of Happiness"
(2010)		 "Party with Children"
(2010)
Music video
Slow party version on YouTube
Music video
Megaforce version on YouTube
Audio sample
"Pursuit of Happiness"
  • file
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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.[1] 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.[2]

Remix

Upon the song's 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.[3][4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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."[7]

Chart performance

"Pursuit of Happiness" debuted and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 59 on the week ending October 3, 2009. The following week, it fell 41 spots to number 100. The song re-entered at number 95 on the week ending January 8, 2011. As of March 2013, it sold over 2,000,000 downloads since its release.[8] 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.

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, actor Jake Hoffman 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.

Covers and influence

In February 2010, Los Angeles-based electro-pop folk trio Barbara, released a cover version of the song.[9] In early 2010, Australian alternative rock band Cloud Control, covered "Pursuit of Happiness", on multiple occasions throughout their concert tours, which received high praise.[10][11]

In 2010, American folk-rock singer Lissie, began covering the song live in concert.[12] 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."[12] She included the cover on her extended play/cover album, Covered Up with Flowers (2011).[13] 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.[14][15][16]

In 2013, American rock band Nebraska Jones, also released a cover of "Pursuit of Happiness".[17] 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).[7]

In September 2017, American rapper KYLE, covered "Pursuit of Happiness", saying he chose to cover the song because it's one of his favorites and it helped him through a dark part of his life: "That song just got me just through a lot of tough times. I think Kid Cudi has this special gift to make music that can pick somebody off from a super dark place and put them in this happy, awesome, positive Pikachu filled place. And I always aspire to do the same thing. It almost taught me like why even I became a rapper in the first place."[18]

In 2020, the song was heavily featured in a trailer for the Judd Apatow film The King of Staten Island.

Track listing
  • Digital download[19]
  1. Pursuit of Happiness (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 3:21
  • CD Single (United Kingdom)[20]
  1. Pursuit of Happiness (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 3:21
  • Digital download (Remix)[21]
  1. Pursuit of Happiness (Extended Steve Aoki Remix) (featuring MGMT & Ratatat) — 6:13
  • International EP[22]
  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

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40] Platinum 70,000^
Germany (BVMI)[41] Gold 150,000^
Italy (FIMI)[42] Gold 25,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[44] 5× Platinum 5,000,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

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References
  1. BBC - 1Xtra - Semtex Kid Cudi on BBC Radio 1Xtra with DJ Semtex.
  2. Illy (23 September 2009). "Video: KiD CuDi – Pursuit Of Happiness (Jimmy Kimmel Live)". youheardthatnew.com.
  3. "Kid Cudi - "Pursuit Of Happiness" (Steve Aoki Remix)". Pigeons & Planes.
  4. "Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix)". The Chuckness.
  5. "Pursuit of Happiness (Extended Steve Aoki Remix) feat. MGMT & Ratatat - Single by Kid Cudi". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  6. "2012 MTV Movie Awards Winners: The Full List". MTV News.
  7. http://www.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2014/12/16/watch-katie-days-hauntingly-pretty-cover-of-kid-cudis-pursuit-of-happiness
  8. Grein, Paul (March 6, 2013). "Week Ending March 3, 2013. Songs: Is The Right Song #1?". Chart Watch. Yahoo Music. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  9. http://www.indieshuffle.com/barbara-pursuit-of-happiness-kid-cudi-cover/
  10. http://www.clashmusic.com/live-review/cloud-control
  11. http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2901683.htm
  12. "The Wonderful Lissie's Cover of Pursuit of Happiness". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  13. Monger, James. "Covered Up with Flowers > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  14. "Watch Kid Cudi and Lissie Perform 'Pursuit of Happiness' Together - MTV". MTV News.
  15. Zach Frydenlund. "Watch Kid Cudi and Lissie Perform "Pursuit of Happiness" Live In Paris". Complex.
  16. "Watch KiD CuDi & Lissie Perform "Pursuit of Happiness" In Paris". HYPETRAK.
  17. http://www.purevolume.com/news/Nebraska-Jones-Cover-Kid-Cudi-Pursuit-of-Happiness-Free-Music
  18. https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kyle-covers-kid-cudis-pursuit-of-happiness-news.37480.html
  19. "Kid Cudi Featuring MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness". Discogs. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  20. "Kid Cudi Featuring MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness". Discogs. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  21. "Pursuit of Happiness (Extended Steve Aoki Remix) [feat. MGMT & Ratatat] - Single". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  22. "Pursuit of Happiness (feat. MGMT & Ratatat) [International Version] - EP". iTunes Store (GB). Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  23. "Australian-charts.com – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. "Austriancharts.at – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  25. "Ultratop.be – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  26. "Ultratop.be – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  27. "Pursuit Of Happiness (nightmare)". acharts.us.
  28. "Lescharts.com – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness" (in French). Les classement single.
  29. "Club 40" (in French). club40.fr. In the box under Afficher le classment du week-end du', select "27/07/2012". Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  30. "Offiziellecharts.de – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  31. "Chart Track: Week 11, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
  32. "Dutchcharts.nl – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  33. "Swedishcharts.com – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness". Singles Top 100.
  34. "Swisscharts.com – Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit Of Happiness". Swiss Singles Chart.
  35. "Official UK Singles Top 100 - 19th January 2013 - The UK Charts - Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. 23 December 2012. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012.
  36. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  37. "Kid Cudi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten 2012". Ultratop. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  39. "Rapports Annuels 2012". Ultratop. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  40. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  41. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kid Cudi; 'Pursuit of Happiness')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  42. "Italian single certifications – Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 2, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Pursuit of Happiness" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
  43. "British single certifications – Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 20, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Pursuit of Happiness in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  44. "American single certifications – Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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