Happy Song

About

Happy Song was written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers and issued as a B-side to Strong in 1999. Recorded during the later stages of the I’ve Been Expecting You sessions, it represents one of the duo’s most whimsical studio moments. Williams later described it as “a very stoned song,” a comment that neatly encapsulates its offbeat humour and surreal lyrics.

The track mixes reggae-inspired rhythms with playful spoken interludes and absurdist references, including “We bring news from Jamaica” and “Salsa in from Sainsbury’s.” Its collage-like structure and eccentric tone recall the light-hearted experimentation of British psychedelia, while the refrain of “Happy song, happy song” contrasts ironically with the chaotic imagery. Beneath its eccentricity lies a carefree musicality that captures the looseness of Williams’s recording style between major projects.

Though largely overlooked commercially, Happy Song has since been remembered by fans as one of Williams’s strangest and most entertaining B-sides, showing a willingness to step away from pop convention. It also reflects the creative freedom he and Chambers enjoyed during a period of prolific songwriting, when even their discarded material carried personality and wit.

I was just having fun in the studio. Not everything has to make sense — sometimes it’s about the mood you’re in that day.Robbie Williams