If “Happy” Were Sad
Jack-of-all-trades artist Yoann Lemoine, who records under the name Woodkid, played a vital role in conceptualizing the ambitious 24 Hours of “Happy” interactive video for Pharrell’s chart-topping hit. Now, months later, it seems he’s still as hooked on the song as the rest of us. Perhaps taking a cue from the Gregory Brothers, Woodkid has released his own “sad” remix of the song.
While the Gregory Brothers’ purposefully bleak cover, made by moving the song from a major to a minor key, was more tongue-in-cheek, Woodkid’s is legitimately affecting. Isolating Pharrell’s vocals, he strips away the original track’s memorable funky beat and replaces it with a moody orchestral bed of violin and piano. No matter my mood, I actually prefer it to the original. (Via Stereogum.)