"If You Wanna Be Happy" is a 1963 song recorded by Jimmy Soul, written by Joseph Royster, Carmella Guida and Frank Guida.
"If You Wanna Be Happy" is based on the song "Ugly Woman" by the Trinidadian calypsonian Roaring Lion recorded in 1934. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart. It was issued on Guida's S.P.Q.R. label and distributed by London Records, and in the United Kingdom on EMI's Stateside label.
"If You Wanna Be Happy" — Jimmy Soul, #1(2), 3-63; #1(1), 4-63 R & B. Jimmy Soul lightened our national mood with this semi-chauvinistic ditty about a damsel divine. Seems her rampaging beauty rampaged out the door and ducked back into the alley. 'Soul" (NYC's James McCleese, billed as "Wonder Boy") fires off this comic lyric on an iffy premise: Marry an ugly woman (author's note: there are no ugly women), and you'll share a lifetime of happiness. Soul dates on her delicious cooking, touts her sweet faithfulness, and praises her willingness to please him and satisfy his every whim. Fun song. Offends everybody — regardless of race (marathon), color (green), or creed (Rock and Roll is Here to Stay). Super-high stratospheric final Soul's Soul note!
The song is featured in the films Clean and Sober (1988), Chances Are (1989), Mermaids (1990) Rocky and Bullwinkle (2014) and on the soundtrack of My Best Friend's Wedding (1997). The song, or possibly Roaring Lion's version, can also be heard in Tiger Bay (1959) sung by a group of street musicians at a wedding.
Similar Tracks
If You Wanna Be Happy by The DovellsBuild Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations
Do You Love Me by The Contours
Stay by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
(What A) Wonderful World by Sam Cooke
Runaround Sue by Dion
Similar Artists
The DovellsThe Contours
Dion & The Belmonts
Dion
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