Happy House
Encyclopedia
"Happy House" is a song recorded by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. The song was written by Banshees members Siouxsie Sioux
and Steven Severin
and it was released as the first single from the band's third album Kaleidoscope
.
"Happy House" and the Kaleidoscope album marked a change in musical direction for Siouxsie and the Banshees due to the arrival of two new musicians: drummer Budgie
, previously from The Slits
, and guitarist John McGeoch
, previously from Magazine
.
Budgie uses here a reggae vibe on drums and McGeoch plays both atmospheric and edgy guitars. Siouxsie stated that the band almost invented a new sound with this single : it was "Banshees - phase two".
When asked if "Happy House" is a cynical song, Siouxsie replied that it is "sarcastic. In a way,
like television, all the medias, it is like adverts, the perfect family where as it is more common that husbands beat their wives. There are mental families really. The projection is everyone smiling, blond hair, sunshine, eating butter without fat and everyone perfect".
The single became the band's second top twenty hit, peaking at number seventeen in the UK singles chart
.
The song was later revisited by several acts. In the early 1990s, the Italian dance act Cappella
got a hit single with their song "U Got 2 Know", which used the distinctive riff from "Happy House". Cappella was later sued for without paying publishing, and they lost. The introduction was sampled by Mindless Self Indulgence
for the song "Bitches" on their 2000 album Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy
. In 2003, European band Ginger Ale covered the song on their debut album.
In 2011, The Weeknd
sampled several elements of the original version in their song called "House of Balloons" of the mixtape from the album of the same name
. Pitchfork
wrote in their review :
Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees and of its splinter group The Creatures . The Banshees produced eleven studio albums and a string of hit singles including "Hong Kong Garden",...
and Steven Severin
Steven Severin
Steven Severin , is an English musician, composer, bassist and co-founding member of Siouxsie and the Banshees....
and it was released as the first single from the band's third album Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope (Siouxsie album)
Kaleidoscope is the third studio album by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1980. Following the departure of two band members, the band regrouped and redirected their sound for their third record. Departing from their previous work, the Banshees incorporated synthesizers...
.
"Happy House" and the Kaleidoscope album marked a change in musical direction for Siouxsie and the Banshees due to the arrival of two new musicians: drummer Budgie
Budgie (drummer)
-External links:*...
, previously from The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
, and guitarist John McGeoch
John McGeoch
John Alexander McGeoch, , was a Scottish guitarist who played with a number of bands of the post-punk era, including Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Visage and Public Image Ltd....
, previously from Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
.
Budgie uses here a reggae vibe on drums and McGeoch plays both atmospheric and edgy guitars. Siouxsie stated that the band almost invented a new sound with this single : it was "Banshees - phase two".
When asked if "Happy House" is a cynical song, Siouxsie replied that it is "sarcastic. In a way,
like television, all the medias, it is like adverts, the perfect family where as it is more common that husbands beat their wives. There are mental families really. The projection is everyone smiling, blond hair, sunshine, eating butter without fat and everyone perfect".
The single became the band's second top twenty hit, peaking at number seventeen in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
The song was later revisited by several acts. In the early 1990s, the Italian dance act Cappella
Cappella
Cappella was an Italian Eurodance act formed in 1987 by producer Gianfranco Bortolotti. The act went through a number of line-up changes over the years but was most successful in the early 1990s when it was fronted by British performers Kelly Overett and Rodney Bishop...
got a hit single with their song "U Got 2 Know", which used the distinctive riff from "Happy House". Cappella was later sued for without paying publishing, and they lost. The introduction was sampled by Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence is an American musical group formed in New York in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including rap, punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, techno and industrial...
for the song "Bitches" on their 2000 album Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy
Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy
Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy is the second album by New York City band Mindless Self Indulgence released in 2000. The album is the follow-up to the album Tight...
. In 2003, European band Ginger Ale covered the song on their debut album.
In 2011, The Weeknd
The Weeknd
Abel Tesfaye , better known by his stage name The Weeknd is an Ethiopian Canadian singer. Songs recorded under The Weeknd name first leaked in late 2010, though the identity of the individual behind the project was initially unknown.The Weeknd released a nine-song mixtape, House of Balloons, on...
sampled several elements of the original version in their song called "House of Balloons" of the mixtape from the album of the same name
House of Balloons
House of Balloons is the debut mixtape of Canadian artist, The Weeknd, released online for free in March 2011. Production was headed up by Canadian producers Doc McKinney, Zodiac, Illangelo. House of Balloons blends a range of electronic and urban genres including R&B and Soul. The title track is...
. Pitchfork
Pitchfork
A pitchfork is an agricultural tool with a long handle and long, thin, widely separated pointed tines used to lift and pitch loose material, such as hay, leaves, grapes, dung or other agricultural materials. Pitchforks typically have two or three tines...
wrote in their review :