Pharrell Williams Originally Wrote ‘Happy’ For CeeLo Green

Pharrell Williams attends the 51st annual Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards gala at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 16, 2022, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Pharrell Willams’ huge hit “Happy” was actually intended for someone else.  Prior to releasing his second album, ‘Girl,’ in 2014, Pharrell Williams handed a new song to CeeLo Green.  He loved it, and even recorded the track, but the “powers that be” vetoed Green’s version, and “Happy” was later released by Williams. “[He] wanted to do it, [and] he did do it,” said Williams in a 2014 interview of Green’s initial recording.   “He sounded amazing on it. I mean, he burns my version. But, how do I say this diplomatically? The powers that be, at the time, did not see it fit for him. Some folks on his team just felt that the priority should be on [Green’s] album at the time, so they elected not to do that song.”  This song has been ranked number #1 on the list of  “happiest” songs.

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