A World Of Pleasure, A World Of Pain

Marykate O’Neil, “Happy”

What does ‘happy’ even mean? In the context of this song, it’s more or less synonymous with lazy contentment, and hopes and dreams are just things that get in the way of that, and lead to disappointment. The mood is very ambivalent — generally smooth and mellow, with a tinge of tension, regret, and doubt that comes across in the nuances of the arrangement. It feels rather cosmopolitan as well; like a stroll through someone else’s affluent urban fantasy without having the means to join in on the indulgence and frivolity. (Click here to buy it via Marykate O’Neil’s website.)