Happy Nation

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For the song, see Happy Nation (song).
See also: The Sign (Ace of Base album)
Happy Nation
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Studio album by
Ace of Base
Released2 November 1992
Recorded1991–1992
Genre
Length49:21
Label
Producer
Ace of Base chronology
Happy Nation
(1992) 		The Sign
(1993)
Alternative cover
U.S. version (re-release)
Singles from Happy Nation
  1. "Wheel of Fortune"
    Released: 29 May 1992
  2. "All That She Wants"
    Released: 31 August 1992
  3. "Happy Nation"
    Released: 7 December 1992
  4. "Waiting for Magic"
    Released: 12 April 1993
  5. "The Sign"
    Released: 1 November 1993
  6. "Don't Turn Around"
    Released: 14 March 1994
  7. "Living in Danger"
    Released: 4 October 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg[1]
The Guardian(favorable)[2]
Music WeekStarStarFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg[3]

Happy Nation is the debut album by the Swedish pop group Ace of Base. It was initially released in Denmark on 2 November 1992 by Mega Records. During the album's development, the group was significantly influenced by a Jamaican reggae band that was recording in a nearby studio.[4] For its release in North America, Japan, and some Latin American countries, the album was retitled The Sign, featuring a heavily revised track listing along with three new tracks. To coincide with this, Happy Nation was reissued with the new tracks in other territories under the title Happy Nation (U.S. Version).

In 1995, Guinness Book of World Records recognized the LP as the best-selling debut studio effort in music history, with over 19 million copies sold worldwide.[5] By 1998, Happy Nation/The Sign had sold approximately 21 million units, including 9 million in the U.S. alone.[6] Happy Nation/The Sign remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Background and release

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In an interview with Music & Media magazine, Metronome Records managing director Albert Slendebroek remarked on the album:

Everything was being driven by grunge or techno, then suddenly these people arrived and did something which was completely different and happy and simple. I just think they write brilliant pop tunes and it hit a nerve at the time. (...) I think they've developed their own style. If you listen to the radio and you hear a record, you immediately recognise that it's Ace of Base.

— Albert Slendebroek, [7]

Following its initial release in Denmark in November 1992, Happy Nation was gradually released across Europe throughout 1993, starting in Norway in January, followed by Sweden and Germany in February, and then the UK in June. It was also released in Africa and Latin America, reaching the number one position in at least ten countries.

Happy Nation (U.S. Version) was released on 22 November 1993 to coincide with the album's launch in North America under the title The Sign. This edition featured the new tracks "The Sign", "Living in Danger", and a cover of Tina Turner's "Don't Turn Around", along with a remix of "Waiting for Magic" and a revised version of "Voulez-Vous Danser". It also included the new track "Hear Me Calling", which did not appear on The Sign. However, the songs "Münchhausen (Just Chaos)" and "Dimension of Depth" from the original album were removed. The updated version of the album was released in the UK on 14 March 1994 and climbed to number one on the UK Albums Chart on 26 June, surpassing the original release's peak position of number 21.

In 2016, Russian label Mirumir released an "Ultimate Edition" of the album on vinyl, containing the original track listing from the 1992 release, the additional tracks from The Sign/Happy Nation (U.S. Version) releases, and the iTunes bonuses from all three releases.

Critical reception

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Alan Jones from Music Week described the album as a "diverse but largely dance-oriented" collection, noting that it includes "more gentle reggae stuff" alongside some techno and house elements. He felt that "nothing here compares favourably" with "All That She Wants", although he suggested that "if the right tracks are picked and remixed, there are more hits".[3]

Track listing

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Happy Nation – original version (1992)[8]
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Voulez-Vous Danser"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:17
2."All That She Wants"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:30
3."Münchhausen (Just Chaos)"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:27
4."Happy Nation"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:11
5."Waiting for Magic"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
5:17
6."Fashion Party"JokerJoker
  • Joker
  • Johnny Lindén[a]
  • Martin Selwall[b]
4:10
7."Wheel of Fortune"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:52
8."Dancer in a Daydream"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:37
9."My Mind" (mindless mix)
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:09
10."Wheel of Fortune" (original club mix)
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:58
11."Dimension of Depth"N/AJoker
  • Joker
  • Buddha[b]
1:45
12."Young and Proud"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:54
13."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:14


Happy Nation – remastered standard version (bonus track)[9]
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
14."Moogoperator"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:31
Happy Nation – U.S. version[10]
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."All That She Wants"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:30
2."Don't Turn Around"
  • Hammond
  • Warren
  • Tommy Ekman
  • Per Adebratt
3:48
3."Young and Proud"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:56
4."The Sign"
  • Joker
Joker
3:08
5."Living in Danger"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Ekman
  • Adebratt
  • T.O.E.C.[d]
3:41
6."Voulez-Vous Danser"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:17
7."Happy Nation"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:13
8."Hear Me Calling"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Linn
  • Jenny
  • Buddha
  • Stonestream[a]
  • John Ballard[a]
3:48
9."Waiting for Magic" (total remix 7")
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Buddha
  • Stonestream
3:50
10."Fashion Party"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
Joker4:10
11."Wheel of Fortune"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
3:52
12."Dancer in a Daydream"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:37
13."My Mind" (mindless mix)
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:08
14."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:14
15."Happy Nation" (Remix)
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:45
Happy Nation – remastered U.S. version (bonus track)[11]
No.TitleLength
16."Giving It Up" (Ace Version)3:29


Happy Nation - China edition[12]
No.TitleLength
1."All That She Wants"3:30
2."Happy Nation"4:11
3."Wheel of Fortune" (original club mix)3:58
4."Voulez-Vous Danser"3:17
5."Young and Proud"3:54
6."Dancer in a Daydream"3:37
7."Waiting for Magic"5:17
8."My Mind" (mindless mix)4:09
9."Fashion Party"4:10
10."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)4:14
Happy Nation – U.S. version (All That She Wants: The Classic Collection)
No.TitleLength
14."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)4:14

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies re-editing
  • ^[c] signifies rap lyrics
  • ^[d] signifies pre-production
  • ^[e] signifies a remixer

Release history

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Region Date Label
Denmark 2 November 1992 Mega
Germany 22 February 1993 PolyGram
United Kingdom 7 June 1993 London Records 90
Europe (re-issue) 22 November 1993 Mega / PolyGram
United Kingdom (re-issue) 14 March 1994 London Records 90

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[41] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[42] Platinum 50,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[43] 2× Platinum 160,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[44]
Reissue 		2× Platinum 40,000‡
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[45] Gold 82,715[45]
France (SNEP)[46] Diamond 1,000,000*
Germany (BVMI)[47] 3× Platinum 1,500,000^
Korea — 700,000[48]
Netherlands (NVPI)[49] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Mexico — 500,000[50]
Malaysia — 200,000[48]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[52] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[53] Platinum 50,000^
Sweden — 50,000[54]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[55]
Happy Nation (US version) 		Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] 2× Platinum 600,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 21,000,000[6]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (1993-06-11). "Music: Rock/pop". The Guardian.
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  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ^ "Charts.nz – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  22. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Ace of Base – Happy Nation (U.S. Version)" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Ace of Base – Happy Nation (U.S. Version)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  29. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Ace of Base – Happy Nation (U.S. Version)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  30. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Ace of Base – Happy Nation (U.S. Version)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  31. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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