"Happiness" is the first single from Vanessa Williams' fifth studio album, "Next". Written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and released through Mercury Records in July 1997, it reached number 25 on the US "Billboard" Adult R&amp;B Airplay Chart, number 23 on the Mainstream R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and number 38 on the R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Airplay. It also reached number 49 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The song samples from Nu Shooz's "I Can't Wait" and Funkadelic's "(Not Just) Knee Deep".
Critical reception.
Larry Flick from "Billboard" wrote "Vanessa getsdown and funky on this peek into "Next", a project that has the juice to push her backto the top of da pops. Bolstered by thekind of finger-poppin' pop/soul groove that producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis [..] Williams delivers a performance that is, by turns, playful and sophisticated. After last year's credible but underappreciated foray into jazz, she's back on the street-and sheappears to be doing it on her own terms. Good for her. She should be rewarded by the ardor of popsters who are starved for something sweet to eat."
Music video.
An accompanying music video directed by Francis Lawrence was released, and shows Williams singing and dancing across different areas of a mansion.
References.
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