Ban Ki-Moon unveils UN's World's Happiest playlist with Stevie Wonder anthem

Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, David Guetta and John Legend were among the musicians and actors who contributed to the UN’s official feel-good selection, designed to spread cheer among listeners and raise awareness of the International Day of Happiness on Friday.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, led the way with his nomination for Signed Sealed Delivered by Stevie Wonder, himself a UN messenger of peace, who advocates on behalf of people with disabilities.

Ban said: “On this day we are using the universal language of music to show solidarity with the millions of people around the world suffering from poverty, human rights abuses, humanitarian crises and the effects of environmental degradation and climate change.”

Ed Sheeran chose the female liberation anthem Independent Woman by Destiny’s Child
“The pursuit of happiness lies at the core of human endeavours,” said Ban, adding that he is never happier than when he listens to Stevie Wonder.

Sheeran chose the female liberation anthem Independent Woman by Destiny’s Child, whilst James Blunt, whose music brings both happiness and misery to many, offered We Are Young by Fun – a song he said “celebrates the moment.”

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah by James Baskett was included at the request of actor Michael Douglas, who said it “always makes me smile, especially during the muddy season.”

Fatboy Slim opted for Harvest For The World by The Isley Brothers because “we can solve most injustices if we unite behind a backbeat.”

John Legend’s happy song is Got To Give It Up by Marvin Gaye, “because the beat is so infectious and fun.”

The UN has pulled together a ‘happiness playlist’ featuring Pharrell Williams along with other artists
The celebrity playlist created by MixRadio, and available for free on the website www.happysoundslike.com, failed to include the most obvious recent example of an upbeat anthem, the international hit Happy by Pharrell Williams. Sheeran warned in a video message for the UN: “Even though it’s a happy song, a dark meaning lies behind it. Very dark…”

Pharrell himself modestly chose This Must Be The Place, a 1983 track by Talking Heads. The singer took part in a ceremony, lighting the Empire State Building yellow to mark Happiness day. He said: “In a year where there is so much turmoil in the world, from social conflict to climate change, we need moments to stop and celebrate happiness. We believe that happiness can change the world.”

The UN urged supporters to join the “Global Happy Party” by uploading photos and tweets under hashtags #HappySoundsLike, #happyday and #happyplanet. However some cynics used to the hashtags to suggest that a sunny playlist alone was insufficient to effect meaningful global change.

Since 2012, when the UN General Assembly declared the first International Day of Happiness, which recognised happiness as a basic human right, the number of people killed in terrorist attacks and the world’s 20 bloodiest wars is estimated have increased by at least a third.

#HappySoundsLike…the UN playlist

A R Rahman  – Infinite Love by A R Rahman

Andra Day – If This World Were Mine by Luther Vandross

Angelique Kidjo – Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba

Ban Ki-Moon – Signed Sealed and Delivered by Stevie Wonder

Britney Spears – Kiss by Prince

Carl Barat – The Who Who Song by Jackie Wilson

Charli XCX – Say You’ll Be There by The Spice Girls

Charlize Theron – Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay

Cody Simpson – Three Little Birds by Bob Marley

Cody Simpson – Mambo No5 by Lou Bega

Conchita Wurst – All The Lovers by Kylie Minogue

Damian Lazarus – I am the Black Gold of the Sun by Rotary Connection

David Carreira – Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake

David Fonseca – Kiss Me, Oh Kiss Me by David Fonseca

David Guetta – Imagine by John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Ed Sheeran  – Independent Woman by Destiny’s Child

Fatboy Slim – Harvest for the World by The Isley Brothers

Groove Armada – For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder

Henry Krinkle – Recognise by Oscar and Martin

HMD – Days Like This (DJ Spinna Mix) by Shaun Escoffery

James Blunt – We Are Young by Fun

John Legend  – Got to Give it Up by Marvin Gaye

Juan Diego – Florez Largo al factotum by Rossini

Lang Lang – Made to Love by John Legend

Michael Douglas – Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah by James Baskett

Midori – The Russian Dance from Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky

Nicole Sherzinger – Three Little Birds by Bob Marley

Paloma Faith – I Feel Good by James Brown

Pharrell – This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads

Mr Vegas – My Jam by Pitbull & Mr Vegas

Rob Da Bank – Your love keeps lifting me (Higher and Higher) by Jackie Wilson

Tiesto – Red Lights by Tiesto

Tinie Tempah – Shout by Isley Brothers

Yo-Yo Ma – Prelude from Bach Suite No. 1 conducted by Pablo Casals

Yulia Savicheva Nevesta – (Невеста, Юлия Савичева)

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