Happy Talk (song)

"Happy Talk"
Single by Captain Sensible
from the album ; Women and Captains First; 1982
Released	26 June 1982
Format	7", 12
Recorded	1982
Genre	Synthpop
Length	3:24
Label	Universal Music Group
Writer(s)	Richard Rodgers
Captain Sensible chronology

"Happy Talk"
Song

"Happy Talk" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. It is sung by Bloody Mary to the American lieutenant Joe Cable, about having a happy life, after he begins romancing her daughter Liat. Liat performs the song with hand gestures as Mary sings.

Ella Fitzgerald recorded this song with Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra for Decca and it was included on her album Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax.

"Happy Talk" is occasionally cut from productions of South Pacific on the grounds that the song is racist, citing the fake pidgin in which it is written.^{[citation needed]}

Captain Sensible version

In July 1982, The Damned's guitarist Captain Sensible scored a No. 1 hit on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks with his version of the song,^[2] featuring backing vocals by the band Dolly Mixture.

Due to the chart success of the single, The Damned have frequently included "Happy Talk" in their set lists since 1982.^{[citation needed]}

Preceded by "I've Never Been to Me" by Charlene	UK number-one single 3 July 1982 - 10 July 1982	Succeeded by "Fame" by Irene Cara

Other cover versions

Ella Fitzgerald recorded a version with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra on the Decca 78 rpm single "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" / "Happy Talk". It later appeared on the 1955 Decca compilation album, Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax.
Muriel Smith recorded "Happy Talk" in November 1951 on the UK Columbia record label, DB2957.
Doris Day recorded "Happy Talk" in December 1960 for her album Bright and Shiny.
Claudine Longet recorded a version for her album Love is Blue (1968).^[3]
In the late 1960s, Harpers Bizarre did a cover of the song.
Daniel Johnston & Jad Fair covered the song on their album It's Spooky, released in 1989.
The Four Freshmen covered the song on the album First Affair/Voices in Fun (2002).
Karrin Allyson covered the song on the 2015 album "Many A New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein" with. Kenny Barron and John Patitucci.

Samples

In 2004, UK grime MC Dizzee Rascal sampled Captain Sensible's version on the single, "Dream", which reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart.^[4]

References

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External links

Chartstats.com

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v t e Rodgers and Hammerstein
Stage musicals	Oklahoma! Carousel Allegro South Pacific The King and I Me and Juliet Pipe Dream Flower Drum Song The Sound of Music A Grand Night for Singing State Fair Cinderella
Productions	I Remember Mama Annie Get Your Gun Happy Birthday John Loves Mary Show Boat The Happy Time Burning Bright
Films	State Fair Oklahoma! Carousel The King and I South Pacific Flower Drum Song State Fair The Sound of Music Cinderella
Television	Cinderella The Sound of Music Live!
Songs	"Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" "Kansas City" "I Cain't Say No" "Many a New Day" "It's a Scandal! It's a Outrage!" "People Will Say We're in Love" "Lonely Room" "The Farmer and the Cowman" "All Er Nuthin'" "Oklahoma" "If I Loved You" "Soliloquy" "You'll Never Walk Alone" "It Might as Well Be Spring" "That's for Me" "A Fellow Needs a Girl" "So Far" "Some Enchanted Evening" "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" "Bali Ha'i" "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" "Younger Than Springtime" "Happy Talk" "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" "I Whistle a Happy Tune" "Hello, Young Lovers" "Getting to Know You" "We Kiss in a Shadow" "Something Wonderful" "I Have Dreamed" "Shall We Dance?" "No Other Love" "I Enjoy Being a Girl" "The Sound of Music" "Maria" "My Favorite Things" "Do-Re-Mi" "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" "The Lonely Goatherd" "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" "No Way to Stop It" "Edelweiss"
Related articles	"Something Good" The Sound of Music The Sound of Music: Music from the NBC Television Event

v t e James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific (1947)
Characters	Bloody Mary
Adaptations	South Pacific (1949 musical) Awards and nominations South Pacific (1958 film) South Pacific (2001 film)
Songs	"Some Enchanted Evening" "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" "Bali Ha'i" "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" "Younger Than Springtime" "Happy Talk" "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught"
Albums	South Pacific (1958 soundtrack)

Happy Talk (song)

Contents

Captain Sensible version

Other cover versions

Samples

See also

References

External links

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