Pharrell Gets “Despicable” Again: Is “Yellow Light” A Worthy “Happy” Follow-Up Single?
Can you believe it’s been four years since Pharrell Williams released “Happy”?
“Happy”, which lost an Oscar to “Let It Go”, was a song from the “Despicable Me 2” soundtrack. The Pharrell-produced and sung song was a massive hit for the former N.E.R.D member. “Happy” reached number one in all the important markets in the world and it went on to sell over 7 million downloads in the U.S alone (giving Pharrell seven new shiny platinum certification plaques to hang at his home),
So when the time came to think of singers to come and record songs for the soundtrack of “Despicable Me 3” (in theaters June 30), which do you think was the name that first popped up in the heads of the Minions-themed film producers? Pharrell Williams, indeed,
Pharrell came back to record a follow-up to “Happy” and that follow-up is called “Yellow Light”. “Yellow Light” was released as the first single from the “Despicable Me 3” soundtrack yesterday and yesterday the official music video was premiered too on YouTube.
So to the question; “Is “Yellow Light” a worthy follow-up to “Happy”?”, the answer is quite simple: No.
And this is not about “Yellow Light” being a bad song, that’s not the case. The problem is that Pharrell had some huge shoes to fill after “Happy” and evidently that task was a difficult one. I’m sure he tried very hard but ultimately what he delivered for the “Despicable Me 3” soundtrack is unfortunately not up to the level of uniqueness of “Happy”. “Yellow Light” is a cool song with a beeping production and a vintage flair but it not as memorable as “Happy”. That’s a fact.
As for its music video, that was more entertaining that the song. It shows Pharrell walking the streets of a city as a group of adorable Minions, who become obsessed for anything yellow they see, follow him everywhere he goes.