I Hope You're Happy Now (Elvis Costello Song)
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"I Hope You're Happy Now" is a song written by new wave musician
Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to ''Rolling Stone'', Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical ...
, recorded by Costello and
the Attractions The Attractions were an English backing band for the English new wave musician Elvis Costello between 1977 and 1986, and again from 1994 to 1996. They consisted of Steve Nieve (keyboards), Bruce Thomas (bass guitar), and Pete Thomas (drums ...
. The track was released on his 1986 album ''
Blood & Chocolate ''Blood & Chocolate'' is the eleventh studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his ninth album with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation). It was release ...
'' after several failed attempts to record the song for earlier releases. Featuring sardonic lyrics about a former relationship, "I Hope You're Happy Now" as the B-side to " I Want You" in November 1986. It has since been positively received by critics and appeared on compilation albums and in Costello's live setlists.


Background

According to Elvis Costello, the final version of "I Hope You're Happy Now" was recorded after "three different attempts" to get the song right. Costello and the Attractions attempted to record the song after '' Goodbye Cruel World'' with
Nick Lowe Nicholas Drain Lowe (born 24 March 1949) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer. A noted figure in Pub rock (United Kingdom), pub rock, power pop and New wave music, new wave,Trust Trust often refers to: * Trust (social science), confidence in or dependence on a person or quality It may also refer to: Business and law * Trust (law), a legal relationship in which one person holds property for another's benefit * Trust (bu ...
'', but these recordings were shelved. An early version of the song was performed by Costello and the Attractions on the ''
Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show A late-night talk show is a genre of talk show, originating in the American Media, United States. It is generally structured around humorous monologues about the day's news, guest inte ...
'' in 1984. The song was later attempted again during the '' King of America'' sessions; early versions of the song have since been released on expanded versions of both ''Goodbye Cruel World'' and ''King of America''. He recalled, The version released on ''Blood and Chocolate'' was, according to Costello, ultimately "recorded live in the big, old studio at Olympic (before it was vandalized)". Costello noted that, during the sessions, "We also finally got a take on 'I Hope You're Happy Now' that had a little more humour to it than its originally murderous intent. It almost sounded like pop music". Stylistically, "I Hope You're Happy Now" has been dubbed a "
garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock music that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The style is ...
" effort. Ed Masley of ''
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'' described the song as one where Costello "ridicules he girl who broke his heartwith 'He's got all the things you need and some that you will never/But you make him sound like frozen food/His love will last forever'." Costello said of the song's lyrics, "In the long run I'm happier to live with it being humorous, rather than murderous".


Release and reception

"I Hope You're Happy Now" was first released as the second track on ''
Blood & Chocolate ''Blood & Chocolate'' is the eleventh studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his ninth album with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation). It was release ...
''. An acoustic version of the song was released as the B-side to " I Want You" in November 1986, but no version of the track was ever released on a single of its own. Writer Graeme Thomson said of this choice, "With pop songs of the calibre of ' Blue Chair' and 'I Hope You're Happy Now' at his disposal, to release the doggedly uncommercial 'I Want You' and 'Tokyo Storm Warning'—both over six minutes long— as the first two UK singles was a willfully perverse move". The song has also been released on the compilation albums '' Girls Girls Girls'' and ''
The Very Best of Elvis Costello ''The Very Best of Elvis Costello'' is a compilation album by English musician Elvis Costello, first released on 21 September 1999 through Polygram Records. The album spanned his recorded work from 1977 through 1998. It was re-released less ...
''. "I Hope You're Happy Now" has seen critical acclaim since its release. Ryan J. Prado of ''
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'' ranked it Costello's 17th best song, called it "a song so instantly gratifying and anthemic I'm surprised it's impossible to put it at #1 on this list". He continued, "Costello's ability to talk shit about people with eloquence is second to none, and put into striking, reverential spotlight here". Stewart Mason of
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
said of the song, "Unlike the more studied attempts at recreating the old Attractions sound on 1994's '' Brutal Youth'', this works perfectly, both as a nostalgia trip and as a song". Bryan Wawzenek of '' Diffuser.fm'' praised the song's " Beatle-esque beat", while Chris Mautner of ''
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'' described it as his "favorite song".


Live history

Since its release, "I Hope You're Happy Now" has appeared frequently in Costello's live setlists. A version of the song appears on the Costello live album ''The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook''. Costello continues to perform the song in his later career, playing it during his "Just Trust" tour in 2019.


References

Citations Sources * {{authority control 1986 songs 1986 singles Elvis Costello songs British garage rock songs Songs written by Elvis Costello Song recordings produced by Nick Lowe