Pharrell must’ve known he was in for a blockbuster year. The smash from the Neptunes producer’s new solo album, G I R L, is — of course — the, um, very cheerful “Happy” (the video for which is less happy without music, and bears some striking similarities to 2011 indie film Girl Walk // All Day). He needs you to help him write a book, he just danced with about a million different people in the “Marilyn Monroe” video, and he had a Coachella set that was star-studded even by the fest’s glittery 2014 standards. G I R L came out in Japan today, as Hip Hop N More points out, and bonus track “Smile” — well, are you seeing a gleeful theme here? It’s lithe, bouncy, synth-streaked piano-soul, with extra little hooks like a high-pitched “for you” and a backing “cheers.” Skateboard P is smiling not about wealth or fame, but about “when I look into your eyes and see our kids.” He’s also probably smiling because he’s wearing a funny hat.
