Do n't Worry, Be Happy - wikipedia Do n't Worry, Be Happy This article is about the song by Bobby McFerrin. For other uses, see Do n't Worry, Be Happy ( disambiguation ). `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' Single by Bobby McFerrin from the album Simple Pleasures A-side `` Do n't Worry Be Happy '' B - side `` Good Lovin ' '' `` Simple Pleasures '' ( optional ) Released September 1988, 1989, 2000 Format 12 '' maxi 7 '' promo 7 '' single CD single Recorded 1988 Genre Reggae jazz a cappella Length 4 : 50 ( album version ) 4 : 03 ( music video ) 3 : 50 ( radio edit ) Label EMI - Manhattan Records Songwriter ( s ) Bobby McFerrin Producer ( s ) Linda Goldstein Audio sample file help `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' is a popular worldwide hit song by musician Bobby McFerrin. Released in September 1988, it became the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a position it held for two weeks. The song 's title is taken from a famous quotation by Meher Baba. The `` instruments '' in the a cappella song are entirely overdubbed voice parts and other sounds made by McFerrin, using no instruments at all ; McFerrin also sings with an affected accent. The comedic original music video for the song stars McFerrin, Robin Williams, and Bill Irwin, and is somewhat shorter than the album version. Contents 1 Background 2 Chart performance 3 Usage in popular culture 4 Awards 5 Charts 6 Certifications 7 Cover versions 8 References 9 External links Background Meher Baba, who often used the phrase `` Do n't worry, be happy '' The Indian mystic and sage Meher Baba ( 1894 -- 1969 ) often used the expression `` Do n't worry, be happy '' when cabling his followers in the West. In the 1960s, the expression was printed up on inspirational cards and posters of the era. In 1988, McFerrin noticed a similar poster in the apartment of the jazz duo Tuck & Patti in San Francisco. Inspired by the expression 's charm and simplicity, McFerrin wrote the now famous song, which was included in the soundtrack of the movie Cocktail, and became a hit single the next year. In an interview by Bruce Fessier for USA Weekend magazine in 1988 McFerrin said, `` Whenever you see a poster of Meher Baba, it usually says ' Do n't worry, be happy, ' which is a pretty neat philosophy in four words, I think. '' Linda Goldstein, the song 's producer, said the song gave McFerrin `` the freedom to explore, '' adding, `` He is a man of infinite, unfathomable, boundless voices and everything he has ever heard has gone into his brain, from the Mickey Mouse Club theme to the Metropolitan Opera. '' Chart performance Originally released in conjunction with the film Cocktail in 1988, the song originally peaked at No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was re-released the same year and peaked at No. 1 on September 24, 1988 displacing `` Sweet Child o ' Mine '' by Guns N ' Roses which had previously held the No. 1 spot. The song also peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Tracks chart and No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The song was also a hit in the United Kingdom and on the UK Singles Chart, the song reached number 2 during its fifth week on the chart ( kept from the top spot by Whitney Houston 's `` One Moment in Time '' ). The song is the first a cappella song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart and one critic noted it is a `` formula for facing life 's trials. '' While the song reached No. 1 on the charts, its album Simple Pleasures reached No. 12 on the album charts after starting out at No. 20 when it was first released. Usage in popular culture Comedian George Carlin wrote in Napalm and Silly Putty that many Americans would embrace the philosophy of denial in the song. Featured in the 1988 romance film Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue. It was also released as part of the film 's official soundtrack. The song was used in George H.W. Bush 's 1988 U.S. presidential election as Bush 's 1988 official presidential campaign song, without Bobby McFerrin 's permission or endorsement. In reaction, Bobby McFerrin ( a Democrat ) publicly protested that particular use of his song, including stating that he was going to vote against Bush, and completely dropped the song from his own performance repertoire, to make the point even clearer. The George H.W. Bush campaign then reportedly desisted from further use of the song. In 1989, Delacorte Press published a book titled Do n't Worry, Be Happy with the song 's lyrics, 20 new verses written by McFerrin, and illustrations by Bennett Carlson. The song became an unofficial anthem in Jamaica after Hurricane Gilbert struck the island in September 1988 ( coinciding with the song 's release ) and caused months of hardship to the population. The song is often erroneously attributed to Bob Marley. In 1997, the song was featured in the direct - to - video film Casper : A Spirited Beginning. In 2001, Mondo Club recorded the titular single. The performer was Trevor Taylor. In 2005, featured in the biographical military drama Jarhead, starring Jake Gyllenhaal. In 2006, the song was parodied in the animated film Flushed Away. In 2008, the song was featured in the Disney / Pixar animated film WALL - E. McFerrin had previously provided vocal work for Pixar 's short film Knick Knack. In November 2014, it was featured as a mashup with `` Winter Wonderland '' by a cappella group Pentatonix featuring Tori Kelly on the album That 's Christmas to Me. It was featured in the dance video game Just Dance 2015. This song is used on the commercials of Mattress Firm The song was covered by Z - Kety on his album The World Will Be Happy and The Artists ' Masters With Z - Kety with composer ZipZap Burning Master. In 2017, the song was covered by Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Jason Marsalis, Cyril Neville, Haley Reinhart, and Glen David Andrews for Ruffins and Mayfield 's album A Beautiful World. Awards The song is ranked No. 31 on VH1 's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s and also appears on Rolling Stone 's list of the 15 Best Whistling Songs of All Time. At the 1989 Grammy Awards, `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' won the awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Charts Chart ( 1988 -- 89 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Canadian RPM 30 Retail Singles Canadian RPM Top Singles France ( SNEP ) 29 Germany ( Official German Charts ) Irish Singles Chart Italy ( FIMI ) 18 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) 5 South African Chart Spain ( AFYVE ) 5 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary 7 US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Singles 11 Chart ( 2016 ) Peak position Poland ( Polish Airplay Top 100 ) 75 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Germany ( BVMI ) Platinum 500,000 United States ( RIAA ) Gold 1,000,000 shipments figures based on certification alone Cover versions Versions of `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' have been recorded by several artists. The Katsimiha Brothers made a Greek cover of the song with original lyrics, and Montenegrin musician Rambo Amadeus made a parody entitled `` Do n't Happy, Be Worry '', as a critique to the optimism of the music scene in the former Yugoslavia in the face of war and economic depression. In addition, the lyrics of `` Fight the Power '' by hip - hop artists Public Enemy refer critically to `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy ''. A version of this song sung by The Hit Crew is also added into the Big Mouth Billy Bass, a very popular animatronic singing toy. Hermes House Band covered the song on their Rhythm of the Nineties album in 2009. Reggae artist Cas Haley covered the song as a hidden bonus track on his Favorites album ( together with former Jah Roots lead singer, Josh Heinrichs ). Also in 1989 Dutch rock DJ Alfred Lagarde recorded a version in Dutch with a heavy Surinam accent under the name Johnny Camaro. Spanish Ska band The Locos covered this song in a similar style, Ska. In 2015, Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Chipettes covered the song for the live stage tour Alvin and the Chipmunks : The Musical. References ^ Jump up to : `` Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry Be Happy ''. Retrieved 9 June 2014. Jump up ^ SPIN june 1989 ( PDF ). SPIN Media LLC. 1989. p. 66. ISSN 0886 - 3032. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ Saunders, Michael. `` ' Do n't Worry, Be Happy ' -- It 's Catching '' Fort Lauderdale, Florida : Sun - Sentinel : 1988. Jump up ^ Heldenfels, Rich ( June 27, 2012 ). `` Mailbag : Mr. Noodle explained ''. Akron Beacon - Journal. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 29. Jump up ^ Bhau Kalchuri ( 1986 ). ' Meher Prabhu : Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba. Manifestation, Inc. pp. 5134, 5770, 5970, 6405, 6742. Jump up ^ `` ' USA Weekend Magazine ''. October 21, 1988. In an interview by Bruce Fessier for USA Weekend magazine in 1988 McFerrin said, `` Whenever you see a poster of Meher Baba, it usually says ' Do n't worry, be happy Jump up ^ `` Bobby McFerrin Extended Interview '' ( Video Interview ). Retrieved 9 June 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` The Hot 100 : The Week of September 24, 1988 ''. billboard.com. Billboard. ^ Jump up to : Holden, Stephen ( Sep 29, 1988 ). `` Don ` t Worry, Be Happy : Bobby Mcferrin Has A No. 1 Hit ''. New York Times News Service. Retrieved 9 June 2014. McFerrin ` s hit is earning the superb vocal improviser a mass audience, as his album, ` ` Simple Pleasures ` ` leaps from No. 20 to No. 12 on the album chart. Jump up ^ `` Bobby McFerrin Awards ''. All Media Network, LLC. March 11, 1950. Retrieved 2009 - 10 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company ''. www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 06. Jump up ^ Do n't Worry, Be Happy. B Happy - Benny to Beyonce, 2012 - books.google.com Jump up ^ Carlin, George ( 2001 ). Napalm and Silly Putty. Jump up ^ `` '' Do n't Worry, Be Happy ``, Bobby McFerrin ''. VH1 's Pop - up Video. 1997. Jump up ^ O'Sullivan, Helen. `` Revd Helen OSullivan on Do n't Worry Be Happy '' ( PDF ). Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 09. Jump up ^ Cohen, Barry ( Dec 11, 2013 ). `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy 5.4 Project ''. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 09. Jump up ^ Mondo Club -- Do n't Worry Be Happy Jump up ^ `` ( Official Video ) Winter Wonderland / Do n't Worry Be Happy - Pentatonix ( ft Tori Kelly ) ''. YouTube. November 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Kermit Ruffins Irvin Mayfield -- A Beautiful World ''. Basin Street Records. Retrieved October 14, 2017. Jump up ^ Murphy, Kate ( September 30, 2011 ). `` The 15 Best Whistling Songs of All Time ''. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy in Canadian 30 Retail Singles Chart ''. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy in Canadian Top Singles Chart ''. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Jump up ^ `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy in Irish Chart ''. IRMA. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 05. Only one result when searching `` Do n't worry be happy '' Jump up ^ `` The best - selling singles of 1989 in Italy ''. HitParadeItalia ( it ). Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 05. 97. Do n't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin ( # 18, 1988 / 89 ) Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Bobby McFerrin search results '' ( in Dutch ) Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ John Samson. `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy in South African Chart ''. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ `` LISTAS DE AFYVE - Singles 1988 '' ( in Spanish ). Retrieved 1 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Bobby McFerrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` 1988 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 22nd October 1988 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 05. ^ Jump up to : `` Bobby McFerrin awards on Allmusic ''. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia : : Związek Producentów Audio - Video ''. Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 18 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ( Bobby McFerrin ; ' Do n't Worry, Be Happy ' ) '' ( in German ). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Bobby Mc Ferrin -- Do n't Worry, Be Happy ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH External links 1980s portal Bobby McFerrin -- Official Website MetroLyrics ( Song Lyrics and Video ) Preceded by `` Sweet Child o ' Mine '' by Guns N ' Roses Billboard Hot 100 number one single September 24, 1988 -- October 1, 1988 Succeeded by `` Love Bites '' by Def Leppard Grammy Award for Record of the Year ( 1980s ) `` What a Fool Believes '' * by The Doobie Brothers ( Jeffrey Baxter, John Hartman, Keith Knudsen, Michael McDonald, Tiran Porter, Patrick Simmons ) produced by Ted Templeman ( 1980 ) `` Sailing '' * by Christopher Cross produced by Michael Omartian ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' * by Kim Carnes produced by Val Garay ( 1982 ) `` Rosanna '' by Toto ( Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, Steve Porcaro ) produced by Toto ( 1983 ) `` Beat It '' by Michael Jackson produced by Michael Jackson & Quincy Jones ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' by Tina Turner produced by Terry Britten ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' * by USA for Africa produced by Quincy Jones ( 1986 ) `` Higher Love '' by Steve Winwood produced by Russ Titelman & Steve Winwood ( 1987 ) `` Graceland '' by Paul Simon produced by Paul Simon ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' * by Bobby McFerrin produced by Linda Goldstein ( 1989 ) Complete list ( 1960s ) ( 1970s ) ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Grammy Award for Song of the Year ( 1980s ) 1980 Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald - `` What a Fool Believes '' 1981 Christopher Cross - `` Sailing '' 1982 Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon - `` Bette Davis Eyes '' Johnny Christopher, Mark James & Wayne Carson - `` Always on My Mind '' 1984 Sting - `` Every Breath You Take '' 1985 Graham Lyle & Terry Britten - `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' 1986 Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie - `` We Are the World '' Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager - `` That 's What Friends Are For '' 1988 James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil - `` Somewhere Out There '' Bobby McFerrin - `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' Complete list ( 1960s ) ( 1970s ) ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Meher Baba Publications God Speaks ( 1955 ) Discourses ( 1939 ) God in a Pill ? ( 1966 ) Terms and concepts God - realization Perfect Master Involution Mast Mandali New Life Prayers Parvardigar Prayer Prayer of Repentance Beloved God Prayer Seven Names of God Prayer 101 Names of God Traditions Amartithi Silence Day Dhuni Meher Baba 's missing book Important places Meherabad ashram Pilgrim Center shrine / tomb Meherazad Meher Spiritual Center Meher Mount Avatar 's Abode Family Shireen Irani ( mother ) Sheriar Irani ( father ) Mani Irani ( sister ) Associated figures Mehera Irani Norina Matchabelli Kitty Davy Eruch Jessawala Faredoon Driver Bhau Kalchuri Francis Brabazon William Donkin Lyn Ott Charles Purdom Gabriel Pascal Quentin Tod Meredith Starr Pete Townshend Tom Hopkinson Mirza Ismail Contacted masters Hazrat Babajan Upasni Maharaj Sai Baba of Shirdi Hazrat Tajuddin Baba Narayan Maharaj Organizations Avatar Meher Baba Trust Sufism Reoriented Legacy `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' Beyond Words ( 1997 documentary ) Nema aviona za Zagreb ( 2012 film ) Happy Birthday ( 1970 album ) I Am ( 1972 album ) With Love ( 1976 album ) O Parvardigar ( 1976 film ) `` Parvardigar '' ( 2001 album ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don%27t_Worry,_Be_Happy&oldid=808801468 '' Categories : 1988 singles Grammy Award for Record of the Year Grammy Award for Song of the Year Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia European Hot 100 Singles number - one singles A cappella songs RPM Top Singles number - one singles Songs about happiness Meher Baba 1988 songs Manhattan Records singles EMI Records singles Debut singles Songs from animated films Hidden categories : CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 German - language sources ( de ) Use mdy dates from April 2012 Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016 Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Swiss Singlechart usages for Poland Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Certification Table Entry usages for Germany Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Español Français Italiano עברית Magyar Nederlands Polski Русский Simple English Slovenčina Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 5 November 2017, at 07 : 25. 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Question: who sang the song don t worry be happy
Answer: Bobby McFerrin