"Very Happy Song" by Brian Ray

Hey, everybody!

Here's my music video for "Very Happy Song" from my second solo CD, "This Way Up".
This song was written in response to a dear friend asking for me to write a happy song.. I told her I don't like happy art, that all good art comes from struggle, pain, alienation or heartache.

I thought about it and decided to write one anyway. In fact she inspired the tone of the whole album to be more positive in tempo and lyric and I'm grateful for that, but I couldn't help but write a sardonic and sarcastic lyric for this one, given the times we are in today.

When the #occupy movement started out with less than 100 protesters in Zuccotti Park, it resonated for me as a musician who struggled to make a living for most of my adult life. I have been plugged in to politics since I was a kid and now realize I'm a total political geek!

On a recent trip to NYC, I grabbed a cab to see the burgeoning protest at Zuccotti for myself and sang along to my song while walking thru the occupy camp.

Brian French at Tempo Entertainment cut together the footage along with protest scenes from all over the USA.

IMHO, there is nothing wrong with success, wealth and capitalism, it is only the perversion of capitalism at the hands of our elected officials, with bank deregulation which has led to this fissure in the center of our country with huge income disparity. The less advantaged see their chances at the American dream dissolving in front of their eyes, while the rich have watched their incomes accelerate exponentially, with tax codes favoring only the richest. Our planet's health has been imperiled by the reckless disregard for climate change, in favor of profit, with resulting extreme weather affecting us all now.

This video is a simple document of the times we live in, from my point of view..

These are the voices of the 99%.

It is not partisan, it is not an attack on our great country. It is a music video. My father fought in WWll to protect my right to say whatever I want about where I see our country today and I will never back down from my right to say what I feel.

Thanks for your support.. Stay tuned for more!

"Very Happy Song"
Written by Brian Ray and Oliver Leiber
The musicians are: Davey Faragher - bass, Pete Thomas - drums, Adam MacDougal - keys, Russ Irwin and Jason Paige - backing vocals, Brian Ray - lead vocals, guitars, shaker.

Recorded and Mixed by Joe Zook

All the best,
Brian Ray

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Brian Ray
• #occupy
• 99%
• Occupy Wall Street
• Current TV
• This Way Up album
• Rock Music
• Paul McCartney
• Beatles
• #ows
• Zuccotti Park
• 1%
• The Beatles
• Politics
• Current News
• News

[vetalurex]

Great song and great video!

[ruoldenuff]

as per usual, a quality song mate. the message is loud and clear! ...even from down here.

[217jvg]

hey brian, hope this song goes all the way!...the fat piggies at wallstreet and the hedge fund assholes just don't get it....

[MsDance2Music]

Brian... another good one!!  I can dig it!!!

[basia2544]

Thank you Brian for your courage and for what you are doing. In my country it is even worse and people need to escape to live in dignity. Cool song, cool video. Yours.

[kevland1]

A track that was wonderfully recorded gets paired up with a video that was smartly shot and edited. Congrats to both Brian's and Tempo Ent. Let's see a little "Virality" happen with this Vid!

[217jvg]

excellant song for these times...wall street and the hedge fund assholes are like robbers in the night...are the new guilded rich whos care for nothing or nobody...America The Beautiful...for what they have done...we are now labeled...America The Needy!

[dizzy4jimlizzy]

BRILLIANT and timely... Great song and video Brian! Thank you! It brought tears to my eyes. Power to the people!

[gwally31]

Awesome. Thank you. It's a powerful message.

[wendycrane]

LOVED the video, the end is absolutely perfect!!!!