Table of Contents
Listening Activity
This listening activity is based on the song “Happy by Pharrell Williams“. The song lyrics are beautiful. They are ideal for English Learners. They include many interesting language topics, such as modals and conditional sentences.
Let’s start with some information about the song!
Happy by Pharrell Williams
“Happy“ is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer and producer Pharrell Williams. This listening activity is based on the lyrics of the song. Below, we provide information about the song, a link to the lyrics, and the official video.
Happy by Pharrell Williams
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the Song
- Song: Happy
- Album: Despicable Me 2 soundtrack album
- Date of release: November 21, 2013
- Genre: Soul
- Length of the song: 3 minutes and 53 seconds.
- Writer: Pharrell Williams
- Produced by: Pharrell Williams
Interesting Information about the Song
The music video for “Happy” by Pharrell Williams was nominated for Best Male Video and Video of the Year at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
Furthermore, “Happy” was part of the soundtrack for the animated film Despicable Me 2 and became a global phenomenon, topping the charts in multiple countries. The song’s infectious melody and upbeat lyrics made it an anthem of joy and positivity, resonating with people worldwide.
Additionally, Pharrell Williams spearheaded the creation of the “24 Hours of Happy” project, which featured a 24-hour-long interactive music video with people dancing to the song around Los Angeles. This project was a unique and innovative way to engage fans and spread the song’s cheerful message.
The Video
The Lyrics
Language Points
The song includes many interesting language points:
Expressions that may be useful to students:
- It might seem crazy what I’m about to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space - Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Listening Comprehension
Sentence Completion Exercise
Complete these sentences while listening to the song:
- “It might seem crazy what I’m about to say, ______________.”
- “I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space, ______________.”
- “Clap along if you feel like a room ______________.”
- “Here come bad news ______________.”
- “Can’t nothing bring me down, ______________.”
Gap-Fill Exercise
These words are used in the lyrics of the song:
- Crazy – Mentally deranged or extremely enthusiastic.
- Sunshine – The light and warmth from the sun.
- Truth – That which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.
- Roof – The structure forming the upper covering of a building or vehicle.
- Warn – Inform someone in advance of a possible danger or problem.
- Offense – A breach of a law or rule; an illegal act.
- Level – A specific height, position, or rank.
Complete these sentences with the words provided above:
Crazy, Sunshine, Truth, Roof, Warn, Offense, Level
- It was so hot outside that she felt like she was walking under a blazing ______________.
- He decided to speak the ______________, even though it might upset some people.
- The cat climbed up to the ______________ of the house to enjoy the view.
- The teacher had to ______________ the students about the upcoming test.
- Taking ______________ at a joke is common, but it’s important to understand the context.
- She reached a new ______________ in her career, becoming the youngest manager in the company’s history.
- The man acted a little ______________ when he heard the surprising news.
Source: Wikipedia