DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY – BOBBY MCFERRIN

Chart performance:

Week	Position	Movement	Comments
24-Nov-88	24	New
01-Dec-88	17	+7	Biggest climber/Star rater
08-Dec-88	9	+8	Biggest climber/Star rater
15-Dec-88	10	-1
22-Dec-88	9	+1
29-Dec-88	9	0
05-Jan-89	9	0
12-Jan-89	9	0
19-Jan-89	5	+4	Star rater
26-Jan-89	4	+1	Peak
02-Feb-89	6	-2
09-Feb-89	5	+1
16-Feb-89	4	+1
23-Feb-89*	5	-1

* Last chart ever published.

Written by: Bobby McFerrin
Produced by: Linda Goldstein
South African record label (unless otherwise stated): Manhattan

Hit number for artist	1
Peak position	4
Weeks	14
Biggest climber awards	2
Star rater climbs	3
Biggest faller awards	0
Top 20 points	172
Overall Top 20 points ranking	=557
Top 20 points ranking for the artist	1
Top 30 Points	309
Overall Top 30 points ranking	=587
Top 30 points ranking for the artist	1

Annual ranking:

1988	=76
1989	4

Other chart success:

Australia	1
Austria	1
Belgium	2
Canada	1
Denmark	2
Finland	4
France	29
Germany	1
Iceland	1
Ireland	3
Italy	23
Netherlands	3
New Zealand	2
Norway	5
Spain	5
Sweden	2
Switzerland	2
UK	2
US	1
Zimbabwe	1

SA Radio charts:

Capital 604	1
Radio 5	1
Radio 702	1

The song was 1 of 72 song which charted that would top all 3 of the Radio 5, Capital 604 and Radio 702 charts. The title of the song came from an expression the Indian mystic Meher Baba used a lot and which was printed on posters in the 60’s. McFerrin saw the poster in a friend’s house and liked the charm and simplicity of the phrase. It would be the only acapella song to make the charts. It would win the Grammys for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and would be used in the film ‘Cocktail’ which starred Tom Cruise. The video to accompany the song featured comedian Robin Williams.

Video:

Artist link: Bobby McFerrin

BOBBY MCFERRIN (US)

Born: 11 March 1950
Full name: Robert Keith McFerrin Jr.

Bobby was born in New York and his father, a well-known baritone, had been the first African American man to sing at the New York Metropolitan Opera. His mother, Sara, was also a singer. McFerrin spent a long time honing his craft and was influenced by the pianist Keith Jarrett who would perform solo improvised piano concerts. McFerrin wanted to emulate this vocally. He released his eponymously titled debut album in 1982 which did not make the main US charts but got to 41 on the US Jazz album charts. His first public appearance was in 1984 when he appeared at the Playboy Jazz Festival as a member of Herbie Hancock’s band VSOP II. In 1986 he would perform the opening credits to the 4^th season of ‘The Cosby Show’. His big breakthrough came when his acapella song, ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ was included on the soundtrack to the film ‘Cocktail’ which starred Tom Cruise. It would give him a number 1 hit in the US and a number 2 hit in the UK. However, he felt that this ended his musical life as he knew and instead of actively building on this success, he sought other musical avenues, concentrating on jazz and collaborating with classical violinist Yo-Yo Ma. ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ remains his only US chart hit at the time of writing and he would see 1 further UK hit in the shape of ‘Thinkin’ About Your Body’ which peaked at 46.

Date of entry	Song	Peak (weeks at 1)	Weeks
24-Nov-1988	Don’t Worry Be Happy	4	14
		Total hits	1
		Total weeks	14

Biggest climber awards	2
Star rater climbs	3
Biggest fallers	0
Weeks with oldest in the charts	0
Longest run in the charts (weeks)	14
Weeks with more than 1 in the charts	0
Biggest gap between hits (weeks)	0
Top 30 points ranking	=554
Top 20 points ranking	=504
Top 30 points	309
Top 20 points	172

‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ was one of the songs on the last SA chart in February 1989.