Peak
15
Weeks
12
Score
1,162
Chart Year
2021
This piano-led track finds Olivia Rodrigo trying to wish her ex the best after he's moved on with another girlfriend. She hopes he's happy with his new sweetheart, but not as happy as he was with her. Rodrigo recorded the song for her debut album, Sour, a record that shines the light on the painful "sour" emotions teenagers endure. This is one of several tracks where she examines her feelings of anger, jealousy and sadness when an ex leaves her for another girl. Some songs, including "Drivers License" and "Traitor," find her expressing her fury at his breaking her heart. This one finds her more resigned to the breakup and self-critical about her resentment towards his new girl. This is one of two tracks on Sour that Rodrigo wrote on her own, the other being "Enough for You." She originally demoed the song back in 2020. Dan Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo's go-to collaborator, produced "Happier." In fact, this was the track that first brought her to his attention. Nigro explained to Billboard that, intrigued after the teenager emailed him some of her material, he went on her Instagram and found this song. The producer immediately "got the chills" listening to Rodrigo's "insane" voice. Nigro DM'd her and said they should make some music together. Dan Nigro plays all the instruments on this track apart from Paul Cartwight's violin and viola. Olivia Rodrigo wrote "Happier" on the set of a show she was filming. "It's so funny - inspiration just strikes at random times," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "I was in between takes and I was like 'Oh, I have this idea,' and then I just wrote the song on set. So that's always fun when you kind of get a lightning bolt of an idea." In her Disney+ documentary Driving Home 2 U (A Sour Film), Rodrigo recalled posting "Happier" online, then looking back on it and thinking it's a terrible song. It had no likes, and she sang it terribly. But Rodrigo had a gut feeling the song had potential, and she was right - it changed everything for her. "The fact that I posted it was the reason that I met Dan," she said, "because he found it and was like, 'Oh my God, I love this song. We should work together.'"
We broke up a month ago Your friends are mine You know I know you've moved on Found someone new One more girl who brings out the better in you And I thought my heart was detached From all the sunlight of our past But she's so sweet She's so pretty Does she mean you forgot about me? Oh, I hope you're happy But not like how you were with me I'm selfish, I know I can't let you go So find someone great but don't find no one better I hope you're happy but don't be happier And do you tell her she's the most beautiful girl you've ever seen? An eternal love bullshit you know you'll never mean Remember when I believed You meant it when you said it first to me And now I'm pickin' her apart Like cuttin' her down will make you miss my wretched heart But she's beautiful She looks kind She probably gives you butterflies I hope you're happy But not like how you were with me I'm selfish, I know I can't let you go So find someone great but don't find no one better I hope you're happy I wish you all the best Really Say you love her, baby Just not like you love me And think of me fondly when your hand's around her I hope you're happy But don't be happier Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh I hope you're happy Just not like how you were with me I'm selfish, I know Can't let you go So find someone great but don't find no one better I hope you're happy but don't be happier
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 5, 2021 | 15 | 111 |
| 2 | Jun 12, 2021 | 20 | 106 |
| 3 | Jun 19, 2021 | 28 | 98 |
| 4 | Jun 26, 2021 | 40 | 86 |
| 5 | Jul 3, 2021 | 42 | 84 |
| 6 | Jul 10, 2021 | 58 | 68 |
| 7 | Jul 17, 2021 | 59 | 67 |
| 8 | Jul 24, 2021 | 68 | 58 |
| 9 | Jul 31, 2021 | 76 | 50 |
| 10 | Aug 7, 2021 | 80 | 46 |
| 11 | Aug 14, 2021 | 93 | 33 |
| 12 | Aug 21, 2021 | 97 | 29 |