Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin. Song Review

Song Review
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Song Review
Every songwriter or musician has a message they seek to deliver to their audience. So, there often make use of some techniques that add to their message in the hope that they will be able to reach their audience. For this paper, the song group under study is Song Group E and the two songs that will be analyzed are “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin and “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. The songs in this group seek to encourage people not to entertain negative thoughts. A lot is happening in the world right now and people must be able to maintain a positive mindset in the hope that everyone will come out unscathed. Coronavirus has taken over the world and all attention is directed towards measures to help deal with the pandemic. However, by listening to the songs by Pharrell Williams and Bobby McFerrin, one can for a moment forget there is a pandemic, and just savor their time on earth. Everyone is on borrowed time and it is crucial that people are able to live life in their own terms. So, the two songs challenge people to be happy in the midst of darkness and hardship.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
One way that songwriters try to communicate their message to their audience is through repetition. Repetition is often used to help emphasize the importance of a message or a theme. In the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, Bobby McFerrin repeats several phrases that form the gist of the song. In trying to send a message of happiness, he makes use of the phrase “be happy” 23 times. In repeating this particular phrase, McFerrin sought to define and clearly show his audience what his message was. The song is indeed centered on happiness and he makes sure that this phrase is clearly showcased throughout the song. Aside from the phrase above, he also makes use of the phrase “don’t worry” throughout the song. This particular phrase is repeated 22 times in the song. In his bid to convince his audience not to get too concerned with the troubles of the world, Bobby McFerrin repeats this phrase and makes sure that it is always followed by “be happy.” Repetition throughout the song does help ensure that the message comes out clearly.
Aside from repetition, there is also the use of rhyme throughout the poem. However, it should be noted that the rhyme is only used in particular places especially when McFerrin is trying to communicate the troubles of this world. For example, in the first stanza of the song, he sings “In every life, we have some trouble, When you worry you make it double.” These two lines are complementary to each other because they, first of all, acknowledge that people will always have problems in life. However, the next line asks that people remain calm because worry only helps to make the problem worse. Aside from the above, other lines with rhyme include “ain’t got no place to lay your head, somebody came and took your bed” and “the landlord say your rent is late, he may have to litigate.” Just as before, it is quite strategic that these lines rhyme. McFerrin is trying to communicate some of the problems that are ...