Parents, grandparents, babysitters, and anyone who’s ever had to try to calm a screaming infant or toddler, take note. Today, we’re looking at something I dearly wish had been invented when my daughter was little, The Happy Song. In 2016, Cow & Gate, a UK-based baby food company, had their advertising agency, BETC London, commission one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Imogen Heap, to write and record a song that would make babies happy. Heap’s daughter was two at the time, so the request really resonated with the artist. She then collaborated with Goldsmith University who tested the music as it developed on 26 babies to lock down the tempo, melody, subject, and sound effects. Scout, Heap’s baby, is also credited on the track for providing the giggles and happy babbles that appear on the recording. She was also apparently very useful in quality control.

Once The Happy Song was written, Heap worked with psychologists at Goldsmith to developed the look of the official music video, which further delighted their tiny subjects. I don’t currently have any little ones handy on which to try the song and video, but I have it on good authority that it works a charm on the 6-to-24-month set!

Because pretty much everyone encounters a crying baby periodically, I recommend we all bookmark the video on YouTube. You know someday, you’ll need it…

You can listen to The Happy Song on YouTube, you can purchase official Happy Song toys on Penny and Lola, and you can follow the always-imaginative Imogen Heap on her website and on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

You’re welcome.