Makin' Happy

Alex Henderson from AllMusic complimented the song as a "highly addictive and enjoyable house/neo-disco fare".{{cite web|first= Alex |last= Henderson |title= Crystal Waters – Surprise |publisher= AllMusic |date= |accessdate= November 4, 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/surprise-mw0000264432}} Larry Flick from Billboard described it as "a frenetic and hypnotic jam".{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: Hi-NRG Awards Set; Waters Flowing; Princely Track |magazine= Billboard |date= June 22, 1991 |page= 31 |accessdate= October 11, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-06-22.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} He remarked that it "maintains a similar deep house vibe [as her first single]. Waters more than proves her songwriting talent here, while her unique feline vocals will test some and delight others."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= August 10, 1991 |page= 67 |accessdate= October 23, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB1991.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer declared it as "a housy tune that's bound to, well, make you happy, what else?"Kastanas, Andy (August 28, 1991). "Sounds of Progress". p. 10. The Charlotte Observer. Jennifer Bowles from Chicago Sun-Times called it "a song about, well, "makin' whoopie""Bowles, Jennifer (September 16, 1991). "Crystal Waters puts performing above preaching". Chicago Sun-Times. and added that it's "self-explanatory - there's little stories going on in the song. It's just a fun song."Bowles, Jennifer (September 26, 1991). "Crystal Waters doesn't claim to run deep". Kitchener-Waterloo Record.

Push from Melody Maker felt it "would certainly do well as a follow-up. You might mistake it for Flowered Up's "Take It" until the oompah-bumped house beats and Crystal's jazzy vocals weigh in. The lyrics are basically all about having sex, when, where and how you fancy."{{cite magazine|author=Push|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52406411562/|title=Albums|work=Melody Maker|date=July 27, 1991|page=32|access-date=April 29, 2023}} Machgiel Bakker from Music & Media called it "pop-house".{{cite magazine|first= Machgiel |last= Bakke |title= Dance: Dancing All Over The Airwaves |magazine= Music & Media |date= September 28, 1991 |page= 13 |accessdate= October 20, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-09-28.pdf}} An editor also commented in an album review, "Just repeat the words 'Makin' Happy' endlessly and you'll get a good flavour of 'Gypsy Woman, Part II'."{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/91/MM-1991-08-10-OCR-Page-0010.pdf |title= New Releases: Albums |magazine= Music & Media |date= August 10, 1991 |page= 10 |accessdate= October 4, 2020}} James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update wrote that "the strange nasally pitched girl is less Eartha Kitt-like for her follow-up to 'Gypsy Woman', a jauntly trotting repetitive canterer with some "ooh wee ooh wee ooh" (and a guy's "so happy") instead of all the "la da dee, la dee da"."{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Hamilton|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1991/MW-1991-08-10.pdf |title= DJ Directory: Hot Vinyl |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= August 10, 1991 |page= 6 |accessdate= October 3, 2020 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}} Stuart Maconie from New Musical Express declared it as "a spectacularly bangin' tune".{{cite magazine|first=Stuart|last=Maconie|title=Singles|work=New Musical Express|date=January 4, 1992|page=15|access-date=February 20, 2023|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52529786466/in/photostream/}} Jonathan Bernstein from Spin described it as "ebullient".{{cite magazine|first=Jonathan|last=Bernstein|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_4roLQT9sPgC|title=SPINS: Crystal Waters – Storyteller|magazine=Spin|date=June 1, 1994|accessdate=March 16, 2020}}

"Makin' Happy" enjoyed moderate success on the charts in both Europe and North-America. The single peaked at number one on both the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. It did also top the Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart, as well as peaking at number 58 on the Billboard Radio Songs chart and number 63 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In Europe, "Makin' Happy" entered the top 10 in Italy (9) and was a top-20 hit in France (17) and on the UK Singles Chart (18) in the UK. Additionally, it was a top-30 hit in Belgium (21) and Ireland (22), and a top-40 hit on the Eurochart Hot 100, peaking at number 33 in October 1991.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-10-05.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|work=Music & Media|date=October 5, 1991|page=23|access-date=November 13, 2023}} But on the European Dance Radio Chart, it was far more successful, reaching number five.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-09-28.pdf|title=European Dance Radio|magazine=Music & Media|date=September 28, 1991|page=13|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}

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• UK 7-inch vinyl single

1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix) – 3:49
2. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix) – 3:31

• UK CD maxi-single

1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix) – 3:49
2. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix II) – 6:22
3. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix) – 3:31
4. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix II) – 7:52

• Netherlands and UK 12-inch vinyl single

1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's happy house mix) – 6:22
2. "Makin' Happy" (basement boys happy club mix) – 7:52

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• UK CD maxi-single

1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix 7") – 3:52
2. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix 12") – 6:24
3. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix 12") – 7:52

• US 12-inch vinyl maxi-single

1. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Happy House Mix) – 6:23
2. "Makin' Happy" (Hurley's Insane Mix) – 6:24
3. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix) – 7:52
4. "Makin' Happy" (Basement Boys Happy Hump) – 6:14

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{{Reflist|2}}

{{Crystal Waters}}

{{Steve "Silk" Hurley credits}}

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Category:1993 singles

Category:Crystal Waters songs

Category:1991 songs

Category:Mercury Records singles