Don’t worry, I’m not going to link to Pharrell Williams’ huge hit “Happy.”  It’s a great song but it’s everywhere and we try to avoid the obvious here at OTE’s music hall.

But I do consider it my responsibility to provide historical context, whether we’re talking inequality trends or pop hits by a falsetto specialist.

Re the latter, Pharrell’s singing reminds me of the immortal Eddie Kendricks from the Temptations.  Here he is in an early hit and if you’re anything like my age, hearing the first few guitar chords here will make you very…happy.

And here’s Kendricks later when he broke out on his own, kickin’ it with Keep on Truckin’ (extended version)–take note of that funky keyboard in the background called a clavichord that was the rage back then (a few years later, Stevie Wonder kills on it in Superstition, as I recall).

I mean, really, why stop when we’ve got the love train rollin’?…let’s just finish right here and call it checkmate for boomers (EK alert at 4:58).

I know…you’re welcome…have a great and funky weekend…