Flashback Video: 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin

Ever since the dawn of MTV and Friday Night Videos, the music video has significantly impacted musical tastes and pop culture. It might not be as extreme as when the Buggles declared that "Video Killed the Radio Star", but there is no arguing that the music video certainly could make or break a song's popularity. So this regular Flashback Video feature will serve to remember some of the music videos from the great '80s decade that made an impact on me in one way or another.

This issue we will cover "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin. The single was released in the summer of 1988 and became a surprising hit due to its unique sound and message as well as being part of the soundtrack for Tom Cruise film Cocktail. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and held the top spot for 2 weeks in late September. At the 1989 Grammy Awards, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" won the awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The song took the radio airwaves and MTV airwaves by storm.

The playful music video for "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was directed by Drew Takahashi who was co-founder of Colossal Pictures. In 1981, Colossal began producing dozens of network IDs for MTV, which led to the company receiving more high-profile clients including Nickelodeon, Levi's, and Coca-Cola in addition to other television and film production. Takahashi has very little credited directing experience and had only done the Thomas Dolby music video for "Airhead" prior to working on this Bobby McFerrin video.

In addition to Bobby McFerrin himself, the music video for "Don't Worry, Be Happy" features the one and only Robin Williams as well as Bill Irwin, the vaudeville-style performer maybe best recognized as Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street. You can't go wrong having the dynamic Robin Williams in your video and, in this one, he was dressed in different outfits throughout while performing some silly dances. The video would cut back and forth from the three guys goofing around to McFerrin sitting in a chair wearing a white tuxedo performing the song. Though it was on the soundtrack to Cocktail, the movie is not referenced in the video though it would've been fun to see Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue dancing around with Bobby.

Here is the music video for "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin...

Many people profess to hating this song for whatever reason, but regardless you can't hate on its very playful and very '80s music video.

Hope you enjoyed another trip back to the '80s thanks to Flashback Video!