Don't Worry, Be Happy!

A post-disco and funk anthem released in 1980. It is celebrated globally as the ultimate “feel-good” song, characterized by its infectious groove, and simple, unifying message of joy.

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Kool & the Gang
Arranged for Handbells by Ron Mallory

Come on Get Happy: The vibe is wholesome, sunny, and intensely energetic—characteristic of the early 1970s TV-pop era (The Partridge Family) where music was used as a tool for pure escapism. 

Happy Days:  It was designed to feel like a neighborhood party, full of youth and uncomplicated fun. By using a bright major key and constant, building energy, the song creates an atmosphere of pure, sunny optimism that instantly transports the listener to a stylized version of mid-century America.

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A high-energy pop-rock anthem that perfectly captures the “bubblegum” sound of the late 1960s. While written by Neil Diamond, its most famous arrangement (by The Monkees) is defined by its bright, driving tempo and a sense of instant, infectious optimism.

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Neil Diamond
Arranged for Handbells by Sandra Eithun

Happy Together is a masterpiece of 1960s baroque pop, famous for its dramatic contrast between moody, minor-key verses an explosive, major-key chorus. The music captures a sense of dreamlike devotion, while the lyrics describe an ideal relationship. The shifting musical keys give the song a slightly surreal, almost obsessive quality. It feels both grand and intimate, blending the grit of a rock band with the polish of a symphonic pop production.

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Alan Gordon and Garry Bonner
Arranged for Handbells by Nicholas Hanson

A world-renowned pop and folk song characterized by its high-pitched vocal flourishes and repetitive choral chant. It originated in South Africa as an improvised Zulu choral piece titled “Mbube” (meaning lion) by Solomon Linda in 1939.

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George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore
Arranged for Handbells by Tammy Waldrop

Don’t Worry, Be Happy is a landmark acappella track released by Bobby McFerrin in 1988. The song’s distinctive sound is characterized by its entirely vocal “instrumentation,” where McFerrin used overdubbing to layer his own voice to create rhythms, melodies, and harmonies.

Unpublished

Joining the Lawrence Community Handbell Choir for this performance is Kadesh Johnathan Clouden on the steelpan.

Y.M.C.A. is towering anthem of the disco era released in 1978. It is defined by its massive, brass-heavy sound and a rhythmic drive that makes it an instant invitation to the dance floor.

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Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo, & Victor Willis
Arranged for Handbells by Lauran Delancy

Pharrell William’s high-energy explosion of modern soul and neo-soul, Happy is defined by its relentless, foot-tapping rhythm and bright, optimistic atmosphere. Released in 2013 for Despicable Me 2, it became a global phenomenon for its sheer “feel-good” intensity.

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Pharrell Williams
Arranged for Handbells by Ron Mallory

The music captures a sense of profound gratitude and bittersweet parting. It isn’t just a “goodbye” song; the melody feels transformative, mirroring the lyrics’ message that knowing someone can change you “for good” (both permanently and for the better). The final notes are soft and unresolved, leaving a lingering sense of reflection.

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Stephen Schwartz
Arranged for Handbells by Sandra Eithun

A quintessential American country-western song, famously known as the signature theme for The Roy Rogers Show.

Written by Dale Evans in 1951, it was created specifically to serve as a warm, optimistic outro for her and her husband Roy Rogers’ radio and television programs.

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Dale Evans
Arranged for Handbells by Michael Glasgow