John Legend, Ed Sheeran Join U.N. To Create ‘World’S Happiest Playlist
John Legend and Ed Sheeran have joined forces with the United Nations to create “the world’s happiest playlist” to celebrate International Day of Happiness. In partnership with music streaming service MixRadio, the U.N. has enlisted a roster of artists, including David Guetta, James Blunt, Cody Simpson and Charlize Theron, to launch its weeklong #HappySoundsLike campaign. According to the U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, the whole essence is to show solidarity with the millions of people around the world suffering from poverty, human rights abuses, humanitarian crises and the effects of environmental degradation and climate change using music as a universal language. Ban’s nomination for the playlist is U.N. Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder’s 1970 hit “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.”
Fans are encouraged to contribute to the playlist by posting the song that makes them happiest with the hashtag #HappySoundsLike. Simpson will select five of the fan-nominated tracks to include on the official playlist, which will become available to the public on Friday, March 20th at happysoundslike.com. The U.N. General Assembly established International Day of Happiness in 2012 to acknowledge that “the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal” and to recognize “the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples,” according to the resolution.
Last year’s International Day of Happiness featured Pharrell Williams’ 24 Hours of Happiness campaign, in which fans posted YouTube videos of themselves “demonstrating their happiness” to Pharrell’s track “Happy.”
