Happenin' All Over Again

"Happenin' All Over Again" is a song written and produced by Stock Aitken & Waterman (SAW) for American singer Lonnie Gordon's first album, If I Have to Stand Alone (1990). The song mixed SAW's Europop sound with the blooming Italo house music which was becoming big in the UK charts at the time. It was released as the album's second single on January 15, 1990, and reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, but this 1990 version was never released in the US. A different version of the song was included on Gordon's 1993 album Bad Mood, and this version was released as a US single in 1993, peaking at number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number one on the Billboard Dance chart. In 1998, Gordon recorded the song for a second time and released it as a single.

"Happenin' All Over Again"
Single by Lonnie Gordon
from the album If I Have to Stand Alone and Bad Mood
Released	January 15, 1990 (1990-01-15)^[1]
Genre	Eurodance, dance-pop
Length	3:21
Label	SBK
Songwriter(s)	Matt Aitken, Mike Stock, Pete Waterman
Producer(s)	Stock Aitken Waterman
Lonnie Gordon singles chronology
"It's Not Over (Let No Man Put Asunder)" (1989) "Happenin' All Over Again" (1990) "Beyond Your Wildest Dreams" (1990)
Alternative cover
1993 remix single cover
Alternative cover
1998 single cover
Music video
"Happenin' All Over Again" on YouTube

Background and writing

The background of the song — specifically, who it was originally written for — has long been a source of rumour and dispute.^[2] According to Gordon, and numerous published reports, it had been originally written for Donna Summer, but due to a falling-out with the producers, she never recorded it, and instead it was given to Gordon.^[3] Fellow SAW artist Hazell Dean has suggested she was once in the running to be assigned the track.^[2] The Donna Summer story has been denied by composer Mike Stock, and Supreme Records label chief, Nick East, who both insist it was an original composition written specifically for Gordon.^[2] The SAW version was mixed by Phil Harding, who emphasised the Hip House and Italo house elements.^[2]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It shows Gordon performing a choreographed dance along with two female and a male dancers, and others shots display Gordon singing under an umbrella. It was published on PWL's official YouTube channel in December 2016. The video has amassed more than 1.3 million views as of March 2024.^[4]

Critical reception

Initial response

Larry Flick from Billboard complimented the song, noting that Gordon's "fierce, sweet'n'sour performance is diva-supreme."^[5] David Giles from Music Week called it an "outstanding pop/disco record", adding that "it betrays a healthy obsession with Seventies dance music right down to the very "showbizzy" chord changes."^[6] The magazine also said it's "one of the year's finest songs" and put it at number 6 in their Top 10 list, "Pick of the Year – Mainstream Singles".^[7] William Shaw from Smash Hits wrote that "it's one of those unstoppable thumping rhythms with a gloriously loud tune belted out over the top by the formidable Ms Gordon", adding that "this is the absolute stuff."^[8] Iestyn George of Record Mirror considered the song's title funny as it was a SAW production, but added that "this is an above average disco/pop romp reminiscent of Donna Summer's recent stuff", which refers to the album Another Place and Time.^[9]

Impact and legacy

In 2014, Matt Dunn of WhatCulture ranked the song at number 6 in his "15 unforgettable Stock Aitken Waterman singles" list, stating that "its sound was edgier and more contemporary than most PWL output of the era".^[10] In 2021, British magazine Classic Pop ranked it number 22 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs". They wrote, "On a song originally intended for Donna Summer, phasing arpeggios were the order of the day in the PWL studio for "Happenin' All Over Again", soon to become the sophomore single from Lonnie Gordon's debut album If I Have to Stand Alone. Mixed by Phil Harding, those Italo house influences are evident amongst the Euro dance-pop aura, leading to a well-earned Top 5 UK hit. Later on, in 1998, Coronation Street's Tracy Shaw had a crack at it and clawed her way to No.46 (best forgotten)."^[11] In 2023, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian listed the song at number 14 in his "Stock Aitken Waterman's 20 greatest songs – ranked!", adding that it proves that "Waterman had cut his teeth as a DJ in the 70s when the sound of northern soul seeped into SAW’s productions".^[12]

Chart performance

Worldwide, "Happenin' All Over Again" became by far Gordon's most successful single. In the UK, the original version started at number 32 on January 27, 1990, then climbed to number nine, peaked at number four twice, and stayed on the chart for ten weeks;^[13] similarly, it made the top-three and charted for six weeks in Ireland, which was the song's highest placement for the 1990 version.^[14] It also peaked inside the top-ten in Finland and the top-20 in Sweden, reaching number eight and 14, respectively,^[15][16] was a top-25 hit in France and the Flanders part of Belgium,^[17][18] and a top-40 hit in the Netherlands where it stalled at number 34.^[19] In addition, it attained number 44 in Germany, spending four weeks in the top-50 out of a ten-week chart run.^[20] On the Pan-European Hot 100 Singles chart compiled by Music & Media, it entered at number 77 on February 3, 1990, reached a peak of number nine two weeks later,^[21] a position it held for consecutive two weeks, and appeared on the chart for a total of 12 weeks divided into two segments with a 14-week hiatus due to its release in June 1990 in France. It also charted for seven weeks on the European Airplay Top 50, with a peak at number eight in its penultimate week.^[22] Outside Europe, it stalled under the top 30 in Australia and New Zealand where it reached number 33 and 43, respectively.^[23][24]

Unlike the original version which was not released in North America, the remixed version included on Gordon's second album Bad Mood charted three years later in the US, peaking at number 98 for two weeks on the Billboard' Hot 100 in November 1993.^[25] It was the singer's third and last single, after "Gonna Catch You" and "Bad Mood", to top the US Dance Club Play, a position it reached in its eighth week out of a 13-week chart run.^[26]

Track listings

• CD single

1. "Happenin' All Over Again" (hip house mix)
2. "Happenin' All Over Again" (Italiano house mix)
3. "Happenin' All Over Again" (senza voce)

• CD single (Belgium)

1. "Happenin' All Over Again" (hip house radio mix) – 3:20
2. "Happenin' All Over Again" (hip house mix) – 5:36
3. "Happenin' All Over Again" (Italiano house mix) – 6:45
4. "Right Before My Eyes" (The blind house mix) – 6:12

• 12-inch single

1. "Happenin' All Over Again" (hip house mix)
2. "Happenin' All Over Again" (Italiano house mix)
3. "Right Before My Eyes" (The blind house mix)

• 7-inch single

1. "Happenin' All Over Again" (hip house radio mix) – 3:20
2. "Happenin' All Over Again" (senza voce) – 3:36

• CD single (1993 US remix)

1. "Happenin' All Over Again" (LP version) 3:30
2. "Happenin' All Over Again" (Tony king's hip hop mix) 5:30
3. "Happenin' All Over Again" (Jewels & stone club mix) 6:20
4. "Happenin' All Over Again" (Jumpin' johnny jay's r&b mix) 5:22
5. "Happenin' All Over Again" (Pwl's original mix – extended version) 5:55

Charts

Original version 1990 weekly chart performance for "Happenin' All Over Again" Chart (1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[23] 33 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[18] 25 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[21] 9 Europe (European Airplay Top 50)^[22] 8 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[15] 8 France (SNEP)^[17] 24 Ireland (IRMA)^[14] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[19] 34 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27] 35 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[24] 43 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[16] 14 UK Singles (OCC)^[13] 4 UK Dance (Music Week)^[28] 5 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[20] 44

1993 remix 1993–1994 weekly chart performance for "Happenin' All Over Again" Chart (1993–1994) Peak position Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)^[29] 8 US Billboard Hot 100^[25] 98 US Dance Club Play (Billboard)^[26] 1 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)^[30] 31

Young Divas version

"Happenin' All Over Again"
Single by Young Divas
from the album Young Divas
Released	November 11, 2006 (2006-11-11)
Length	3:28
Label	Sony BMG
Songwriter(s)	Matt Aitken, Mike Stock, Pete Waterman
Producer(s)	George Papapetros, Max Kourilov
Young Divas singles chronology
"This Time I Know It's for Real" (2006) "Happenin' All Over Again" (2006) "Searchin'" (2007)

Australian girl group Young Divas covered "Happenin' All Over Again" for their self-titled debut album Young Divas. It was produced by George Papapetros and Max Kourilov, and released as the second single from the album on November 11, 2006.^[31] The song peaked at number nine on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for shipments of 35,000 copies. The music video for "Happenin' All Over Again" features the Young Divas singing and dancing in front of a white backdrop.^[32]

Track listing

CD single

1. "Happenin' All Over Again"
2. "Happenin' All Over Again" (Extended Remix)
3. "This Time I Know It's for Real" (Music Video)

Credits and personnel

• Songwriting – Matt Aitken, Mike Stock, Pete Waterman
• Production – George Papapetros, Max Kourilov
• Mixing – George Papapetros, Max Kourilov
• Mastering – Tom Coyne

Charts

Weekly chart Chart (2006) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[33] 9

Year-end charts Chart (2006) Rank Australia (ARIA)^[34] 72 Australian Arists (ARIA)^[35] 21

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[36]	Gold	35,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other covers

In mid-1998, former Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw released a cover version of "Happenin' All Over Again" that reached number 46 on the UK Singles Chart. Her character Maxine Heavey also sang it in the Coronation Street special "Viva Las Vegas".

References

1. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. January 13, 1990. p. 27. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
2. "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 54: Happenin' All Over Again on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
3. . freeserve.co.uk. Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
4. "Lonnie Gordon - Happenin' All Over Again (Official Video) [Remastered in 4K]". YouTube. December 2, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
5. Flick, Larry (September 11, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 53. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
6. Giles, David (January 13, 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
7. "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 22, 1990. p. 10. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
8. Shaw, William (January 24, 1990). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 291. p. 46. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
9. George, Iestyn (January 27, 1990). "Singles reviewed by Iestyn George" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 14. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via World Radio History.
10. Dunn, Matt (January 16, 2014). "15 unforgettable Stock Aitken Waterman singles". WhatCulture. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
11. "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs". Classic Pop. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
12. Petridis, Alexis (November 23, 2023). "Stock Aitken Waterman's 20 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
13. "Lonnie Gordon: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Happenin' All Over Again". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
15. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
16. "Lonnie Gordon – Happenin' All Over Again". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
17. "Lonnie Gordon – Happenin' All Over Again" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
18. "Lonnie Gordon – Happenin' All Over Again" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Lonnie Gordon – Happenin' All Over Again" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
21. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 7. February 17, 1990. p. IV. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
22. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 10. March 10, 1990. p. III. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via World Radio History.
23. "Lonnie Gordon – Happenin' All Over Again". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
24. "Lonnie Gordon – Happenin' All Over Again". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
25. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. November 13, 1993. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
26. "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. November 13, 1993. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
27. "Lonnie Gordon – Happenin' All Over Again" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
28. "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. February 3, 1990. p. 36. Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via World Radio History.
29. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2338." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
30. "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. September 18, 1993. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
31. . Sony BMG. Archived from the original on September 5, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
32. "Video: Happenin' All Over Again". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
33. "Young Divas – Happenin' All Over Again". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
34. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2006". ARIA. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
35. "ARIA Top 50 Australian Singles for 2006". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
36. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 16, 2022.