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Today, we're doing a complete 180 degree turn from yesterday's "Great Song:" 1971's "Rock and Roll" by Led Zepplin, to a triple chart 1972 debut hit from country music's Donna Fargo.
"The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" is about as "giddy and sugary" as a song can get--written by Donna to evoke the complete happiness of a newlywed.
She pretty much succeeded on that count. Donna originally wanted to call it "The Happiest Girl in the World," but lyrically it didn't fit with the music, so she narrowed it down to the USA, and the rest is history, so to speak.
There was a rumor that Donna was sued by Disney for using the line "Skipity-Doo-Dah Day," which was too close to the classic song "Zippity-Doo-Dah (from the 1949 film "Song of the South"). Although Disney is known for copyright lawsuits, the rumor was false.
Nobody was going to rain on Donna's happiness...including fans and radio listeners, who propelled the song to #1 on Billboard's Country Chart, #7 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, and #11 on The Hot 100. She also won a Grammy for
Best Country Vocal Performance/Female. Pretty darn good for a debut single!
"The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" by Donna Fargo: a "Great Song of 1972!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3Iv3N_RQxA
Tomorrow: Singing up Baby.
Coming Soon: Great Songs of the '80s.
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