Pursuit of Happiness (song)

"Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)"
Single by Kid Cudi featuring MGMT and Ratatat
from the album Man on the Moon: The End of Day
ReleasedJanuary 25, 2010
Recorded2009
Genre
Length4:55 (album version)
4:03 (radio edit)
6:13 (Steve Aoki Remix)
6:20 (acoustic version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ratatat
Kid Cudi singles chronology
"Make Her Say"
(2009)
"Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)"
(2010)
"Memories"
(2010)
MGMT singles chronology
"Kids"
(2009)
"Pursuit of Happiness"
(2010)
"Flash Delirium"
(2010)
Ratatat singles chronology
"Mirando"
(2009)
"Pursuit of Happiness"
(2010)
"Party with Children"
(2010)
Music video
Slow party version on YouTube
Music video
Megaforce version on YouTube
Audio sample
"Pursuit of Happiness"

"Pursuit of Happiness" is a song by American musician Kid Cudi, respectively featuring production and vocals from American electronic rock duo Ratatat and American neo-psychedelic act MGMT. The song was officially released on September 15, 2009, as the third single from Cudi's debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009).

The meaning of the song is often misconstrued with being about the positive side of a carefree lifestyle, when rather it tells a dark tale of drinking and driving as well as the regret and pain associated with drug abuse and how it leads to escapism.[1][2]

The song was certified diamond (10 million units) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in December 2022.[3]

  1. ^ "The Meaning of Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness"". 3 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness" Navigates Emotional Highs and Lows". 27 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Kid Cudi's Breakout Song 'Pursuit of Happiness' Earned Diamond Status". UPROXX. 2022-12-17. Retrieved 2022-12-18.