"Happiness Is" by The Verve Pipe

When most people hear The Verve Pipe, they usually remember one of two things. They correctly remember their monster hit called "The Freshman," which graduated to #5 in 1997, or they mistakenly remember the Verve's hit, "Bitter Sweet Symphony." Both are one-hit wonders from the 90s with similar names, but very different bands!

Led by a masterful singer and songwriter, Brian Vander Ark, The Verve Pipe hails from Michigan and scored a lesser-known chart appearance before "The Freshman." Their single, "Photograph," reached #53 in 1996. Both come from their most successful album, "Villains."

The Verve Pipe could not maintain their momentum, and their follow-up singles floundered. The group retooled a bit with 2001's record, "Underneath." It's a shame this record did not spark a comeback for the band. Produced by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), "Underneath" was considerably lighter, energetic, and radio-friendly. "Happiness Is" serves as a fine example.  

In 2004, Brian Vander Ark struck out on a solo career, but reunites with the band to beef up their catalogue with more records, two of which were family-friendly and geared towards children.