( CNN ) -- There are happy songs -- and then there is `` Happy . '' The bouncy tune by singer/composer/producer/rapper Pharrell Williams has occupied the No . 1 spot on the charts for more than a month . It 's spurred countless covers -- including one by Academy Award-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow , reprising her guest star role in the 100th episode of `` Glee . '' There is even a YouTube version of `` Happy '' that has gone completely to the dogs . What is it about this song , which is so infectiously enjoyable that Meryl Streep had to shimmy to it when Williams performed at the Oscars ? Is it the catchy melody ? Is it the insistent nature of such lyrics as `` Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth '' ? Is it that extra bounce you feel when the back up singers airily croon `` Because I 'm happppppyyyy '' ? Or is it the joy of watching Williams and several other folks dance , bounce and lip-sync along with the song in the music video ? Yes . Simply put , the song is all those things , even as it has managed to seemingly capture the rush of happiness in its lyrics and melody . Not a bad trick for a tune that slowly grew from a single on last summer 's `` Despicable Me 2 '' soundtrack to such popularity that Robert Morast , a writer for the Virginian-Pilot , recently entered into a debate of whether it should be considered for the official state song of Virginia . `` Pharrell 's hit track is a jolt of mood-lifting music , '' wrote Morast , who was more partial to the Carter Family 's `` Can the Circle Be Unbroken . '' `` And while it 's fine to be happy , the best art is crafted with a range of emotional perspectives . '' Even with its slow build , `` Happy '' caught ears from the beginning . Upon release it was quickly dubbed `` an instant contender for 2013 's Song of the Summer '' by Rolling Stone . Since then , it 's topped the charts in more than a dozen countries besides the United States , including the United Kingdom , France , Germany and Poland . Violinist Lindsey Stirling , who 's worked with John Legend and mixes classically styled music with electronic dub-step beats , asks simply , how `` can you not love ( 'Happy ' ) ? '' `` I was with a friend , and when ( 'Happy ' ) came on , her baby started kicking and trying to dance , '' Stirling said . `` We were laughing hysterically and saying 'Even babies love this song . ' `` She said she believes the reason `` Happy '' is so beloved is because of its uplifting message . `` I get so excited when something this positive goes this big , '' said Stirling , whose album `` Shatter Me '' will be released at the end of April . `` It 's spreading good feelings and is n't at all controversial . It 's just something that is making people really happy . '' Williams has partnered with the United Nations Foundation in celebration of Thursday 's International Day of Happiness , encouraging fans to donate to the organization and submit content to his 24Hoursof Happiness.com site . Visitors were asked to tag their submissions , be they dancing , singing or just `` being happy '' with the # HappyDay . At noon Thursday , in each time zone around the world , Williams will highlight some of the best . `` Happy '' is also one of the lead singles on Williams new album `` Girl , '' which has already shot to No . 1 in almost 80 countries and on streaming music giant Spotify . The singer is overwhelmed by the goodwill . `` This is probably the most I 've ever been humbled in my entire life , '' Williams told the Los Angeles Times about his song and the reaction to it . `` Because it 's something bigger than me , bigger than anything I 've ever done . '' No doubt that makes him happy .
Fans across the globe claim to be in love with the infectious ` ` Happy '' The song has gone to No . 1 in more than a dozen countries . Pharrell says he is surprised by the reaction .