Scientists and music artist Imogen Heap have collaborated to create a specific song designed to put babies in a good mood. Aptly entitled "The Happy Song," experts conducted an extensive research for two months before releasing the specially-created music.
Child development expert Caspar Addyman and music psychologist Lauren Stewart teamed with the Grammy-winning artist Heap, who also happens to be a mom of an 18-month-old girl. Addyman wrote in The Conversation that he was approached for the project by C & G Baby Club, a baby food company.
"The first step was to discover what was already known about the sounds and music that might make babies happy," Addyman said. They polled 2500 parents to learn what the music should entail.
The scientist specifically wanted a song with a "repetitive main melody" and lots of drum rolls and key changes. He also wanted the song to carry a fast beat, as babies have a higher heart rate than adults.
He also wanted actual baby voices and a female voice recorded into the song as previous studies have shown infants respond to a mom's high-energy voice better, Newsweek reports. Addyman, Stewart and Heap also selected small children, including Heap's daughter, to record specific words that became the lyrics.
Working with Heap seemed meant-to-be as she's known for her soothing voice and music, and she works in the music studio with her baby. The study and collaboration resulted in a special song running two minutes and 42 seconds.
"When 'The Happy Song' played we were met by a sea of entranced little faces," Addyman revealed. "This final bit wasn't the most scientific as tests go but it definitely convinced me we had a hit on our hands."
Listen to "The Happy Song" in the video below. Try it out for your babies and see if it works!
