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Kirk Franklin Reminds Us What It Takes If You “Wanna Be Happy?”

Kirk Franklin Reminds Us What It Takes If You “Wanna Be Happy?”
Riley Johnson
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  • Riley Johnson covers country music’s legends, tributes, and the stories behind the songs for Country Thang Daily.
  • Her beat includes the Grand Ole Opry, Hall of Fame moments, gospel and faith in country music, and the artists who built the genre.
  • When a legend is honored, remembered, or back in the spotlight, Riley is usually the one writing it.
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In 2015, record producer and singer Kirk Franklin released one of the best contemporary gospel songs of all time, “Wanna Be Happy?” as part of his album, Losing My Religion. 

The album immediately became a top hit among listeners, landing at no.1 on the US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard) and no. 3 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard). It has also been well-taken by international fans, landing at no. 27 on South Korean International Albums (Gaon) and no. 2 on UK Christian & Gospel Albums (OCC). 

RELATED: 15 Best Country Songs About Faith to Strengthen Your Confidence in God and His Word

When his album’s release was announced, it immediately sparked controversy because of the title itself, “Losing My Religion,” and his Facebook post saying, “Helping YOU lose yours is my job.”  However, in an interview, Franklin cleared things up, stating that his goal was to spark conversation, not controversy—and when listeners finally heard the songs, they couldn’t seem to get enough of them!

As we dive right into one of the best tracks on Franklin’s album, “Wanna Be Happy?,” we’ll find out how it ended up being a bop. 

Meaning Behind the Song 

Written by Kirk Franklin and AI Green, the song is simply a reminder to remember God first before we try different things in the pursuit of happiness. 

He is the architect of our lives, and if you really ‘wanna be happy,’ you just need to let ‘Jesus take the wheel.” 

RELATED: The Story Behind The Heart-tugging Song, “Jesus Paid It All”

Franklin is a multi–award–winning gospel singer who made it his goal to use his voice to lead people to God and help their souls. With this song, he indeed sparked a conversation that people will talk about for many years to come.

So if you are looking for the perfect song to remind you about God’s true power, you can listen to Kirk Franklin’s powerful performance of “Wanna Be Happy?” below. 

Kirk Franklin Reminds Us What It Takes If You “Wanna Be Happy?”

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