Maps of Music

Happiness Begins (2019)

Where the lyrics of Happiness Begins take you, and where it was really made.

Ryan Tedder said some songs on this comeback album were written in about 90 minutes and demoed by dinner.

Key places

Westlake Recording Studios (2019)

Recording site Westlake Recording Studios — Westlake Recording Studios is listed among the recording locations for the album. The point uses the studio's listed coordinates in Los Angeles. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Medley Studios (2019)

Recording site Medley Studios — Medley Studios is listed as a recording location for the album. The point uses the studio's listed coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

MXM Studios in Stockholm (2019)

Recording site Master Plan — MXM Studios is listed as a recording location for the album. Only the city center is known, so the point marks Stockholm rather than the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

MixStar Studios (2019)

Recording site MixStar Studios — MixStar Studios is listed as the mixing location for the album. The point uses the studio's listed coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cover shot in Palm Springs (2019)

Album cover Palm Springs — Peggy Sirota photographed the cover with the three members by a pool at a villa in Palm Springs. The point marks the city, not the villa. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Happiness Begins: fifth studio album by the American pop rock band Jonas Brothers
• Released June 7, 2019 through Republic Records
• First studio album since Lines, Vines and Trying Times (2009)
• First original material released by the group since their reunion on February 28, 2019
• Marked a departure from the more pop rock-oriented sound of their previous albums
• Pop album built around feel-good tracks and a "new and improved sound"

Background

• Band announced its comeback via social media on February 28, 2019
• Lead single "Sucker" released March 1, 2019, their first release under Republic Records
• Album announced on April 22, 2019; it was set to break a decade-long album drought after 2013's LiVe
• Preceded by the documentary Chasing Happiness, which premiered June 4 on Amazon Prime Video
• The documentary covers the band's journey from their 2013 break-up to the early 2019 reunion

Recording

• Republic A&R Wendy Goldstein brought in Ryan Tedder, Greg Kurstin and Justin Tranter to compose and produce songs
• Joel Little, Mike Sabath and Shellback also worked as producers
• Tedder said songs were written in about 90 minutes and demoed by dinner

Cover

• Cover photograph by Peggy Sirota
• Shows the three members lying by a pool at a villa in Palm Springs

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in 2005 as an American pop rock band of brothers Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas.
• Raised in Wyckoff, New Jersey; moved to Little Falls, New Jersey in 2005, where they wrote their first record.
• Signed to Columbia Records after Steve Greenberg heard their first song "Please Be Mine"; the name Jonas Brothers was chosen over "Sons of Jonas".

Members

• Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas.

Career

• Gained popularity through Disney Channel, starring in Camp Rock (2008) and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010), and the series Jonas.
• Released seven studio albums from It's About Time (2006) to Greetings from Your Hometown (2025).
• Nominated for Best New Artist at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2008; won Breakthrough Artist at the American Music Awards.
• Split in 2011 for solo projects, reunited in 2019 with "Sucker", their first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Happiness Begins (2019) topped the Billboard 200; The Album (2023) and Greetings from Your Hometown (2025) followed.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critics gave the album generally positive reviews, praising its production values and upbeat pop sound
• The Independent: Roisin O'Connor called it the best pop comeback of the year and likely one of the best pop albums
• AllMusic: Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave four out of five stars and said the album was designed to push the Jonas Brothers back into the big time
• Variety: A.D. Amorosi wrote that the record shows the brothers never lost their familial vibe
• Pitchfork: Olivia Horn called it a respectable showing from a group that has long deserved more respect
• Consequence: Christopher Thiessen called it the best effort the brothers have put forth in their career together or separately
• Vulture: Craig Jenkins said that as reunions go, the album is the best possible outcome
• Uproxx: Chloe Gilke wrote that the group's sound evolved to fit their songwriting and the pop trends of 2019

Reappraisal

• Some reviewers called it a welcomed reunion for the band
• Critics noted the album captured the band's mature essence while keeping the charm of their early years

Records

• US Billboard 200 debut at number one with 414,000 album-equivalent units, 357,000 of them pure sales
• Fourth US number-one album for the group
• Canada debut at number one with 36,000 album-equivalent units
• Over one million units sold in the United States, certified platinum by the RIAA
• Gold or higher certifications in Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland and Singapore
• 17th best-selling album of 2019 with 620,000 copies sold worldwide

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The lead single Sucker debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the band's first number one there
• Sucker was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards and won Best Pop Video among four MTV Video Music Awards categories
• Kevin Jonas said he was most proud of the album when the brothers shared the news separately
• The Happiness Begins Tour began August 7, 2019 and played 92 shows in North America and Europe
• Only Human peaked at number 18 on the Hot 100, and Cool peaked at number 27
• Chasing Happiness was released on Amazon Prime Video the day after its premiere, following the band's reunion story

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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