Happiness is... a Beautiful Day, on Full Blast

Happiness is... a Beautiful Day, on Full Blast

LONDON, November 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --



Britain is a nation of happiness and inspiration seekers when it comes to music with a
whopping nine out of ten people (95 per cent) boldly claiming that tunes have the power to
evoke happy memories. Music's ability to rouse and move also scored similarly highly with
93 per cent of people regarding their favourite song as inspiring.



The research, conducted on behalf of cruise company Royal Caribbean International,
also found that we are a nation of passionate music lovers with three-quarters of people
(74 per cent) stating that music is important to them. People also agreed that music
enhanced memories with about a third (31 per cent) re-living their favourite holiday
memories on cue to a particular track.



The research coincides with the announcement that new ship, Anthem of the Seas, will
become the most entertainment-dedicated and technologically advanced cruise ship ever to
be based in the UK when it launches in spring 2015.



As part of the research, music industry expert, author and DJ, Stuart Maconie,
selected five anthems - both recently popular and traditional - and asked the nation to
choose the song that makes them the happiest. The top three tunes - U2's Beautiful Day
with 36 per cent of the vote; the Beatles' Hey Jude with 28 per cent of the vote; and
Hubert Parry's Jerusalem with 22 per cent - reflect the diversity of tunes that reach
anthem status.



When choosing an anthem, people were also asked what qualifies a piece of music to
become anthemic in status. Music's clear association with optimism was also evident in the
results with 44 per cent looking for a song to rouse their spirits, and 23 per cent after
a song that brings people together. Just seven per cent of people looked for a tune that
they could sing along to, reinforcing that a strong anthem is more than just a catchy
song.



Stuart Maconie comments



"Making people happy, energised, inspired or passionate is a phenomenal attribute of
music in general, and one that a great anthem can universally deliver. We often overlook
the power of music to enhance our everyday lives, to soundtrack it. to celebrate it. The
ability of a piece of music to capture the feeling of a positive moment, and then being
able to recreate the emotional experience each time it is heard is very special. No wonder
music is so important in so many people's lives."



Respondents who stated that they have one outright favourite song further endorsed the
joy-enhancing qualities of music with 89 per cent finding that this track had the power to
make them feel happy.



As the name suggests, Anthem of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International will
include some of the most technologically advanced music and entertainment spaces in the
world. This includes Music Hall at the heart of the ship's music scene and built to
showcase the best in live music, and venue Two70degree(s), named for its magnificent
270-degree panoramic sea views provided by vast, floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Featuring a
three storey bar, and huge entertainment spaces, Two70degree(s) offers entertainment
technology so advanced that it is only found in two other locations in the world.



Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, explains:



"Brits have shaped the music world and really know their music, and our new ship,
Anthem of the Seas, has music at its heart. Basing a new ship in Southampton shows our
commitment to the UK and is also a bold statement of our confidence to continue to be
leaders of innovation in music and entertainment. We look forward to bringing Anthem of
the Seas to the UK to deliver amazing memories and experiences."



Anthem of the Seas will launch in spring 2015 and sail from Southampton during the
summer and autumn, before heading to Fort Lauderdale in Florida for the winter months. A
sister-ship, Quantum of the Seas will launch in November 2014.



For more information on Anthem of the Seas, and Royal Caribbean International's
award-winning holiday and entertainment experiences, please visit
http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.



Media can stay up to date by following @MyRoyalUK #Anthem on Twitter, and visiting
http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com and
http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/anthemoftheseas



Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalcaribbeanuk and see pictures
on Instagram: http://instagram.com/royalcaribbeanuk



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About Royal Caribbean International:



Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 innovative ships,
calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also
offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia
and New Zealand.



Notes to editors:



All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,043
adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 15th - 18th November 2013. The survey was carried
out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged
18+).



Research Highlights:




- Britain is a nation of music lovers with 3/4 of people (74%) saying music
is important to them
- Perhaps surprisingly, the figure is slightly higher for women than for men
- 76% compared with 71%
- When asked what makes a song an anthem, the overwhelming choice was a song
that rouses the spirits, with 44% of people defining it in that way
- 9 out of 10 people (89%) say their favourite song has the power to make them
happy
- 91% women, 88% men
- More than 9 out of 10 people feel that music can be inspirational (93%)
- 96% women, 91% men
- When asked which of the songs from the list had the power to make them
feel happy, more than a third (36%) opted for U2's It's a Beautiful Day, followed by
The Beatles' classic Hey Jude (28%)
- Music is strongly associated with memory. When asked if music could evoke
happy memories, the response was almost universal, with 95% of people agreeing that it
can:
- This breaks down as 67% strongly agreed and 27% tend to agree
- This is significantly higher for women than for men, with almost three
quarters of women (72%) saying music can have this effect compared with six out of
ten men (60%)
- When asked is there a particular song that brings back memories, people
responded as follows:
- A break up - 20%
- A wedding - 21%
- A holiday - 31%
- A romance - 36%



- When asked what defines an anthem, people responded as follows:
- A song that brings people together - 23%
- Something I can sing along to - 7%
- A song that perfectly captures my emotions - 14%
- A song that rouses the spirits - 44%


Royal Caribbean International

CONTACT: Media Enquiries: Royal Caribbean International: Katherine Hill (katherinehill@rccl.com), Louise James (louisejames@rccl.com) or Surinder Manku (smanku@rccl.com) on 01932 834 200. Siren Communications: Sarah Rathbone (sarah.rathbone@sirencomms.com), Matt Chandler (matt.chandler@sirencomms.com), or Kate O'Brien (kate.obrien@sirencomms.com) on 020 7759 1150 / 07595 055 882. TVC Group: Anne Ryan (anne.ryan@tvcgroup.com) or Loren Gould (loren.gould@tvcgroup.com) on 020 7380 8000


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