It’s no surprise Ed Miliband chose to soundtrack his Labour conference speech with Pharrell Williams’ Happy. After all, the song begins with the line: “It might seem crazy what I’m about to say,” which almost certainly gears you up for a typically high-octane and unpredictable E-Mili speech in which he imposes a tax on eels and vows to invade Scotland at least twice a year.

On the other hand, the possibility remains that the Labour leader might have chosen Happy not because of it’s coded lyrical messages about foreign policy, but simply because it repeats the words “happy”, “happy” and “happy” over and over again. Perhaps he thinks the British public have become so slack-jawed and apathetic that they will resort to associating the song’s unrelenting positive vibes with everything Miliband says henceforth.

So what of the other songs? The mildly funky Green Garden by Laura Mvula could be sending a radical environmental message about sustainable futures, not least because the ringing bells make it sound like you’re in Glastonbury’s green future’s field, where you have to pedal a bike to peel your own self-grown potatoes. Again, though, the track’s overarching vibe – gospel handclaps, intertwining voices – is probably the real reason behind the choice. Songs like this give you a mildly uplifting feeling while breaking no laws, the herbal highs of the party conference world.

As for Embrace’s Follow You Home … come on, it’s an Ed Miliband speech! What did you expect? 4 bit by Aphex Twin? At the end of the day, Miliband isn’t here to throw a sick rave. He’s more concerned with getting his message across. And his message is as clear as it is bold: Vote Labour and Britain will be vaguely upbeat in a non-threatening manner.