Which Reminds Me

Yes, I vaguely remember that Bobby was heard to say that he could never be "happy" in the United States, part of the reason for him to return to the country of his childhood. Even so, I don't understand. Why can't you just translate "alegre" as happy or contented and enough said about that. Why this need to impose a "gay" meaning to what originally meant only festive or lively? That sets up an artificial machinery that ultimately becomes a ridiculous example of "Do-Do." But optionally you could use the word "feliz," another word meaning happy, thus sidestepping the issue entirely and leaving the elucidation of these points to the person who gets stuck with the tail end of that.