At the beginning of the career-chronicling documentary, 10 Moments That Made Pharrell Williams (1Xtra), the ubiquitous megastar speaks about the need for the "collective consciousness" to "smile" after being desensitised to the horrors occurring in the world. Cue his track Happy, offered here as an opiate for the masses. But how did this skater kid from Virginia Beach become the cat in the (massive, Vivienne Westwood) hat? Leafing through the Radio 1 and 1Xtra archives, Trevor Nelson attempts to tells his story.

It's classic American Dream stuff. After growing up in a deprived neighbourhood surrounded by Bon Jovi fans, teen Pharrell wins a talent show and signs with New Jack Swing pioneer Teddy Riley, before winding his way to pop supremacy. Could it really have been that easy? We never really find out, because 10 Moments … is a drama-free hagiography. These work if the talking heads are engaging and if the detours taken feel like the logical ones; neither is the case here. You almost nod off when the likes of DJ Semtex or rapper Noreaga offer limited insight.

Pharrell himself only lightens up in the clip where he's talking about how much he enjoys Rice Krispie Treats and Lucky Charms when relaxing in his massive house ("It's like The Shining!"). Some of Nelson's 10 Moments feel unadventurous or purposefully contrary. Do we really need to hear Get Lucky ever again (especially at the expense of Got Your Money or Hot In Herre)? And what's with the choice of Jay-Z's I Just Wanna Love You over Pharrell's breakthrough work on Kelis' Kaleidoscope – an album that anointed him as a 21st-century pop god? I'm sure there's an interesting take on how Pharrell transformed himself from backroom hit maker to cultural monolith, but this isn't it.

If you can get past DJ Goldielocks' abrasively enthusiastic school of presenting, then her music show The Selector (Selector Radio) is a refreshing alternative to 6 Music: eclectic mixes, minimum chat.