Let's celebrate: 25 of the best birthday songs

One of the most recognizable celebratory tracks came in 1980 when Stevie Wonder released “Happy Birthday.” The track originally served as a petition to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a federal holiday. 

On Katy Perry’s 2013 single “Birthday,” she puts a different kind of spin on what it means to celebrate. On the track, she uses birthday as more of a figure of speech to describe how to have a good time with her love interest.

2 Chainz is a man who knows what he wants on his 2012 single “Birthday Song.” Teaming up with Kanye West, Chainz doesn’t beat around the bush in highlighting how all he wants for his birthday is a voluptuous woman. 

In 2013, pop singer Selena Gomez released her debut studio album, Stars Dance. Listed as the first track on the album, “Birthday” finds Gomez all about going out and telling everyone that it’s her special day, even if it really isn’t her birthday. 

50 Cent’s 2003 single “In Da Club” isn’t necessarily about celebrating a birthday. It tailors more about going out and partying. However, at the beginning of the track, 50 is giving a shoutout to anyone celebrating their special day, as he raps, “Go shawty, it’s your birthday / We gon’ party like it’s your birthday / We gon’ sip Bacardi like it’s your birthday.” From that line alone, DJs across the world play the track at clubs and parties for people celebrating their born days. 

Produced by Quincy Jones, Lesley Gore’s 1963 single “It’s My Party” is one of the most iconic birthday songs. On the track, Gore details her displeasure with seeing her love interest leave her party and return with another young lady. Naturally, Gore is not happy about it.

In 2011, Rihanna released her sixth album, Talk That Talk. While the album garnered four singles, one of the standout album cuts was “Birthday Cake.” Keep in mind that Rihanna isn’t talking about actual cake here; she’s using it as a simile to describe a sexual rendezvous. It’s evident in the first verse as she says, “It’s not even my birthday / But he wanna lick the icing off / I know you want it in the worst way / Can’t wait to blow my candles out.”

Written by The Beatles band members John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Birthday” highlights the band recognizing a person’s special day and making sure they’re feeling all the love and joy. 

In 2022, pop singer Lizzo released her critically acclaimed fourth album Special. In addition to the three singles, one of the standout tracks is “Birthday Girl” in which Lizzo looks back on her life and celebrates with her loved ones. As she says on the hook, “Is it your birthday girl? / ‘Cause you’re looking like a present / Is it your birthday girl? / Let’s celebrate it.” 

Pop legend Madonna teamed up with M.I.A. on their 2012 collaboration “B-Day Song.” It was a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Madonna's MDNA album, and the track is all about feeling happy on one’s birthday.

R&B legend Usher and superproducer Zaytoven teamed up on their 2018 joint EP, A. One of the standout tracks is “Birthday,” in which Usher wants to make sure a birthday girl is having the time of her life. It’s an anthem for birthday girls to dance to while making sure they get whatever they want. 

It was back in 1962 when former president John F. Kennedy held a gala at Madison Square Garden to celebrate his 45th birthday. Actress Marilyn Monroe came on stage to sing the traditional "Happy Birthday" song. However, she added new verses to make it special for JFK. 

In 1998, Destiny’s Child released their self-titled debut album. Although it wasn’t a single, the track “Birthday” is a ballad about women wanting to cater to their partners for their birthdays. Produced by Tony, Toni, Toné member D’Wayne Wiggins, the slow jam finds the girls singing about celebrating with their partners for a sweet birthday. 

In 2021, rap trio Migos released their fourth and final studio album, Culture III. On the track, Quavo, Offset, and the late Takeoff have no problem rapping about their riches and status. They also highlight how they choose women they're interested in and are willing to spend money on them, especially on their birthdays. 

In 2016, Producer and DJ Kygo teamed up with soulful singer John Legend on their smooth track “Happy Birthday.” The track gives the perspective of a father singing to his daughter, possibly when she was just born, as Legend reflects on how he can’t protect her all the time but will always be there to pick her up when she’s down.

Anne-Marie’s 2020 track “Birthday" is the perfect anthem about not having an excuse to do as you please on your special day, and of course, it's the day when everyone else should be nice to you.

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am teamed up with his label signee Cody Wise on the celebratory track “It’s My Birthday.” On the track, Wise sings about buying whatever he wants and living on his terms because it’s his special day. 

In 2010, rock band Kings of Leon released its fifth studio album, Come Around Sundown. On the track “Birthday,” the band doesn’t necessarily sing about birthdays, but it alludes to spending time and celebrating just like it’s their special day.

T-Pain is no stranger to making party anthems. It was evident on his 2019 track “It’s My Dog’s Birthday.” On the track, T-Pain reflects on how people like going all out for their friends’ birthdays. As he sings on the hook, “It’s my dawg birthday, yeah / We gon’ do whatever we want / Poppin’ bottles, taking shots of Patron / We gon’ do this sh-t all night long.” 

In 2017, R&B singer K. Michelle released her fourth studio album, Kimberly: The People I Used to Know. It was led by the single “Birthday,” in which Michelle sings about catering to and pleasing her partner for their special day. 

The Beatles legend Ringo Starr teamed up with a capella group Pentatonix for their track “Happy Birthday Beautiful.” Penned by award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, the track is all about wishing someone the best on their special day. 

In 1990, pop group New Kids On The Block released their fourth studio album, Step by Step. Although “Happy Birthday” wasn’t released as a single,” it’s the type of track that people want to hear on their born day since it’s all about feeling good for another year older. As they sing in the second verse, “Happy Birthday to you / You’re still young / Age is just a number / Don’t you stop having fun.” 

In 2018, pop-punk band All Time Low released their EP appropriately titled Everything Is Fine On Your Birthday. On the single “Birthday,” All Time Low uses cake as a metaphor for their love desires. As they sing on the hook, “You know I want you in the worst way / I need you like cake on my birthday / The way you operate is so sweet / I need you like cake on my birthday.” 

“Weird Al” Yankovic is the type of creative who knows how to put his spin on songs. He does just that on “Happy Birthday,” in which he takes inspiration from the traditional birthday song but adds his own flair that people should be happy to celebrate their birthday because things could always be worse. 

In 2009, R&B singer Jeremih made waves with his debut single “Birthday Sex.” The song is pretty self-explanatory, and Jeremih highlights how much he wants to celebrate his partner’s special day with a night of love-making.