Kids love rhythm and they also love breaking the rules.
Adding cha cha cha adds rhythm and bends the Happy Birthday song just enough to make it fun for them, annoying for adults, and off the melody and rhythm of the classic song enough -- as if to say Hey! Look at me! I'm joining in a group celebration but not conforming entirely!
The cha-chas also change the rhythm of the song. As far as I know, it was traditionally sung in 3/4 time (waltz time) like this version (although usually with a slightly less annoying voice!):
When you sing it with with cha cha chas, it usually comes out in 4/4 time (which is the more common rhythmic feel in most popular music):
So I guess I'm trying to say that the cha-chas arguably make the song easier for most people to sing, since it conforms better to other songs that they know.
I don't know who first came up with this arrangement but l
The cha-chas also change the rhythm of the song. As far as I know, it was traditionally sung in 3/4 time (waltz time) like this version (although usually with a slightly less annoying voice!):
When you sing it with with cha cha chas, it usually comes out in 4/4 time (which is the more common rhythmic feel in most popular music):
So I guess I'm trying to say that the cha-chas arguably make the song easier for most people to sing, since it conforms better to other songs that they know.
I don't know who first came up with this arrangement but lots of people have switched between common time and waltz time in other songs. For example, only the first minute or so of this recording (before the drums come in) is actually a waltz, even though it's called “Waltz for Debby”:
One reason this became popular is that kids did this in the Barney show in the early 1990s.
In the first place, many who sing “Happy Birthday to You” are not practiced singers to begin with. They do the best they can, and, one hopes, have fun giving it an enthusiastic try.
Secondly, it’s not the easiest melody to sing. While it’s hardly on par with “The Star Spangled Banner” as a vocal obstacle course, “Happy Birthday to You” does have a couple of tricky bits. There’s an ascending leap ac
In the first place, many who sing “Happy Birthday to You” are not practiced singers to begin with. They do the best they can, and, one hopes, have fun giving it an enthusiastic try.
Secondly, it’s not the easiest melody to sing. While it’s hardly on par with “The Star Spangled Banner” as a vocal obstacle course, “Happy Birthday to You” does have a couple of tricky bits. There’s an ascending leap across an entire octave on the third “Happy Birthday,” and in a few places there are small descending steps that require focus to really nail. Consequently, the tune can go out of tune easily.
To make matters worse, people don’t always pay attention to the key in whi...
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Kids often add "cha cha cha" to the "Happy Birthday" song as a playful and fun way to make the celebration more lively. This addition serves several purposes:
- Rhythm and Energy: The "cha cha cha" adds a rhythmic element that encourages clapping or dancing, making the song more engaging.
- Playfulness: Children enjoy adding silly phrases or sounds to songs, which enhances the festive atmosphere of a birthday party.
- Catchiness: The phrase is catchy and easy to remember, making it a fun addition that kids can easily sing along with.
- Tradition: In some cultures or social circles, adding "cha cha cha" ha
Kids often add "cha cha cha" to the "Happy Birthday" song as a playful and fun way to make the celebration more lively. This addition serves several purposes:
- Rhythm and Energy: The "cha cha cha" adds a rhythmic element that encourages clapping or dancing, making the song more engaging.
- Playfulness: Children enjoy adding silly phrases or sounds to songs, which enhances the festive atmosphere of a birthday party.
- Catchiness: The phrase is catchy and easy to remember, making it a fun addition that kids can easily sing along with.
- Tradition: In some cultures or social circles, adding "cha cha cha" has become a tradition, passed down through generations of birthday celebrations.
Overall, it’s a way for kids to express joy and creativity during a special occasion.
Yes, oddly enough, while the rest of the world sings HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY , at birthday parties, The Aussie-roons, have created a new, funner version that goes,
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you.! Happy birthday dear Sally…… Happy birthday to you…
“Lets have fun on your day,, Let’s enjoy it all day,, may a dingo eat your baby,, happy birthday to you,,,,”
“Let’s all have fun on this day,, have fun on this day,, Maybe Steve Irwin will join us,, lets have fun on this day,
“Hope a croc bites you hard, hope a shark eats you alive,, happy birthday happy birthday,, hope a croc bites you har
Yes, oddly enough, while the rest of the world sings HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY , at birthday parties, The Aussie-roons, have created a new, funner version that goes,
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you.! Happy birthday dear Sally…… Happy birthday to you…
“Lets have fun on your day,, Let’s enjoy it all day,, may a dingo eat your baby,, happy birthday to you,,,,”
“Let’s all have fun on this day,, have fun on this day,, Maybe Steve Irwin will join us,, lets have fun on this day,
“Hope a croc bites you hard, hope a shark eats you alive,, happy birthday happy birthday,, hope a croc bites you hard..”
“May a woodsmans invade your home,, a woodsman invade your home,, hope it bites you and kills you,, may a woodsman invade your home,,.”
“It’s roo hunting season,, it’s roo hunting season,, hope you shoot a big roo… it’s roo hunting season,
“Lets go own to the beach, and roll around on the sand, I hope a great white rips you to shreds, lets go down to the beach.
It’s lovely song.
Many countries sing the American version or British version, of “Happy birthday”, often in English. If you understand History, many countries were ruled by America or Britain for many years.
Hence, many good and bad habits are still followed, and one of the good habit is “Happy Birthday” song.
Middle Eastern, East Asians, East Africans, have their own song in their own language.
A
Do sing whats your pronunciation does … here is the complete lyrics of this song
Holding the drinks with both hands like
Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, no
I'm not thinking about tomorrow when I grab a pint like
Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, no
Wanna mess my head up and be free from worries like
Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, no
And I'll continue until I can't stay in the chair like
A couple of piña coladas have already been consumed
Yet the expression on my face is serious
Yeah, yeah, ye, ye, yeah
There is some time for a few, the night is still youngish
Time to demolish this icy sh
Do sing whats your pronunciation does … here is the complete lyrics of this song
Holding the drinks with both hands like
Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, no
I'm not thinking about tomorrow when I grab a pint like
Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, no
Wanna mess my head up and be free from worries like
Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, no
And I'll continue until I can't stay in the chair like
A couple of piña coladas have already been consumed
Yet the expression on my face is serious
Yeah, yeah, ye, ye, yeah
There is some time for a few, the night is still youngish
Time to demolish this icy shell
The dance floor is calling me 'cause I'm no longer stuck
Like a cha-cha-cha, I'm coming
A really fun-feel-good Happy Birthday song for kids is called “We Love You”. It was released online earlier this year. It is a beautiful song sung by a teacher and the children from Bishop Elementary & Middle School.
It was created by a teacher who was fed-up of all the usual and traditional happy birthday songs, so came up with this which is so fun everyone always loves to hear.
We Love You. By Daniel Dancer and the School children at his School.
Another very funny song for adults and kids is a also hilariously fun and funny.
Happy Birthday! Lets Drink To Your Fading Health! By Adam Sandler.
I gua
A really fun-feel-good Happy Birthday song for kids is called “We Love You”. It was released online earlier this year. It is a beautiful song sung by a teacher and the children from Bishop Elementary & Middle School.
It was created by a teacher who was fed-up of all the usual and traditional happy birthday songs, so came up with this which is so fun everyone always loves to hear.
We Love You. By Daniel Dancer and the School children at his School.
Another very funny song for adults and kids is a also hilariously fun and funny.
Happy Birthday! Lets Drink To Your Fading Health! By Adam Sandler.
I guarantee you will love them both and find the other five fun-tastic including Chipmonks and worm versions of the song, to the classics from Marilyn Monroe and Stevie Wonder
I don’t know of any other song, but I always get a kick out of the reactions of other people when I send them a version of the epic birthday song that I received a few years ago that contains flying turtles and gyrating sheep. Here’s mine.
15 words
“Happy Birthday to You” was first published in 1893 in a book titled Song Stories for the Kindergarten. The song was then titled “Good Morning to All,” with the same melody we all know today. The song was written by two sisters, Mildred and Patty Smith Hill.
Never. Nor have any friends or relatives in a family setting.
HOWEVER. If you play in a community orchestra it is highly likely that a rehearsal will occur during someone’s birthday. Perverted tradition often demands that the orchestra start the first number with “Happy Birthday.” If it is the second oboe then everyone will be told to play happy birthday at the first downbeat leaving the oboe unaware. If it is the conductor then the same thing; his first downbeat will start happy birthday instead of the Rossini overture he was expecting to conduct.
Some orchestras decide the key in which it shou
Never. Nor have any friends or relatives in a family setting.
HOWEVER. If you play in a community orchestra it is highly likely that a rehearsal will occur during someone’s birthday. Perverted tradition often demands that the orchestra start the first number with “Happy Birthday.” If it is the second oboe then everyone will be told to play happy birthday at the first downbeat leaving the oboe unaware. If it is the conductor then the same thing; his first downbeat will start happy birthday instead of the Rossini overture he was expecting to conduct.
Some orchestras decide the key in which it should be played. Some orchestras want everyone to play it at the same time in the key of their choice so that it is a cacophonous mess.
Now as to the “And Many More” tag. After the messy (presumably funny) version there is often someone (usually in the back row where the uninhibited sit) that plays the tag (sloppily) while the rest are laughing and the birthday boy or girl is acknowledging the tribute. (Not me though.)
No not really, some do sing
“Why was he (she) born so beautiful, why was he born at all? Because he (she) had no say in it no say in it all.”
As for the next sentence it depends what state you are in, what cultural background your relatives are from, as they vary markedly. I quite enjoy some of the English ones, not sure about the Welsh one I heard, if you check I am sure you will find plenty of examples. Usually sung in good jest, dads, uncles, aunts and others may start it off, these days a lot of the young ones are either too polite to embarrass the birthday boy or girl, perhaps they may not
No not really, some do sing
“Why was he (she) born so beautiful, why was he born at all? Because he (she) had no say in it no say in it all.”
As for the next sentence it depends what state you are in, what cultural background your relatives are from, as they vary markedly. I quite enjoy some of the English ones, not sure about the Welsh one I heard, if you check I am sure you will find plenty of examples. Usually sung in good jest, dads, uncles, aunts and others may start it off, these days a lot of the young ones are either too polite to embarrass the birthday boy or girl, perhaps they may not know the words.
Hope a sensible answer helps.
It’s an interesting question, and I did some research recently to see if there was a standard key that people sing it in. What I found was that the person who sings loudest first, defines the key. The usually by e end of the first “Happy Birthday to you”, the crowd have picked their key, but everyone always starts in different keys and need to adjust to find the group key. Some people are not good at doing this, so they keep singing in their own dissonant key.
Why? Because the world has adopted English as the international language for world communication, and “Happy Birthday” happens to be sung in English.
HOWEVER in the Latino community in the US (where Spanish is always spoken) I have always heard it sung in SPANISH. So it depends on the community one lives in, and whether there is a version of Happy Birthday in the language being spoken in that community.
I don’t know if there is a version of “Happy Birthday” in Gujarati, Swahili, or Tegalog, do you?
Because everyone wants to make sure they pronounce the name of the Birthday Girl/Boy correctly, and don’t give the wrong name.
People like that???!!! Who??? Oh wait. I guess there are some folks who love nothing more than being the center of attention. And that's certainly one way to be just the thing. Every head turns, even strangers chime in or clap and hoot along. And of course, this is a perfect time to put on display your “oh no, please guys! I'm so embarrassed” face and you know it's adorable! You've been practicing it in the mirror all week long in anticipation of this very moment!
I actually don't really know. This is just my suspicion which I just now realized as I've never considered this question before. Wha
People like that???!!! Who??? Oh wait. I guess there are some folks who love nothing more than being the center of attention. And that's certainly one way to be just the thing. Every head turns, even strangers chime in or clap and hoot along. And of course, this is a perfect time to put on display your “oh no, please guys! I'm so embarrassed” face and you know it's adorable! You've been practicing it in the mirror all week long in anticipation of this very moment!
I actually don't really know. This is just my suspicion which I just now realized as I've never considered this question before. What do you think the reason is that some people like having Happy Birthday sung to them by complete strangers and probably a few waitresses that are rueing you as they do so? I'll see if I can't find any other explaination on my own…
I don’t feel that the ‘i’ is dragged out so much, but the pace is slower. Pronunciation-wise, it is more like /hae-pbi birsday to you/. I like it. Makes me happy thinking about it.
I grew up with the slower pace for the most part, since I didn’t attend many birthday parties other than family ones. I still feel that the “normal” version is a little faster than I’m used to, not that I can’t sing it because English is my first language, but just that at home we sang it a bit slower. My parents tend to sing a lot of songs a little slower, not just Happy Birthday or other songs in English. Maybe it’
I don’t feel that the ‘i’ is dragged out so much, but the pace is slower. Pronunciation-wise, it is more like /hae-pbi birsday to you/. I like it. Makes me happy thinking about it.
I grew up with the slower pace for the most part, since I didn’t attend many birthday parties other than family ones. I still feel that the “normal” version is a little faster than I’m used to, not that I can’t sing it because English is my first language, but just that at home we sang it a bit slower. My parents tend to sing a lot of songs a little slower, not just Happy Birthday or other songs in English. Maybe it’s from the era of ballad singing, and allows them to put more feeling into it.
I like the slightly slower version and dislike the super fast clapping Happy Birthday that feels too rushed to me. The “regular” version still feels a little rushed after 40-some birthdays, but whatever. It’s the thought that counts. :D
The three verses
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear (name)
Happy Birthday to you.From good friends and true,
From old friends and new,
May good luck go with you,
And happiness too.How old are you now?
How old are you now?
How old, How old
How old are you now?
and then maybe add a ‘repeat of the first verse’ (I’ve been out of ‘the music game’ for decades now, but I think we called that “D.C. al Fine”?)
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear (name)
Happy Birthday to you.
with the optional
The three verses
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear (name)
Happy Birthday to you.From good friends and true,
From old friends and new,
May good luck go with you,
And happiness too.How old are you now?
How old are you now?
How old, How old
How old are you now?
and then maybe add a ‘repeat of the first verse’ (I’ve been out of ‘the music game’ for decades now, but I think we called that “D.C. al Fine”?)
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear (name)
Happy Birthday to you.
with the optional
Trying to find a YouTube Vid that used all three verses, I got sucked down a rabbit-hole
They don't.
In German the go to anniversary song is "Hoch Soll Sie/Er Leben", with an entirely different melody. The German melody was also borrowed into Romanian.
Many of the western anniversary song were borrowed and translated into various languages, but they don't all use the "Happy Birthday" melody.
I don’t know for sure. My first thought is that in the native English version, we drag out the ‘th’ in ‘birth’. We say ‘birth’ fast, but the ‘bir’ part goes quickly and we hang on the ‘th’ which bleeds into the beat for ‘day’.
But, the English ‘th’ is a difficult sound for Thais to make because it is not part of their language. The ‘i’ in ‘birth’ is much easier for them to pronounce, so they hang on that, but hanging on the ‘i’ doesn’t sound so good and is hard to do if you say ‘birth’ fast and still want to attempt the ‘rth’ sound (ending ‘r’ is also very hard for Thais, so ‘rth’ is basically
I don’t know for sure. My first thought is that in the native English version, we drag out the ‘th’ in ‘birth’. We say ‘birth’ fast, but the ‘bir’ part goes quickly and we hang on the ‘th’ which bleeds into the beat for ‘day’.
But, the English ‘th’ is a difficult sound for Thais to make because it is not part of their language. The ‘i’ in ‘birth’ is much easier for them to pronounce, so they hang on that, but hanging on the ‘i’ doesn’t sound so good and is hard to do if you say ‘birth’ fast and still want to attempt the ‘rth’ sound (ending ‘r’ is also very hard for Thais, so ‘rth’ is basically a nightmare). Add to that we seem to bleed the ‘th’ into the ‘day’ to make ‘thday’, and you’ve got a pronunciation mess. So, they drag out the ‘i’ and gloss-over the ‘rth’ quickly, maybe silently with a little stop/pause instead of true English ‘rth’ sound.
Disclaimer: I’ve never actually heard the Thai version, just going off of your description.
It has six words, one of which is your name.
And it was — most likely — sung to you once a year for every year you have been alive. And — depending on the size of your family, and how many friends you had, you probably heard it sung at least four or five or ten or fifteen times a year.
Even if you were not taught it (like your multiplication tables or how to spell antidisestablishmentarianism) then I think you probably just picked it up by osmosis.
SIX WORDS!!!!!
No. My BIL does this and it irks me every time I hear it! I don’t know why it bothers me, but it is a minor annoyance.
Some Thai speak decent English, yet the majority of ‘English speakers’ resort to Tinglish (Wikipedia). They mix Thai words, grammar and usage of words/grammar with the English language. This results in funny and sometimes hard to understand sentences.
Happy birthday is part of this. The best way to hear it is by listening to an original English version.
This presents an interesting problem because: The happy birthday song was copyrighted until September 2015
Thai listen
Footnotes
Some Thai speak decent English, yet the majority of ‘English speakers’ resort to Tinglish (Wikipedia). They mix Thai words, grammar and usage of words/grammar with the English language. This results in funny and sometimes hard to understand sentences.
Happy birthday is part of this. The best way to hear it is by listening to an original English version.
This presents an interesting problem because: The happy birthday song was copyrighted until September 2015
Thai listen in tones. And they will pronounce or try to pronounce words as they hear them. To them the word Amsterdam (capital of the Netherlands) spoken by a native Dutch person might be an entirely different word than the same word spoken by a US speaker. Most likely the earlier versions of the Thai happy birthday song developed like this, and each person who listened (without knowing the proper English pronouncing) would amplify the effect.
It’s mainly the lack of exposure to native English speakers, the emphasis on tone in the Thai language (my wife and her sister might speak the same word, I hear two different words until I realise they have the same tone), and being accustomed to the current version that contribute to this phenomena.
And I think it’s cute when I hear my wife or her family sing happy birthday this way.
Footnotes
For me - in celebratory spirit that you have reached another milestone in your existence; that you've made it through all the itshay life has had to offer you, and in offer of my best wishes that the day is a very pleasant - happy - and joyous one on which you look forward gladly to the next day of recognition that you’ve once again . . ..
Born Willie Perry Jr in Chicago where he continued to live, Casper created Cha Cha Slide in 1998 as a musical exercise routine for his personal trainer nephew, and its popularity began to snowball in the Chicago area. The song was signed locally, then by a major label, taking it to an international stage.
Listen to the songs and make your own decision! i.e. Think for yourself!
Google for assistance on the phonetics of the name or ask at a music store.
Why does the Happy birthday song always slow down halfway through when a group sings it?
Not only does it slow down (although I believe that the pausata which usually occurs on the second syllable of the person’s name is actually an integral part of the melody), it invariably changes key just around the syllable “birth-” of the third mention of the word “birthday”, when the group discovers (probably unconsciously) that the song was pitched too high for untrained singers to hit the high nore that occurs on that syllable..
I don’t know. Have you tried the literal birthday song yet? Start singing it. I guarantee you, someone’s bound to join in.
But don’t just barrel into it. There are rules to singing that song. You have to know when’s the perfect time to start and if someone more important than you plans on leading into it themselves.
Do your research. The birthday song. It’s a can’t miss.
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In the Islands of the West Indies, there are certain plants that produce seedpods known as cha-cha. These are used to make a small rattle also known as cha-cha. In Haiti the typical voodoo band consists of three drums, a bell, and a cha-cha. The cha-cha is used by the leader as a guide instrument or "metronome" to set the time in secular dancing as well as in religious music and singing. Thus the dance Cha Cha had its roots in the religious ritual dances of the West Indies.
Cha Cha is derived from two other dances, it is a derivative of the Mambo (Mambo is the name of a voodoo priestess) throug
In the Islands of the West Indies, there are certain plants that produce seedpods known as cha-cha. These are used to make a small rattle also known as cha-cha. In Haiti the typical voodoo band consists of three drums, a bell, and a cha-cha. The cha-cha is used by the leader as a guide instrument or "metronome" to set the time in secular dancing as well as in religious music and singing. Thus the dance Cha Cha had its roots in the religious ritual dances of the West Indies.
Cha Cha is derived from two other dances, it is a derivative of the Mambo (Mambo is the name of a voodoo priestess) through its Latin music and it is also a stepchild of Swing (Lindy, as it is danced with a triple step and a break).
The dance came about in the early 1950's and took America by storm in 1954
I can’t stand it. I hate being the centre of attention for even ten second, but I recognise it’s a tradition that we grow up with. Strangely I quite enjoy singing it to others as I think it shows in a naff way some appreciation and it can momentarily transport us back to happier times.
It’s like Christmas carols, I don’t really care for them yet it sets the scene.
Sorry but how old are you exactly? Have you never heard “Happy Birthday before?”… OK, say the birthday person is called “Tammy”:
# HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR TAMMY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU #
you can substitute “Tammy” for the person’s actual name.
find the tune online.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear……(insert name), happy birthday to you