The Beatles Wrote the Best Birthday Song and John Lennon Hated It
The Beatles‘ The White Album is one of the most famous records of all time. Despite this, few seem to remember that The White Album includes the best birthday song ever. John Lennon wasn’t satisfied with the tune in question. When asked about it, he said it was derived from a big hit from the 1950s.
The Beatles’ ‘The White Album’ includes a birthday song and every other genre
The joy of The White Album is how it wildly careers from genre to genre. The record includes rock ‘n’ roll, pop, folk, blues, ska, a protest song or two, avant-garde music, children’s songs, vaudeville, and early heavy metal. One of the hard-rock numbers from The White Album is an underappreciated tune called “Birthday.”
The tune has a great opening riff. While the Fab Four had become more experimental by the release of “Birthday” in 1968, the track retains some of the simple joy of their early hits. The shouty harmonizing makes it feel kind of like a regular performance of “Happy Birthday to You.” When you listen to the song, it’s as if The Beatles are performing for you at a fantasy birthday party.
Why ‘Birthday’ works better than other birthday songs
Of course, “Birthday” has a lot of competition but it still stands as the best birthday songs ever. Plain ol’ “Happy Birthday to You” just doesn’t cut it anymore. Katy Perry’s “Birthday” is a lot of fun but it’s a little too risque for a family party. Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake” and Selena Gomez’s “Birthday” are even more sexual than Perry’s song.
“In da Club” by 50 Cent mentions partying like it’s your birthday when it’s not your birthday. It’s fun but it’s not a birthday song. “The Unbirthday Song” from Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland is even more explicit about this. Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party” is a great time capsule of early 1960s pop but it only works as a birthday song if your party has gone awry. The Beatles’ “Birthday” is the reigning champion of this type of song.
John Lennon didn’t like the song as much as other Beatles tunes
During a 1980 interview in the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John Lennon discussed the origin of “Birthday.” “‘Birthday’ was written in the studio,” he said. “Just made up on the spot. I think Paul wanted to write a song like ‘Happy Birthday Baby,’ the old ’50s hit. But it was sort of made up in the studio. It was a piece of garbage.”
John revealed he had mixed feelings about The White Album. “I’m not an album person,” the “Imagine” singer explained. “There have only been two great albums that I listened to all the way through when I was about 16. One was Carl Perkins’ first or second, I can’t remember which. And one was Elvis’ first. Those are the only ones on which I really enjoyed every track.
“As I said, I’m not satisfied with any individual or Beatles album,” John added. “There’s too many fill-ins and padding. I like the inspired stuff, not the created, clever stuff. But I do like Pepper for what it is. I like The White Album for what that is, and I like Revolver and I like Rubber Soul.”
John didn’t love “Birthday” but it’s perfect.
