Birthdays are those special days in each and everybody's lives when we get to be the stars of the family for 24hours. We get to wear those special occassion dresses and eat jollof rice garnished with spices and big turkey and not to forget my favorite part, get to play silly pranks with each and everybody and get away with it since everybody is out to make you happy.
It is also a time for reflection and taking stock of our lives as we get older. As a Guy, your family might subtly start weighing your life achievements with that your goody two shoes friend who now has a good job and a small car that he cruises round town. As a babe, that could be far worse has your mum would be disturbing you about when you are going to bring "MR. MAN" not "MR. RIGHT" to the house, because all your other friends have found someone to seize their last names.
Oh Birthdays! Source of joys to some and cringe to others. Oh well, That is not what this is about.
The "Happy Birthday to You" Song Which was Published in 1893 as a form Folk song by Writer Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill (Sisters) is.
"Happy Birthday to You", popularly known as "Happy Birthday", is a song that is traditionally sung to celebrate the anniversary of a person's birth.
According to the 1998 Guinness World Records, "Happy Birthday to You" is the most recognized song in the English language,the song's base lyrics has even been translated into at least 18 languages I am not sur if Yoruba my main dialect is one of them though.
The tune of "Happy Birthday to You" was from the song "Good Morning to All",which American siblings Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill in composed in 1893. Once again, the importance of team cannot be overemphasised and to do things together as a family, it transcends time.
Patty Hill was a principal in Louisville, Kentucky, developing various teaching methods while her sister Mildred was a pianist and composer.
The sisters used "Good Morning to All" as a song to teach young children but The combination of melody and lyrics in "Happy Birthday to You" first appeared in print in 1912, and probably existed even earlier.
It is worthy of note that of the early appearances of the "Happy Birthday to You" lyrics included credits or copyright notices so The Summy Company registered a copyright in 1935, crediting authors Preston Ware Orem and Mrs. R. R. Forman.
This is also another lesson to learn, that inspiration you work hard to create, patent it quickly or else another person might do it and take credit and monetary benefits for your efforts. (That's what most employers do anyways. You invent it and they patent it in their name)
In 1988, Warner/Chappell Music purchased the company owning the copyright for US$25 million, with the value of "Happy Birthday" estimated at US$5 million,the song is the highest earning single song in history, with estimated earnings since its creation of US$50 million.
The song however has been a subject to many a litigation process a many companies want their own piece of it's proverbial cake.
So short the song, yet it has connected to millions of hearts, families and of course purses. Ladies and Gentlemen, we present the lyrics of this evergreen and wonderful piece:
Lyrics
"Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear Adekunfola
Happy birthday to you.
Lyrics with the melody
Traditions
It is traditional, among English-speakers, that at a birthday party, the song "Happy Birthday to You" be sung to the birthday person by the other guests celebrating the birthday. More specifically, the birthday person is traditionally presented with a birthday cake with lit candles, with the number of candles sometimes corresponding to the age of the person. After the song is sung (usually just once), party guests sometimes add wishes like "and many more!" expressing the hope that the birthday person will enjoy a long life. The birthday person may be asked to make a wish ("Make a wish!")—which he or she does silently—and then is supposed to blow out the candles. Traditionally, blowing out of the candles is believed to ensure that the wish will come true. Once the candles have been blown out, people may applaud, after which the cake may be served, often with the first piece being served to the person whose birthday it is.
In Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Ireland, after "Happy Birthday" has been sung, it is traditional for one of the guests to enthusiastically lead with "Hip hip..." and then for all of the other guests to join in and say "...hooray!" This is normally repeated three times. In Canada, especially at children's birthdays, immediately after "Happy Birthday" has been sung, the singers segue into "How old are you now? How old are you now? How old are you now-ow, how old are you now?,"
Oh birthdays! So when next you have the chance to sing this beautiful melody at a birthday Bash, remember, it took some two people out of inspiration to create something so small and something to phenomenal.
Come to think of it, this article too, is small yet it was created through the birthday inspiration, many more could still pop up though.
Get inspired and create something.
Until next time on Evergreen Tunes with Angel Dharmmy, Please and Please wish my baby ADEKUNFOLA AJIFELA IBIYEMI a wonderful and glorious first birthday.
-ciao
Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner/Chappell_Music
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
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