An explanation of the history and evolution of the famous birthday song, “Happy Birthday to You”.
This paper explains the roots of the song, which was written in 1893 by Mildred Hill. It discusses its popularity and reasons why it is so universal. It provides a history of its development and discusses some of its more famous features.
“”Happy Birthday to You” has become one of the world’s most beloved and popular songs. The simple lyrics, melody, and its constant presence likely play a large part in the song’s ongoing popularity. It was originally titled “Good Morning to All”, and designed for teachers to sing to their students. Over time, the lyrics evolved into the familiar “Happy Birthday” to you, and the song soon was present around the world. The copyrighted song earns a stunning estimated two million USD each year for its use for commercial purposes as diverse as movies and musical birthday cards.”