Birthday Chorale

Most of us like to be acknowledged on our birthdays. On a Sunday, what would be better than a birthday chorale singing in our honor?

When I first posted this, it was my wife’s birthday and she was directing the children’s ministry at our church. Since her birthday fell on a Sunday that year, I got the kids in Happy Birthday to her.

Happy Birthday to You Controversy

Interestingly, when I first wrote this post, the ditty most of us sing to honor a person on their birthday was still considered under copyright. That was rather amusing to me and perplexing since the song was written almost 130 years ago.

Yet, one company decided to copyright it in 1935. If the copyright of the song held, Happy Birthday to You would have been copyrighted until 2030. But thankfully, a judge ruled the copyright invalid due to a technicality.

Love or Hate Birthdays?

Like the boy in my cartoon, some people love being honored on their birthdays. On the contrary, others hate it. They may even get depressed over the day and the attention it brings. I didn’t know there is such a thing as birthday depression.

Do you get the birthday blues? I realize our expectations may be crushed on our birthday. After all, why didn’t the choir sing happy birthday to the poor kid? It is his birthday, after all!

Whether we want to be the center of attention, or hate being in the spotlight, birthdays can be hard to navigate.

So if it’s your birthday, enjoy some cake. Perhaps a birthday chorale will sing you a rousing, public domain version of Happy Birthday to You! Or if you don’t want that, it’s fine. May your expectations be met whatever they may be!

Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.