33 Best Birthday Songs of All Time (Happy Birthday Tracks) - MG (2023)

Birthdays are special to most people, and nearly everyone celebrates with melodious birthday tunes. There are birthday songs for everyone, whether you prefer rock, pop, or country songs. Here are some of the best songs about birthdays that can make your celebrations more fun.

1. 16 Candles – The Crests

Sweet 16 is one of the most glorified birthdays and an important milestone. It used to be an even bigger deal in the 50s and 60s. This song was a major birthday tune in the late 50s. It has everything to do with the song’s sweet lyrics dedicated to the mystery girl.

2. Birthday – The Beatles

You must add this lovely song from the English rock band to your birthday playlist. The harmony and the vocals on this song amplify the birthday message. It mainly talks about having a good time and partying on a special day.

Next: The best Beatles songs of all time (our list of picks)

3. Happy Birthday – Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder penned this incredible song as a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. It was part of a campaign to make the day a national holiday. Even though it was for a different cause, it was a big birthday celebration song.

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4. Birthday – Katy Perry

This is an up-tempo song, but it’s R-rated. The singer promises to party all night and dance with the birthday boy. The music video treats you to numerous creative birthday cakes. Party planners were involved in making the video. It’s a great partying song if you go all out with your celebrations.

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5. Ratchet Happy Birthday – Drake

You won’t go wrong with this Drake song. This song is a modern birthday song classic. The lyrics show Drake as the lover at heart. The celebration song has received a lot of attention since it came out, especially because of the opening line. It’s a mellow tune with upbeat and longing vocals.

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6. Never Grow Up – Taylor Swift

This is not a traditional birthday song, but most people use it for the occasion. It depicts the bittersweet struggle between your childhood cocoon and wanting to be independent. This song is mainly relatable to parents watching their kids grow every birthday.

Next: The best songs about growing up of all time (our list of favs)

7. Happy Birthday to You – New Kids on the Block

This song reminds you and assures you that age is just a number. It’s one of those party tracks that make you feel appreciated and valued on your special day. Your birthday happens once a year; you might as well go all out.

8. B-Day Song – Madonna

Talk about a song that’s great for birthday celebrations of all ages. This was a bonus track from the MDNA album. But it became a perfect celebration song, especially for the happy girl who is having the time of her life in the lyrics.

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9. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby – The Tune Weavers

This is a melancholic breakup song. Birthdays or other special days are the hardest when you have a broken heart. This song is a letter to a former lover celebrating their birthday. It’s a bit sad because it brings back the memories you had when you were still together.

Next: Best breakup songs of all time (our list of favorites)

10. In Da Club – 50 Cent

‘Go shorty, it’s your birthday’ has to be one of the most popular intro lines to any song. You can’t talk about the best birthday songs without mentioning this track from 50 Cent. It’s the ultimate party song to spice up your celebrations.

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11. Birthday – Destiny’s Child

When it’s finally time to slow things down after ice cream and cake, this is the perfect track. The girl group delivers this tune with incredible vocals. They emphasize celebrating your special day with a candle-lit dinner and a party with friends.

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12. Birthday – Migos

This song is about someone pretending it’s their birthday. People have always done that to gain favor or presents. However, the chorus makes the song great for calling attention to you on your big night out.

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13. Birthday Song – Don McLean

Don McLean gets very sentimental while delivering a very sweet message to the unnamed celebrant. This is the best song if you want to serenade yourself or a loved one on their special day.

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14. Birthday – Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez says even if it’s not your birthday, no one will know. She made her solo debut with this incredible track that combines hip hop, trap, and electronic music. It’s all about partying and blowing up dreams in the lyrics.

15. Happy Birthday, Johnny – St. Vincent

Should you have a close friend named Johnny, here is an excellent dedication song. This is for an estranged friend or lover who is celebrating their birthday.

16. Death for My Birthday – Say Anything

The vocalist for this birthday track is Max Bemis. It’s about someone who can’t appreciate life and all its goodness because it’s temporary. Hopefully, you are having a much better birthday than Max Bemis. It’s not like other songs about birthdays because it’s a little dark.

17. Happy Birthday – Carly Simon

There is always that one birthday that makes you consider dropping all the bad habits and living a healthier life. Carly talks about all the things growing old has cost her, including caffeine and dessert. It’s a great birthday song, but it’s also a reminder of all the things you have to do.

18. Trip Around the Sun – Jimmy Buffet and Martina McBride

One trip around the sun will earn you a delicious cake and one more candle on it. These lyrics are great for celebrating another year of awesomeness. This song acknowledges that it’s worth celebrating even though you might have tough times.

Next: Best songs about the sun and sunshine of all time

19. Happy Birthday Darlin’ – Conway Twitty

The narrator gives his wife a birthday present, taking away all the trust issues. Aside from being one of the best birthday songs, it’s also pretty romantic. He doesn’t have any fancy cake, but he wants to take away suspicion and a lot of bad things between them.

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20. Birthday Morning – The Association

Incorporate this tune into your birthday morning routine and start your day with a positive message. It celebrates everything right and the dawn of your birth anniversary. It’s an old song from the 60s, but it is still great.

21. Happy Birthday – Loretta Lynn

The country legend Loretta Lynn has managed to wish her ex-lover a happy birthday and bid them farewell. But you don’t have to be in the same situation to enjoy the tune and the explicit lyrics on your big day.

Next: Top country songs of all time (best tracks)

22. Birthday Boy – Ween

When you are not a teenager anymore and are celebrating your 20s, you need such a tune to mark the occasion. The singer is quite emotional when you listen to the lyrics. However, the birthday message is limited to the end of the message.

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23. Unhappy Birthday – The Smiths

Well, it’s not always joy and happiness on birthdays, and The Smiths clearly show it through this song. The song wishes someone evil and a liar an unhappy birthday. But it’s never nice to wish someone such things, even if you have someone in your life that fits the profile.

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24. The Birthday Song – Jon Lajoie

Most birthday songs tend to celebrate the birth without the explicit and graphic details of what happened during pregnancy and before. But this song tells all the things that occurred between the parents until the child was born. It has best wishes, but it also has sad details.

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25. Birthday Sex – Jeremih

This is the lead single from Jeremih’s debut album. It’s a special R&B tune for a special birthday playlist. You can tell from the title that it’s meant for a steamy special night. It’s a big tune that boosted the singing career of the artist.

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26. Birthday – Twista

Add this incredible track to your birthday party playlist. The up-tempo beat incorporates astrological signs into the lyrics. You can easily dance to the beats and make every guest stand and join you. Twista is already encouraging you to break it down and dance.

27. Birthday Cake – Rihanna

Rihanna is not talking about regular cake in this song. But since it’s your birthday, you should embrace the literal meaning of the lyrics. It’s a danceable song for any kind of celebration, whether you want to pay attention to the lyrics or not.

28. It’s My Birthday – Will.i.am and Cody Wise

Will.i.am knows how to party, proving it with this song. It’s the ultimate birthday song when you want an extravagant night out with friends and live your fantasy for a day. A fun-filled video accompanies the lyrics.

29. Happy Birthday – Weird Al Yankovic

This track encourages you to have fun and enjoy your birthday while you can. He even talks about the end of the world to make you go all out on your celebration. You can never know what the next day will bring, so you should party while you can.

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30. The Magicians Birthday – Uriah Heep

This song is nearly 11 minutes, and it’s dedicated to a magician’s birthday. The band doesn’t take everything too seriously through this song. It’s mostly a feel-good tune you can sit down and listen to on your special day.

31. Birthday Dethday – Dethklok

You finally have a metal birthday banger. It started from the beginning when you were growing in your mother’s womb. But the song is also quite controversial with a line like ‘one more year closer to dying. It doesn’t make a great celebration song, but it is still a birthday track.

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32. Happy Birthday Mr. President – Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe sang this iconic rendition of the birthday song for President John F. Kennedy. You may not relate to the lyrics because it mainly talks about what the president did. But Marilyn has a sweet voice that will make you listen to anything.

33. Birthday Song – Frankie Cosmos

This song is great when you are getting older, but it doesn’t mean you are losing your mojo. The birthday message is limited to the start of the song. But he sings beautifully about getting older and staying the same.

There you go! 33 incredible birthday tracks.

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