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1.06pm
31 March 2008
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Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 18 September 1968
Producer: Chris Thomas
Engineer: Ken Scott
Released: 22 November 1968 (UK), 25 November 1968 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass guitar, piano, handclaps
John Lennon: vocals, tambourine, lead guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: lead guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps
Pattie Harrison, Yoko Ono: backing vocals, handclaps
Mal Evans: handclaps…
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1.56am
8 January 2015
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Another classic. Seemingly a straightforward rocker, except for that riff break in the middle which is the terror of bands the world over. Never ever cover this song without thorough practice. Girl backup singing, woo! Everyone fires up: Paul going a bit off his nut, shredding vocals. George showing what Lucy can do. Don’t forget John’s underrated harmony singing and guitar either. And Ringo just belting the hell out of those fills, just great. What’s not to like?
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4.00am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline ‘Birthday ‘ is a difficult one for me as I find the thought of the song to be 
yet get carried away when listening to it and find it to be a very enjoyable experience. The speed at which they recorded the track comes thru due to the excitement of them letting go and not spending 4 days trying to get it right thru endlessly playing. The intro is great with Ringo jumping in and then the band kick off, it does get you, well me, involved.
And try not to tap along with Ringo, it might just be impossible.
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6.49am
Moderators
15 February 2015
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meanmistermustard said
‘Birthday ‘ is a difficult one for me as I find the thought of the song to beyet get carried away when listening to it and find it to be a very enjoyable experience.
Same here. I amn’t as keen on it as I feel like I should be (because it’s a birthday song, so useful) but I always belt away quite happily when I hear it.
And try not to tap along with Ringo, it might just be impossible.
I have a notorious habit of air-drumming with everybody. Ringo’s and Nick Mason’s beats I find particularly irresistable.
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11.51am
14 February 2016
Offline I listened to this song all day on my birthday and insisted my family sing it instead of the normal “Happy Birthday ” song. It’s actually the first Beatles song I fell in love with.
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12.10pm
5 November 2011
Offline My mom and brother have the same birthday, and one year we went out to eat for their birthday and they played Birthday on the speakers.
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4.52am
14 December 2009
Offline Hi all. Does anybody know if there exists a version of “Birthday ” (like, on some compilation rather than the white LP) where the electronic noises on the tag are faded out rather than just rudely interrupted by the “…two, three”?
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6.14am
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17 December 2012
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6.37am
22 September 2014
Offline 
it! From the first moment I heard this, I thought it was a great rocker. I’m a sucker for handclaps, drum breaks and catchy riffs, so…duh. I’ve always been amazed that Paul could throw this thing together in such a short time, almost on a whim. John, of course, does not share my enthusiasm, calling it “garbage.”
I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did'.
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3.00pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline A local TV station plays this song a ton. During the morning newscast, they have a segment where viewers send in their pics on their birthday and the anchors/weatherman/traffic guy all take turns wishing a viewer a happy birthday. All the while, in the background, they play either this song or ‘Celebrate’ by Kool & The Gang. For some reason, in that context, I can’t stand it. But when I play it or hear it on the radio, I blast the volume. What a rocker!
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
4.12pm
22 September 2014
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You have a Beatley moment every day
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4.24pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Every other day actually. But yes, you are right about the Beatley Moments*.
*Note to self: never abbreviate Beatley Moments.
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6.36pm
26 January 2017
Offline every time i listen to the “i would like you to dance” section i get a huge smile. good old fashioned rock and roll
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9.01pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Joe said
Mal Evans: handclaps…
That makes me smile every time I read it. Mal was so cool. 
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Ahhh Girl, Beatlebug, WeepingAtlasCedarsTo the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
1.20pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline The highlight for me is the instrumental section where Ringo’s drums are most prominent and you can here Paul counting up before ending with a mad shrieking “Eighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhtttttt!!!!!!”.
The song itself is a great example of how well the band could groove.
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4.50pm
17 January 2016
Offline All I know is I love “Birthday “, the song rocks. I get it played to me a gazillion times each year on me big day and I love it.
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6.20pm
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20 August 2013
Offline I wonder how this song would have turned out if Die Beatles had recorded in German.
Geburtstag
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8.21am
9 March 2017
Offline I wish people sang this at birthday parties instead of that stupidly annoying happy birthday song.
My favorite part about Birthday is how upbeat yet simple it is, I love how both guitars and the bass are all playing the same thing throughout the verses, no need to think of a rhythm guitar part or a unique bass part, just play everything in octaves. I also think that it’s funny that George wore a glove on his hand while playing the tambourine part, almost reminds me of Bugs Bunny.
The tricky part is determining who played guitar and who played bass. Some say it’s John and George on guitar with Paul on bass, others say Jn’P with George on bass, others say John plays all guitar parts, it’s also possible that it’s Paul and George on guitar, it’s such a mystery and as much as I like Joe’s site, I like to use multiple sources to foster up my own opinion and different sources say different things. However, since Paul supposedly was playing the Birthday riff before everyone else came to join in, this could mean that he played the high octave lead guitar while John or George played the low octave lead guitar/rhythm guitar and either George or Paul played bass, but he could’ve also played the riff on bass or in the lower octave on guitar.
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5.33pm
1 January 2017
Offline I love how Birthday sort of harks back to their earlier sound almost, kind of like The Beach Boys with Do It Again, except that song is a deliberate homage to their older songs, whereas this is a very energetic party song which is more of a tribute to the rock and roll which influenced them in the previous decade.
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10.22pm
15 March 2017
Offline Not the best Beatles track but it is an enjoyable listen. I frequently listen to this track if I want to listen to some up beat Beatles songs.
It sounds like all four members were having fun on this song.
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