Examples Of The Different Ways That Black Americans Sing "Happy Birthday"

Clout, August 25, 2019

Kanye West‘s "Sunday Service" Choir Singing "Happy Birthday" To "Dave Chappelle

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases seven videos of Black Americans singing "Happy Birthday" differently than the standard way of singing that American song.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Happy Birthday! and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are associated with these videos. 

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I've noticed online that a lot of videos about this custom refers to "the Black version" of the Happy Birthday". The two problems that immediately strike me about this phrasing are
1. There's more than one "Black version of the standard "Happy Birthday" song.

and

2. These videos only show Black Americans singing these versions of "Happy Birthday'.
As a reminder for all those who need it, Black Americans aren't the only Black people in the world. The correct description for these videos is "Black Americans singing a "Happy Birthday song other than the "standard" song for that occasion" or  "Black people singing the standard version of "Happy Birthday" differently than it is usually sung".
 
Black people who aren't Black Americans may also have the custom of singing the standard American "Happy Birthday" song differently. Please share you any information, thoughts, or personal experiences that you have about this in the comment section below. Thanks! 
-snip-
Stevie Wonder's version of "Happy Birthday" was recorded in 1980 and released in 1981. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday_(Stevie_Wonder_song) for information about that song.

"The Birthday Song" (also known as "I Wanna Say Happy Birthday To You" was composed in 2008 by Eric Lloyd and Michael Williams, who also goes by the stage name “Halla,”That song went viral on the internet around 2020. Click https://genius.com/Halla-the-birthday-song-lyrics for the lyrics for that song.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.


SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 - Kanye West‘s "Sunday Service" Choir Singing "Happy Birthday" To "Dave Chappelle

This video is found at the top of this post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWRudPCR-Vc&list=RDKWRudPCR-Vc&start_radio=1

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 -The BEST Version of "Happy Birthday"

@GirlConductor, July 22, 2023

Happy Birthday has gone GOSPEL! Join this group of Professional Gospel Musicians in this exciting version of Happy Birthday with modulations, hand claps and joyful singing.

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SHOWCASE #3 -Who's Birthday Is it?

@jonathanbynoe, May 23, 2023

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SHOWCASE #4 -I Wanna Say Happy Birthday To You

The Sales Family, September 25, 2023

https://youtube.com/shorts/yH3sEvltTbk?si=Fx7lFvB9j93zoz0X

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - Churchy Birthday Song

Tomie Boi, Mar 20, 2016

Singing Happy Birthday to my babies Ava & Lauryn 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎂🎂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RBb_d53F8I

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SHOWCASE #6 - Happy Birthday Quartet Style

J Yo, Mar 12, 2022

Happy Birthday sung to Jonathan McReynolds **** SHOWCASE VIDEO- #7 -You’ve NEVER Heard Happy Birthday LIKE THIS😳

@kanyewest, September 25,2025

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zNPUrEmPfno

"Happy Birthday Remix of Hallelujah by Kanye West and Sunday Service🎶🎤🎵  ‪@kanyewest ‪@SundayServiceCollective"
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This version is a cover of the Gospel song "Hallelujah Salvation And Glory" (composer  A. Jeffrey LaValley in 1984.  A. Jeffrey LaValley gave that song the title "Revelation 19" because it is based on that book of the Bible. However, that Gospel song is much more widely known by its lyrics "Hallelujah, Salvation And Glory", "Hallelujah", or "He Is Wonderful".

Click https://journalofgospelmusic.com/contemporary/genesis-of-a-gospel-song-revelation-19-a-jeffrey-lavalley/ for information about this African American composer.

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/03/four-renditions-of-gospel-song.html for a 2018 pancocojams post entitled " "Hallelujah, Salvation, And Glory" -African American Gospel Song (Videos, Lyrics, & Information).

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