New Birthday Song!
 

I am thrilled at the prospect of replacing "Happy Birthday", which is so hard for many to sing and really, is certainly not worth $2 million a year.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/...share_blogpost

My family sings the Garfield birthday song to the tune of Frere Jacques:

HEEEEEEY, (NAME)!

Happy birthday, happy birthday,
Whoopty-doo! Whoopty-doo!
May your day be pleasant, open all your presents
Just for you! Just for you!

I've always been a fan of The Birthday Dirge myself. To the tune of "Volga Boatman":

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!
Now you've aged another year.
Now you know that Death is near.
Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

People dying everywhere.
Gloom, destruction and despair.
Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Now that you're the age you are,
Your demise cannot be far.
Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday.

Just be glad the friends you've got
Haven't found out you-know-what.
Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday.

There are lots of other verses out there. And obviously, this particular birthday song won't be appreciated by just anyone. Beer or liquor is required for the song to be sung properly.

When did the traditional Happy Birthday song become difficult to sing?

My favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmZ2ICOZ8mo (if you read my "Location" on my GC account, you probably would have guessed that :))

On my mom's side of the family, we sing Happy Birthday and then afterward, in the slowest, most depressing voices, we "sing"/say:

Pain and sorrow and despair,
People dying everywhere,
Happy birthday, happy birthday.

Yea, we're weird. Lol

Let me clarify - difficult to sing WELL. I have heard more flat renditions than you can shake a stick at, and many PAINFULLY flat ones.

The funny thing is who the garden belonged to. And helped right the song actually.