| "Happy Birthday" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 UK single picture sleeve | ||||
| Single byStevie Wonder | ||||
| from the albumHotter than July | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | June 26, 1981 (1981-06-26)[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1980 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:53 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriter | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Producer | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Stevie Wonder singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Happy Birthday" is a song written, produced and performed byStevie Wonder for theMotown label. Wonder, asocial activist, was one of the main figures in the campaign to have the birthday ofMartin Luther King Jr. become a national holiday, and created this single to promulgate the cause.[2] The song has since become a standard for use during birthdays in general, particularly amongAfrican Americans.
"Happy Birthday" was released as the fourth single of Wonder'sHotter than July (1980) album in June 1981. It was one of his most popular entries in theUK Singles Chart.[3] It was not released in the United States, but is still regarded as one of his signature songs.
The song, one of many of Wonder's songs to feature the use of akeyboard synthesizer, features Wonder lamenting the fact that anyone would oppose the idea of a Dr. King holiday, where "peace is celebrated throughout the world" and singing to King in the chorus, "Happy birthday to you". The holiday, he proposes, would facilitate the realization of Dr. King's dreams ofintegration and "love and unity for all of God's children".
Wonder used the song to popularize the campaign, and continued his fight for the holiday, holding the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. United States PresidentRonald Reagan approved the creation of the holiday,signing it into existence on November 2, 1983. The first officialMartin Luther King Jr. Day, held the third Monday in January of each year, was held on January 20, 1986, and was commemorated with a large-scale concert, where Wonder was the headlining performer.
"Happy Birthday" was released as a single in several countries. In the UK, the song became one of Wonder's biggest hits, reaching number two in the charts in 1981.[3]
When Wonder performed the song atNelson Mandela Day atRadio City Music Hall on July 19, 2009, he slightly changed the lyrics, "Thanks toMandela and Martin Luther King!" in the second verse. Wonder also performed this song at theDiamond Jubilee Concert in London for theDiamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[4]
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 31 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] | 13 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[7] | 5 |
| Israel (IBA)[8] | 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] | 10 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 12 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 23 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] | 8 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[13] | 2 |
| West Germany (GfK)[14] | 18 |
| Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[15] | 20 |
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] | 70 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (BVMI)[17] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[18] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[19] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
