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October 28, 2016

Strange But True!

Q. Is there anything offbeat about your birthday that you share with many others? No, it's not the date, though that IS shared by millions of others around the world.

A. It's the iconic eight-note sing-song “Happy Birthday to You,” which the “Guinness Book of World Records” cites as “the most recognizable English-language song in existence,” says Dan Lewis in his book “Now I Know More.” The song was composed in 1893 by sisters Mildred and Patty Hill, who called it “Good Morning to All” (“Good morning to you/ Good morning to you/ Good morning dear children/ Good morning to all”). How the more well-known lyrics became affixed to the famous melody is unclear, but they appeared in a 1924 book as a second stanza after the original good morning song. In 1935 the publishing company of “Good Morning to All” copyrighted “Happy Birthday.” Rights owner Warner Music Group has continued to enforce the copyright for public and/or for-profit performances, having netted itself $2 million in royalties in 2008 alone. (Singing the song at a private gathering is not an issue.)


 
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