Stevie Wonder – Happy Birthday
American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, Stevland Hardaway Morris, known professionally as Stevie Wonder, released this beautiful birthday song joint tagged Happy Birthday, back in early 1980.
Stevie Wonder is credited as a pioneer and influence to musicians across genres such as rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz.
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In addition, “Happy Birthday” was released as the fourth single of Wonder’s Hotter than July album in April 1981. It was one of his most popular entries in the UK Singles Chart.
From its release, the Happy Birthday song was campaigning for the establishment of a national holiday in memory of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1986, Stevie Wonder’s determination paid off when Ronald Reagan introduced into U.S. law the third Monday of January as a holiday in his memory.
When Wonder performed the song at Nelson Mandela Day at Radio City Music Hall on July 19, 2009, he slightly changed the lyrics, “Thanks to Mandela and Martin Luther King!” in the second verse.
Wonder also performed this song at the Diamond Jubilee Concert in London for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
QUOTABLE LYRICS
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Watch and Listen to “Stevie Wonder – Happy Birthday” below;
Stevie Wonder – Happy Birthday
You know it doesn’t make much sense
There ought to be a law against
Anyone who takes offense
At a day in your celebration
‘Cause we all know in our minds
That there ought to be a time
That we can set aside
To show just how much we love you
And I’m sure you would agree
What could fit more perfectly
Than to have a world party on the day you came to be
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
I just never understood
How a man who died for good
Could not have a day that would
Be set aside for his recognition
Because it should never be
Just because some cannot see
The dream as clear as he
that they should make it become an illusion
And we all know everything
That he stood for time will bring
For in peace our hearts will sing
Thanks to Martin Luther King
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Why has there never been a holiday
Where peace is celebrated
all throughout the world
The time is overdue
For people like me and you
Who know the way to truth
Is love and unity to all God’s children
It should be a great event
And the whole day should be spent
In full remembrance
Of those who lived and died for the oneness of all people
So let us all begin
We know that love can win
Let it out don’t hold it in
Sing it loud as you can
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Ooh yeah
Happy birthday
We know the key to unity of all people
Is in the dream that you had so long ago
That lives in all of the hearts of people
That believe in unity
We’ll make the dream become a reality
I know we will
Because our hearts tell us so