The ultimate Happy Birthday playlist

World Today

Photo by Jessica Diamond on Flickr.

Now that it’s officially okay to sing “Happy Birthday” without fear of paying royalties to Warner/Chappell Music Inc. there are even more reason to celebrate. Here’s a compilation of some of the most well-known birthday songs.

CCTV America’s May Lee has the story of how an independent filmmaker blew the cover on this dark secret.

You can now sing Happy Birthday copyright free

It is perhaps the most famous song in the world, sung by nearly everyone, at least, once a year. It's Happy Birthday, a song sung at birthday celebrations without a second thought. Up until recently, Happy Birthday came with a price if it was used in commercial television, movies or public events. That's because music company Warner Chappell claimed to own the copyright, but guess what, it didn't. CCTV America's May Lee has the story of how an independent filmmaker blew the cover on this dark secret.

Last month, a U.S. District judge ruled that Warner/Chappell Music Inc which has been collecting royalties to the birthday song for years, does not hold a valid copyright on the lyrics to the tune that is one of the most widely sung in the world. The basic tune of the song, derived from another popular children’s song, “Good Morning to All,” and has long been in the public domain.

Good Morning To You Productions Corp., challenged the copyright narguing that the song should be “dedicated to public use and in the public domain.”

“Happy Birthday” by Jimi Hendrix

“Happy Birthday” by Stevie Wonder

“Happy Birthday Mr. President” by Marilyn Monroe

“Happy Birthday” by The Beatles and the Peanuts

“It’s Your Birthday” by Luther Campbell

“Birthday” by Katy Perry

“Happy Birthday to You” Mariah Carey

“Happy Birthday Blues” by BB King

“Happy Birthday to You” by the New Kids on the Block

“Happy Birthday Baby” by Elvis

“In Da Club” by 50 Cent

“Happy Birthday” by the “Happy Feet” penguins

“Birthday” by Kings of Leon

“Birthday” by Björk & The Sugarcubes

“Happy Birthday Lisa” by Bart Simpson and Michael Jackson

Story compiled with information from the Associated Press