Hello! Today is my birthday! I've been around the sun thirty times, and have been playing a clarinet for two-thirds of my life.
Did you know that the Happy Birthday To You song is still under copyright? It is not public domain, which means that you need permission to perform it. Haven't you wondered why some TV shows use a generic birthday tune when a character is having a birthday?
The melody of the song was written by sisters Patty and Mildred Hill in 1893. They had written a tune called Good Morning to All, which became the basis of the Birthday song. A copyright was finally given in 1935, and the rights were sold to Time-Warner Corporation in 1998. There appears to be some controversy over the validity of the copyright claim, as the melody was likely lifted from other popular songs at the time of its being written, but, as it stands, the song won't enter the public domain in the U.S. until 2030.
Tomorrow, I will be attending the Dave Matthews Band Caravan Chicago stop. Happy birthday to me!
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