It's My Birthday

Album: Single Release Only (2014)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Will.i.am collaborated with Cody Wise for this Bollywood inspired track. The American recording artist is signed to Interscope Records through The Black Eyed Pea leader's imprint. The song was released on May 27, 2014 after will.i.am previwed it on Alan Carr's UK Chatty Man show on April 6th.
  • Will.i.am wrote the tune with Cody Wise and Keith Harris (Madonna, Robin Thicke). The intro and outro is heavily based on the Tamil song "Urvasi Urvasi", originally composed by A. R. Rahman. "I fell in love with the song and wanted to interpret it," Will.i.am told Jimmy Fallon in a Tonight Show exclusive. "We took portions of that song and put it over today's thick, urban electronic-type beat."
  • The single was originally named 'Birthday' but it was changed to 'It's My Birthday' to avoid confusion with the Katy Perry song of the same title.
  • The song borrows from the popular Jamaican songs "Pull Up To Mi Bumper" by Konshens & J Capri and "Fi Di Jockey" by Aidonia, giving it a dancehall vibe. The tune also samples Bounty Killer chanting "Big Ship Sailing."
  • This was will.i.am's tenth #1 on the UK singles chart. He'd previously achieved five chart-toppers as a member of Black Eyed Peas, two under his own name, and was a featured artist on Usher's "OMG" and The Script's "Hall Of Fame."
  • Will.i.am sings about living every day as if it's your birthday. "You get a license to do whatever you want on your birthday," he explained. "I try to live in that celebrative, who-gives-a-f perspective and celebrate every day as if it was my birthday."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-Outs

Goodbye, Hello: Ten Farewell Tour Fake-OutsSong Writing

The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.