45 Best Birthday Songs, from Stevie Wonder to Taylor Swift

What are the top 10 best birthday songs?

The most-played songs for a birthday, besides the traditional tune, are below. "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder is the favorite alternative, and "Birthday" by The Beatles is the rock and roll classic.

1. "Happy Birthday", Stevie Wonder: the joyful alternative, written as part of the campaign for a holiday for Martin Luther King Jr.
2. "Birthday", The Beatles: a loud, happy rock and roll celebration.
3. "Celebration", Kool & The Gang: gets every generation dancing.
4. "In Da Club", 50 Cent: the club anthem with the most famous birthday line in hip-hop; play the clean edit.
5. "Birthday Song", 2 Chainz featuring Kanye West: a party song for adults; use the clean edit.
6. "Birthday", Katy Perry: bright, bouncy pop.
7. "22", Taylor Swift: the anthem for one particular birthday.
8. "It's My Party", Lesley Gore: a 1963 classic, though the party does not go to plan.
9. "Birthday", Selena Gomez: playful and catchy.
10. "Birthday", Anne-Marie: a modern pop song about treating yourself.

Classic songs about birthdays

11. "Sixteen Candles", The Crests: a doo-wop sweet sixteen.
12. "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen", Neil Sedaka: the early 60s favorite.
13. "Happy Birthday", Altered Images: an 80s new wave hit.
14. "Birthday", The Sugarcubes: Björk's band at its most magical.
15. "When I'm Sixty-Four", The Beatles: a sweet song about growing old together.
16. "Young at Heart", Frank Sinatra: for anyone who refuses to act their age.
17. "It Was a Very Good Year", Frank Sinatra: looking back on every age with a smile.

Birthday party songs

18. "I Gotta Feeling", Black Eyed Peas: the start of every good night.
19. "Raise Your Glass", P!nk: a toast to the birthday crowd.
20. "Uptown Funk", Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars: impossible not to dance.
21. "Can't Stop the Feeling!", Justin Timberlake: fun for every age.
22. "Shut Up and Dance", Walk the Moon: the floor-filler.
23. "Dancing Queen", ABBA: for the one who owns the dance floor.
24. "September", Earth, Wind & Fire: pure joy.
25. "Good as Hell", Lizzo: a confidence boost for the birthday person.
26. "Party in the U.S.A.", Miley Cyrus: the singalong.
27. "Sweet Caroline", Neil Diamond: the whole room shouts the chorus.
28. "Happy", Pharrell Williams: what the day should feel like.
29. "Walking on Sunshine", Katrina and the Waves: instant good mood.
30. "Get the Party Started", P!nk: for the first song of the night.
31. "Let's Get It Started", Black Eyed Peas: energy from the first beat.

Songs about getting older

32. "Forever Young", Rod Stewart: a blessing for the years ahead.
33. "7 Years", Lukas Graham: a whole life, one age at a time.
34. "Glory Days", Bruce Springsteen: for a birthday full of old stories.
35. "Old Time Rock and Roll", Bob Seger: for anyone who still likes the classics.
36. "Landslide", Fleetwood Mac: about time and change.
37. "Never Grow Up", Taylor Swift: for a child's birthday, or a parent watching them grow.
38. "Fifteen", Taylor Swift: for a teen birthday.
39. "I'm Eighteen", Alice Cooper: the rock song for an 18th.

Songs for a kids' birthday party

40. "Happy Birthday to You": the traditional song, now in the public domain.
41. "Happy Birthday Song", JJ Heller: a gentle modern version for little ones.
42. "Baby Shark", Pinkfong: for a toddler's party.
43. "The Hokey Pokey": a party game everyone knows.
44. "Cha Cha Slide", DJ Casper: the dance with instructions built in.
45. "Macarena", Los del Río: a dance even grandparents can follow.

Songs for a milestone birthday

For a milestone birthday, the best soundtrack is the music from the years the birthday person was 15 to 25:

• For a 21st: today's party anthems plus "Raise Your Glass" and "I Gotta Feeling".
• 30th birthday songs: 2000s and 2010s pop, from "Party in the U.S.A." to "Uptown Funk".
• 40th birthday songs: 90s and 2000s hits; see our 90s lists for the era's sound.
• 50th birthday songs: 80s and 90s classics like "Walking on Sunshine" and "Dancing Queen" on repeat.
• 60th birthday songs: 70s and 80s hits like "September", "Celebration" and "Glory Days".
• 70th birthday songs: 60s and 70s soul and rock, with "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "Young at Heart" for a laugh.

Gift ideas for the big ones are in our guide to milestone birthday gifts.

Songs for the birthday of someone you love

We have lists for specific people: songs for Mom's birthday, songs for a daughter, songs for a son and sweet 16 songs. For a hip-hop party, see our hip-hop songs for a birthday.

Songs for an adult birthday party

For a grown-up party, mix the singalongs with a few cheekier songs: "In Da Club", "Birthday Song" and "Good as Hell" work well later in the night. Always play the clean edits when kids or grandparents are around.

How to make a birthday playlist

• Start with their favorites: three or four songs the birthday person loves.
• Use a few songs as markers: one when guests arrive, one for the cake, one to end the night.
• Mix the eras: something from their teenage years always gets the biggest reaction.
• Plan about 15 songs per hour: a three-hour party needs about 45.

A birthday song with their name in it

Every song above was written for someone else. A personalized birthday song is about them: their name, their quirks, the memories you share and the year ahead. Play it when the cake comes out or send it in the morning. See our birthday song ideas by recipient and mood.

How to create a birthday song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, rock, country, hip-hop, acoustic and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or funny details about them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page you can send them and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a birthday song nobody else has: create a song and hear four previews for free.