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About This Track
“Birthday” is a song written and recorded by Icelandic band The Sugarcubes for their 1988 debut album Life’s Too Good. It was their first international single and the first single released from the album. The Icelandic-language version “Ammæli” was released on an Iceland-only single Einn Mol Á Mann (One Cube Per Head) the previous year and was included as the B-side on the international single.
After “Birthday” became the single of the week in Melody Maker magazine and NME in August 1987, and was selected as number one in John Peel’s Festive Fifty list, the band attained worldwide recognition and success.
According to Björk, “Birthday” is a “tasteless pop song” about a five-year-old girl who has a love affair with the man next door, who is celebrating his fiftieth birthday.The chorus features Björk singing a wordless melody with a distinctive loudness and force of voice. This song was most recently covered by The Mars Volta.
References
1.“It’s a story about a love affair between a five year old girl, a secret and a man who lives next door. The song’s called Birthday because it’s his fiftieth birthday, but not many people can figure that out of the lyrics ‘cos it’s more about the atmosphere around it and how they touch. It’s a tasteless pop song - not even that. A pop song - very unusual”
B-side - “Christmas Eve”“
Released - October 1987 (1987-10),
Format - 7”, 12”, cassette, CD
Genre - Alternative rock
Length - 3:58
Label - One Little Indian
Writer(s) - The Sugarcubes
Producer - Ray Shulman, Derek Birkett
After “Birthday” became the single of the week in Melody Maker magazine and NME in August 1987, and was selected as number one in John Peel’s Festive Fifty list, the band attained worldwide recognition and success.
According to Björk, “Birthday” is a “tasteless pop song” about a five-year-old girl who has a love affair with the man next door, who is celebrating his fiftieth birthday.The chorus features Björk singing a wordless melody with a distinctive loudness and force of voice. This song was most recently covered by The Mars Volta.
References
1.“It’s a story about a love affair between a five year old girl, a secret and a man who lives next door. The song’s called Birthday because it’s his fiftieth birthday, but not many people can figure that out of the lyrics ‘cos it’s more about the atmosphere around it and how they touch. It’s a tasteless pop song - not even that. A pop song - very unusual”
B-side - “Christmas Eve”“
Released - October 1987 (1987-10),
Format - 7”, 12”, cassette, CD
Genre - Alternative rock
Length - 3:58
Label - One Little Indian
Writer(s) - The Sugarcubes
Producer - Ray Shulman, Derek Birkett
Send Ringtones to Cell Similar Music
Play The Sugarcubes RadioWith: KUKL, Björk, Tappi Tíkarrass, Björk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar and more…
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Albums featuring this track
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It's - It
The Sugarcubes
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Alternative 80's
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Shouts
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odinthorn wrote:
she's five years old..... 0_0
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ST3RST1K4R wrote:
one of "thee" best new wave bands ever!
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zombierosie wrote:
I love that scream/wail/growl she does. This song always makes me so happy whenever I hear it.
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prominence_la wrote:
Damn, what a voice.
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tod123321 wrote:
wtf is this version they should have remixes seperate.
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nanasubways wrote:
amazing!
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starfloka wrote:
had this on my mix cassette from the 80:s. It is still fresh as a rose bud. Not the cassette, but the track.
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KingFahtah wrote:
Today is my birthday. Not five. Will I ever be five again. Five was wonder five was joy
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falsemuzzle wrote:
really like this version...
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KingFahtah wrote:
The five year old girl lies in the bath with her bearded neighbour and they smoke cigars. Nothing to see here ok
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thebarnowl1996 wrote:
Love this song!
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melloboros wrote:
The first 9 seconds of this is going to be my new ringtone.
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Lala1242 wrote:
i'm not a big fan of the sugarcubes but this song is awesome :D
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Singlewedge wrote:
there is something haunting and soulful in this song. I have listened to it before, but it seems to get better with age, my age that is.
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RussellChap wrote:
'That's the same time gap between the release of Little Richard's first hit and the Sex Pistols'.' Wow...Pop time is slowing down...Entropy here we come. Btw this song is wonderful.
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kiteo wrote:
That's the same time gap between the release of Little Richard's first hit and the Sex Pistols'.
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kiteo wrote:
23 years old, fucking hell.
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DeeDeeKins wrote:
Love every note.
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merrari wrote:
Backthrow!
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alecruzross wrote:
Oh oh ooooooooh!
Track Stats
302,654 Scrobbles
78,508 Listeners
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Recent Activity
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MissChieff, pablo32ejuan, ST3RST1K4R and 1 other person loved The Sugarcubes – Birthday. 7 hours ago
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bibimbop3 added Birthday to bibimbop3’s library. Sunday evening
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bibimbop3 added Birthday to the playlist -chrome. Sunday evening
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pascalraphael, orangudan, theflesh74 and 2 other people loved The Sugarcubes – Birthday. Sunday afternoon
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Maeva_ added Birthday to the playlist. Friday evening
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bizous4u, lusepuster, myamusic and 7 other people loved The Sugarcubes – Birthday. Thursday afternoon
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careforapint added Birthday to careforapint’s library. 11 days ago
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careforapint added Birthday to the playlist Mix Tape. 11 days ago
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Sophievdheiden, kaisostmann, swaswaswaswa and 6 other people loved The Sugarcubes – Birthday. 12 days ago
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liontiger62 added Birthday to liontiger62’s library. last month
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