Prompt Cast
The History and Controversy of "Happy Birthday to You"
TLDR "Happy Birthday to You" was originally written as a simple song for kindergartners, but has since become the most popular song in the English language. Despite generating significant revenue through licensing fees, the song has been the subject of a lawsuit regarding copyright abuse.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The podcast discusses the history and significance of the song "Happy Birthday to You".
01:35
The song "Happy Birthday to You" was originally written by two sisters, Patty and Mildred Hill, as a simple song for kindergartners to learn, and was originally titled "Good Morning to All."
03:14
The song "Happy Birthday to You" started to gain popularity in the 1920s and 30s, but Patty and Mildred Hill were not compensated for its use until their sister Jessica Hill stepped in and got them credited as the song's writers.
04:35
The song "Happy Birthday to You" has generated significant revenue through licensing fees and is considered the most popular song in the English language.
05:55
The song "Happy Birthday to You" has similarities to other folk songs and has been the subject of a lawsuit regarding copyright abuse.
07:31
The major claims against "Happy Birthday to You" include improper renewal of copyright, incorrect listing of the copyright owner, and lack of evidence that the original authors wrote the song.
08:57
Patty and Mildred Hill, the creators of "Happy Birthday to You," are considered two of the most successful songwriters in history, despite the copyright and lawsuit issues surrounding the song.
