Birthday (Katy Perry song)

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"Birthday"
Song by Katy Perry
from the album Prism
ReleasedApril 21, 2014
GenreDisco
Length3:35
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Katy Perry singles chronology
"Dark Horse"
(2013) 		"Birthday"
(2014) 		"This Is How We Do"
(2014)
Music video
"Birthday" on
YouTube

"Birthday" is a song by American singer

Cirkut. Critics, as well as Perry herself, have compared the track to the music of Prince and Mariah Carey. Through double entendres in the lyrics of "Birthday", Perry makes sexual references while celebrating a partner's birthday. Capitol Records sent the track to mainstream and rhythmic
radio on April 21, 2014 as the album's fourth single.

Following the release of Prism, the song entered the single charts of South Korea and France. After being released as an official single, it reached number one on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and the Israeli TV Airplay chart, number two in Flanders (Belgium) and Wallonia (Belgium), number three in South Africa, number seven in Canada, number 10 in South Korea, number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the top 40 in nine additional countries.

A

SiriusXM.[1]

Production and release

Bonnie McKee (pictured) co-wrote "Birthday".

"Birthday" was written by Perry,

MXM Studios in Stockholm, Sweden and Secret Garden Studios in Montecito, California.[2]

The song leaked online on October 16, 2013, two days prior to the official release of Prism.[3] On April 3, 2014, the singer announced on her Twitter account that "Birthday" would be released as the album's fourth single, posting its cover art as well. The art is based on a photograph, taken during a birthday party circa 1990, in which a blonde Perry and her sister Angela Hudson smile toward the camera; "puffy" letter balloons were "photoshopped" onto the cover to spell out Perry's name. The song title appears in candles over a floral cake.[4][5] To promote the single, a lyric video for "Birthday" was uploaded onto Perry's Vevo account on April 10, 2014. It depicts a variety of cakes and sweets—among other confections—decorated with the song's lyrics and concludes with Perry lighting the last candle of a cake.[6]

Composition

Mariah Carey (pictured) was cited as a major influence on the creation of "Birthday".

At the length of three minutes and thirty-five seconds (3:35),[7] "Birthday" is primarily styled in the genre of disco.[8] "Birthday" is composed in the key of B major and follows a progression of Emaj9–C♯m7–Emaj9–C♯m7–B with a tempo of 126 beats per minute. Perry's vocals range from B3 to F♯5.[9] During a preview event for

Wendy and Lisa.[11][12]

"Birthday" contains elements of funk-pop,

strings" with "jerky breaks and synth washes".[8] Its "joyful"[10] lyrics present the commemoration of her partner's birthday as a metaphor for sexual intercourse.[13] The bridge section of "Birthday", which sees Perry singing "Let me get you in your birthday suit / It's time to bring out the big balloons", was found by Ben Rattliff to resemble French duo Daft Punk's works.[14]

Critical reception

Perry performing "Birthday" in Glasgow

Consequence of Sound wrote that the song was a "irrepressible disco jam" and found it superior to Carly Rae Jepsen's album Kiss (2012).[18]

Jon Dolan from

four to the floor remix of a Mariah Carey song, but complimented its melodies for being "significantly stronger" than those of Jessie J's album, Alive (2013).[21] Rob Harvilla from Spin criticized the song's "sensuality", which he described as being of "an off-kilter, grade-school goofy, beanie-propeller sort of sensuality".[12] Evan Sawdey of PopMatters deemed "Birthday" the "catchiest thing" on Prism, but he also thought it was a "rewrite" of Jessie J's hit "Domino" and Perry's former song "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)".[22] Lewis Corner from Digital Spy classified it as a "flirty pop-gem",[23] while HitFix's Melinda Newman awarded it a B+ grade, calling it a "delectable pop confection".[24] James Reed from The Boston Globe called the song's double entendre lyrics "hilarious".[25]

Chart performance

Upon the release of Prism, due to strong digital download sales, "Birthday" charted on the singles charts in

Gaon International Chart with digital downloads of 3,089 copies.[27]

Before being released as a single, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart of April 16, 2014, at number 91.

Hot Dance Club Songs chart extending her record for most consecutive dance club no.1 songs to 14. The song has sold more than 1,000,000 copies in the United States; consequently it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[31]

Music video

Development and filming

Marc Klasfeld co-directed the music video for "Birthday".

The official music video for "Birthday" was directed by Marc Klasfeld and Danny Lockwood; Dawn Rose served as a producer, while Nicole Acacio served as executive producer, Richard Alarcón served as the editor, Tony Gardner as the make-up artist, and Joseph Robbins was the director of photography.[32][33] For the video, which was filmed in April 2014, Perry played the characters of five party entertainers, appearing in five parties. This is similar to the British children’s TV series Gigglebiz consisting of the same format of cast as what Justin Fletcher did with characters in the show. They consisted of a burlesque-like elderly woman named Goldie, a Jewish master of ceremonies named Yosef Shulem, a clown named Kriss, an animal trainer named Ace, and a face-painter named Princess Mandee.[33][34] In order to transform physically into each character, Perry spent up to seven hours getting prosthetic makeup applied by Tony Gardner.[33][35]

The parties that Perry attended were real, and its participants were unaware of Perry's presence; the organizers believed they had signed up to star in a reality show called "Birthday Blowouts".[36][37] Similarly, the majority of events that took place during the visual were staged without the knowledge of the celebrations' organizers and guests.[37] For example, the car crash that occurs in the video left several children who observed it frightened and crying.[38] Perry deemed the video "very intricate to make and shoot" and her "most insane" to date.[37] A teaser for the video which introduced the characters was released on April 22, 2014 whereas the complete video was revealed two days later.[34]

Synopsis

Perry as Yosef Shulem, an alter-ego that was criticized by music critics.

The music video begins with short introductions to Perry's alter-egos Goldie, Yosef, Kriss, Ace, and Mandee. Perry is then shown entering all of the parties as "five of the world’s worst birthday entertainers" in disguise.

Bar Mitzvah
. Goldie pulls a man's prosthetic leg off and proceeds to play air guitar with it, and Kriss crashes into a table before drinking alcohol behind a tree.

At the elderly man's party, Goldie collapses and a woman tries to use a defibrillator on her. While attempting to hit a piñata, Kriss walks onto the road to cause a car crash which shocks the party attendees. At the petting cage, Ace lets a goat run wild which defecates and urinates on the ground; meanwhile Goldie drops a birthday cake on the 90-year-old man, Yosef is then shown beatboxing at the Bar Mitzvah. Princess Mandee takes off her hat, wig and mask and reveals herself to be Perry, to which the children scream in pleasure. Goldie eats cake with the elderly man, before straddling him on his wheelchair. At the end of the song, Princess Mandee and the children say "happy birthday" to the camera. During the credits, Perry's five alter-egos dance and lip-sync to a remixed version of the song.

Reception

Christina Garibaldi of

Complex writer Zach Frydenlund positively remarked that the video "deliver[ed]" and regarded the Goldie character look as "quite nice".[44]

Live performances

"Birthday" was performed as the first encore at the Prismatic World Tour, Perry's third concert tour. The performance of the song at the Newcastle upon Tyne date was broadcast live during the 2014 Billboard Music Awards.[45]

On May 25, 2014, Perry performed the song at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Glasgow.[46]

Track listing

  • Digital download (Cash Cash Remix)[47]
  1. "Birthday" (Cash Cash Remix) – 4:25

Credits and personnel

Song credits adapted from the liner notes of Prism, Capitol Records.[2]

Song

Music video

Credits of the video production adapted from the visual.[33]

  • Marc Klasfeld – director
  • Danny Lockwood – director
  • Nicole Acacio – executive producer
  • Dawn Rose – producer
  • Joseph Robbins – director of photography
  • Richard Alarcon – editor
  • Tony Gardner – special effects, makeup and design
  • Casey Storm – costume designer
  • Lissa Hahn – set dresser
  • TJ White – stunt coordinator
  • Mark Neiman – special effects makeup
  • Hugo Villasneor – special effects makeup
  • Jake Bailey – Princess Mandee's makeup
  • Olivia Segerstrom – wardrobe assistant
  • Mary Beck – wardrobe assistant
  • Ryan Cox – wardrobe assistant
  • Harwood Lee – tailor
  • Eric Holzer – grips
  • Robert Meckler – grips
  • Greg Mustin – grips
  • Curtis Smith – grips
  • Ryan Patterson – production designer
  • Bill Pollock – color
  • Josh Falcon – sound mix
  • Kenny Kiesecker – lead assistant editor
  • Daniel Miranda – assistant editor
  • Eddie Gil DeMontes – additional editing
  • David Camera – production supervisor
  • Rob Talt – hairdresser
  • Kimmie Kyees – nails
  • Kammy Lenox – stylist additional talent
  • Linda Sammut – hair makeup additional talent
  • Gavin Taylor – titles and motion graphics
  • Les Umberger – titles and motion graphics
  • Ben Schwartz – additional writing
  • Bruce Vilanch – additional writing
  • Sunset Edit – post-production
  • Possum Hill – behind the scenes
  • Daylan Williams – behind the scenes
  • Mitchie Meija – behind the scenes
  • Andy Theiss – behind the scenes
  • Reece Miller – behind the scenes
  • Michael E. Estrella – first assistant director
  • Jimmy Ramirez – second assistant director
  • Mike Scheneir – camera operator
  • Heather Brown – camera operator
  • Christian Meola – swing
  • Matt Conrad – camera technician
  • Stuart Hammond – camera technician
  • Jonathan Dec – clapper loader
  • Steve Pennel – art coordinator
  • Jamie Klasfeld – party supervisor
  • Tony Bollas – sound
  • Tracy Mills – video tape recorder
  • Carrie La – location manager
  • Stephen Kardell – location manager
  • Rony Alwin – still photographer
  • Alex Cruz – production assistant
  • Petra Westen – production assistant
  • Mario Valladares – production assistant
  • Kristin Guinn – production assistant
  • Breece Wilson – production assistant
  • Tony Alvarez – production assistant
  • Matt Hudson – production assistant
  • Deeter Lota – production assistant
  • Anthony Ortiz – production assistant
  • Hank Hartnell – production assistant
  • Henry Arres – production assistant

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[85] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[86] Platinum 60,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[87] Platinum 80,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[88] Gold 15,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[89] Gold 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[90] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[91] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[31] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Birthday"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
United States April 21, 2014 Contemporary hit radio Original Capitol [92]
Rhythmic contemporary [93]
May 20, 2014 Digital download Cash Cash remix [47]
United Kingdom May 22, 2014 [citation needed]
Italy June 6, 2014 Radio airplay Original [94]

See also

References

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External links

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