Background music for a birthday party. A roundup of recommended birthday songs
At family and friends’ birthday parties, a birthday song is absolutely essential, right?
You can sing it when the cake appears or play it as party background music—it’ll shine in all kinds of moments.
But when it comes time to pick songs, you might find yourself thinking, “I can’t come up with any good ones!” or “I can’t think of enough tracks to run as BGM.”
So in this article, we’ll introduce a roundup of recommended birthday songs that work not only as the main celebratory tune but also as party background music.
It’s also a great idea to create a playlist of just your favorites from the songs introduced here and use it as BGM.
We hope this helps you choose the perfect tracks.
- [Also great as video BGM] A birthday song to give a friend on their birthday
- Disney songs recommended for birthdays!
- [Birthday Songs] A collection of birthday songs you can choose from to match the person and the occasion
- Songs for birthdays you’ll want to listen to and give—birthday songs with lyrics that touch the heart
- [Party BGM] Introducing popular and latest tracks that are guaranteed to get the crowd going
- Songs to gift for longevity celebrations: heartwarming classics and popular tunes about life
- Make your once-a-year special day dazzling! A birthday song born in the Heisei era
- [For Gifts and Video BGM] A Song for Celebrating the 60th Birthday (Kanreki)
- Brighten your special day with happiness! A birthday song born in the Reiwa era
- Recommended Japanese birthday songs to give on someone's birthday
- [1st Birthday] Perfect songs for kids’ celebrations—great for birthday parties and videos
- A popular TikTok song to send to someone special on their birthday
- A moving birthday song to give on someone’s special day. A birthday song so heartfelt it could bring you to tears.
Birthday party BGM that gets the party going (21–30)
Birthday SongMerofuroto
It’s a warm, heartfelt song that stands beside the feeling of sincerely celebrating a loved one’s birthday.
Released in January 2024, this track by Melo Float was created to convey blessings and gratitude to those celebrating their birthdays.
While upbeat, it carries a heartwarming melody that expresses messages of celebration and everyday appreciation.
It has gained popularity among younger generations on social media and is widely used as BGM for birthday celebration videos.
It’s an ideal song for those who want to make birthdays cheerful and festive, such as for surprise videos celebrating close friends or family, or as background music for birthday parties.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number
A gem of a love song that delicately captures the bittersweetness of unrequited love through the once-a-year special day of a birthday.
The loneliness of not receiving a “Happy Birthday” from the one you like, and the hope that today you’ll finally find the courage to confess your feelings, press upon the heart alongside a beautiful melody.
back number’s February 2019 single was selected as the theme song for the TBS drama “A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love,” produced by Takeshi Kobayashi.
It’s also perfect for those looking for a track to use as BGM at a dear friend’s birthday party or in a surprise video.
When you want to convey your feelings through music, this is a song you’ll want to keep close to your heart.
Thank you for being born.KREVA
This is a warm message song that sings of gratitude for someone’s existence.
It’s a collaboration between KREVA and singer-songwriter Yu Sakai, blending elements of hip-hop and R&B into a comfortable, mellow sound.
Released in March 2009, the track is also included on the single “Ao” (Blue).
The lyrics center on themes of encounters and appreciation for existence, expressing sincere feelings with a touch of bashfulness.
It’s a perfect song for birthdays when you want to convey your gratitude to someone special.
BA・BA・BA BIRTHDAY SONGDJ OZMA
DJ OZMA, who energized Japan with his sparkling, flashy bodysuits and outrageously cheerful songs, was thought to keep the party going in the Japanese music scene forever—but he retired to much regret on December 31, 2008.
Still, no matter how many years pass, the groove in his music never fades.
For a celebratory birthday, how about pumping things up with this irresistibly upbeat track from DJ OZMA? Even if you don’t know the lyrics, you’ll somehow find yourself humming along—an easy-to-enjoy, highly recommended song for everyone.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOHAND DRIP
HAND DRIP is a vocal unit with the unusual lineup of one guitar and three vocalists, hailing from Kyoto and Osaka.
Their song “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO” has a funky vibe that makes it perfect for birthday celebrations! In particular, this track carries a strong message of “wanting to thank you for being born,” so if you surprise someone by singing it to them, it might move them to tears of joy.
Be sure to gift this song to someone special.
BIRTHDAY SONGJUDY AND MARY
“BIRTHDAY SONG” intertwines a band sound driven by thunderous low-end grooves with melodic flair.
It opens the legendary band JUDY AND MARY’s 1997 album “THE POWER SOURCE.” The lyrics shimmer with sensuality while evoking a bright, forward-moving future, and they carry a sense of innocence as well.
It’s an instant mood-lifter—perfect for spinning at a birthday party.
Its message also suits fresh starts and restarts, so it might be a great gift not only for your best friend but also for any friend—regardless of gender—with whom you’d like to deepen your relationship.
BirthdayMr.Children
An upbeat tune with acoustic guitar cutting that will make your heart dance.
It’s the theme song for Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s New Dinosaur, and it seems to mirror Nobita’s efforts for someone else and the feelings you have for your friends.
As you spend time together, you become more alike—this song brings to mind those precious friends who feel like you’re two hearts beating as one.
It’s so uplifting to listen to that I think it would be really fun to sing together with friends at karaoke! Here’s to making many more wonderful memories!