Songs for birthdays you’ll want to listen to and give—birthday songs with lyrics that touch the heart

GIFTMr.Children

Mr.Children「GIFT」Music Video(Short ver.)

A grand, heart-stirring ballad is perfect for those once-a-year emotional moments.

The 32nd single by Mr.Children, one of Japan’s leading rock bands, released in July 2008, was chosen as the theme song for NHK’s broadcast of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.

Its beautiful melody, colored by strings, and its warm, all-encompassing sound are deeply moving.

The song celebrates the importance of a brilliance that can’t be seen, yet resides in everyone.

It’s the perfect track for expressing gratitude that might feel a bit embarrassing in everyday life.

Birthdayretororiron

Birthday

Retro Riron’s major 3rd single “Birthday” is a song that overlays the resolve to step out of a stagnant daily life with the milestone of a birthday.

It sings of a protagonist who has been drifting through aimless days yet chooses to renew themselves.

The mid-tempo pop-rock sound—woven from soulful vocals and a genre-defying ensemble—builds toward a chorus that opens up with a sense of release.

It’s a number that gently nudges forward those who want to change but can’t quite take the first step.

Birthday SongMerofuroto

Birthday Song

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.

birthdayKumaki Anri

Anri Kumaki “Birthday”

Anri Kumaki’s “Tanjoubi” (“Birthday”) is a beloved classic for people in Kansai.

It plays every weekday evening during the newborn introduction segment on Yomiuri TV’s Kansai Joho Net Ten!, so just hearing it may bring some to tears as they recall the birth of a family member.

It’s a lyrical, gentle ballad featuring tender vocals, piano, and strings.

Birthday Song – 2022 ver.yuka

Birthday Song -2022 ver.- (Official Audio)

This is a song that lets you offer heartfelt congratulations on a special day for someone important to you.

Yuka, a singer-songwriter who rose to popularity after a post on social media went viral, captivates with her warm yet steadfast vocals.

Rather than simply saying “congratulations,” this piece conveys deep love and gratitude directly, affirming the recipient’s extra-hard efforts and the entire path they’ve taken.

Originally sung during her indie days, it was reborn with a new arrangement in February 2022 and released as the first installment of a three-month consecutive release project.

If you give it as a surprise to a hard-working friend or to family whose growth you’ve watched over, it’s sure to fill the moment with warmth.

It also makes an excellent background track for birthday videos.

Happy BirthdayQ;indivi Starring Rin Oikawa

Happy Birthday

This sparkling, radiant track is a happy tune that elevates the celebratory mood.

It’s a number released under the name Q;indivi Starring Rin Oikawa, with music producer Yusuke Tanaka leading Q;indivi and Rin Oikawa on vocals—her crystal-clear voice is absolutely lovely! The album Happy Celebration, which includes this song, was released in December 2010 and made waves by topping the dance chart even before its release.

Filled with pure feelings of celebrating someone special, this piece is a perfect BGM choice for a stylish birthday video.

Use it for a surprise for a friend, and they’re sure to love it.

Your Song for YouKawasaki Takaya

Takaya Kawasaki - Kimi no Tame no Kimi no Uta [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

It’s a heartwarming song that exquisitely weaves together the grand history of the universe and encounters between people.

With Takaya Kawasaki’s gentle vocals and the warm sound of an acoustic guitar, it carefully threads feelings for someone special.

Originally included on the July 2018 album “I believe in you,” the track was re-released by Victor Entertainment following an indie release from S-Rise Music/Flying Voice Inc.

While invoking a vast sense of scale—such as the world’s population and the history of the cosmos—it sings of the miracle of meeting the one you love.

It’s perfect not only as background music for creating a birthday surprise video, but also as a BGM choice for expressing gratitude to a dear friend.