Popular Birthday Song Rankings [2026]

Thank youikimonogakari22rank/position

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

This is a heartwarming song filled with gratitude.

Ikimono-gakari’s gentle vocals and lyrics expressing thanks for the time spent together resonate deeply with listeners.

Released in 2010, it was also used as the theme song for the drama “GeGeGe no Nyōbō.” The song reached a personal best of No.

2 on the Oricon charts and won the Excellence Award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards, earning the love of many.

It’s a perfect song for expressing gratitude to someone special or for farewells such as graduation ceremonies.

Using it in a birthday video will convey your appreciation even more strongly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYMONGOL80023rank/position

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

MONGOL800’s “Birthday Song” is a track that straightforwardly expresses the joy of celebrating a birthday.

Released on April 7, 2000, it was included on the album “GO ON AS YOU ARE.” Its lyrics convey a positive attitude toward growing older and the happiness of being celebrated by loved ones, delivering a simple yet heartfelt message.

Also used as the theme song for NHK General TV’s “Tsurube no Kazoku ni Kanpai,” this piece is perfect not only for those celebrating their own birthday but also for anyone who wants to celebrate someone special.

Be sure to give it a listen—its warm sound encapsulates the musical style of MONGOL800, an Okinawa-based band.

HappinessAI24rank/position

AI – Happiness

This is a renowned R&B-style song that portrays a chain of hope and happiness.

Released in December 2011, it was inspired by a drawing made by a child that AI saw during a meeting.

With its strong, heartfelt message, the song was featured in Coca-Cola’s Christmas campaign from 2011 to 2015, bringing a warm atmosphere to many.

Included on the album “INDEPENDENT,” it became highly popular, earning Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

Reminding us that happiness is always close by, this track is perfect as background music for a video gift on a friend’s birthday.

If you send it while reflecting on the precious moments you’ve shared and conveying your feelings for them, it’s sure to make them happy.

Happy BirthdayEXILE25rank/position

Happy Birthday / EXILE / Piano (Solo) / Beginner to Intermediate

“Happy Birthday,” included on EXILE’s fourth album “ASIA,” released in 2006 by the hugely popular group that dominated the J-POP scene from the 2000s onward, is a hidden gem of a birthday song that expresses simple feelings for a loved one.

With its Black contemporary-inspired sound, gentle vocals, and lyrics—and given that the original track is primarily accompanied by piano—it’s well-suited to being performed on piano alone.

There are quite a few accidentals, which may puzzle beginners, but the tempo is relaxed, so with repeated practice you should get used to it quickly.

By all means, try playing it while thinking of your special partner.

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KOH-1

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From your momHatsuda Etsuko26rank/position

Etsuko Hatsuda 'From Your Mom' Solo Performance – Daughter! Happy 12th Birthday!

“From Your Mama” is Etsuko Hatsuta’s debut single, released in 2009.

It’s a song in which a mother’s love for her child is conveyed through gentle music and straightforward lyrics.

Hatsuta, a mother of two herself, writes of the swelling affection during pregnancy, the stumbles and regrets of inexperienced parenting, and the way she grows stronger little by little, coming to love her child from the bottom of her heart.

A baby’s first year—turning one—is truly special.

As you look back on this past year, let this song help you reaffirm your love for your child.

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sasashina

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Happy Birthday to You27rank/position

Happy birthday to you [Happy Birthday to You] with vocals

“Happy Birthday to You” is such a classic birthday song that it’s fair to say everyone, young or old, knows it.

In fact, the song has a very long history: it originated as a parody of “Good Morning to All,” composed in the United States around 1893.

Its simple melody, easy enough for small children to sing, is perfect for birthday parties at nurseries and kindergartens.

Don’t forget to include the birthday child’s name in the final line of the lyrics!

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Yuuki

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White lilies on my birthdayFukuyama Masaharu28rank/position

Masaharu Fukuyama – Pure White Lilies for Your Birthday (Full ver.)

A singer-songwriter Masaharu Fukuyama’s song that celebrates special days with poignant lyrics and a soothing melody.

Released in April 2013 as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Tonbi,” the piece centers on family bonds and the relationship between parent and child, expressing gratitude from a child to a parent.

It also reflects Fukuyama’s own feelings toward his father, conveying a deep sense of love.

The white lily’s language of flowers—purity and gratitude—symbolizes the affection for someone celebrating a birthday.

It’s a heartwarming ballad perfect for special occasions like birthdays and weddings, when you want to express thanks to someone important.