"Birthday" is a song written and recorded by Icelandic alternative rock band the Sugarcubes. It was released as a single in 1987, and included in their 1988 debut album Life's Too Good. It was their first international single and the first single released from the album. The Icelandic version, "Ammæli", was released on the Iceland-only single "Einn Mol'á Mann" the previous year, and it was included as the B-side on the international single and on the frontwoman Björk's box set Family Tree (2002).
After "Birthday" became the single of the week in Melody Maker magazine and NME in August 1987, and was selected as number one in John Peel's Festive Fifty list, the band attained worldwide recognition and success. In the United Kingdom, the song was the group's first chart entry at number 65 and also reached number two on the country's indie charts. In the US it was ranked at number 15 on The Village Voices "Pazz & Jop" critics' annual year-end poll to find the best music of 1988. The Sugarcubes performed the song, along with "Motorcrash" on Saturday Night Live during the 15 October 1988 episode, which was hosted by Matthew Broderick.
Accolades PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRankNME United KingdomNME Rock Years, Single of the Year 1963-99 2000*The 100 Best Songs of the 1980s 201228The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time2014224The Top 100 Singles of All Time200289Mojo 80 from the 80s: Our Fave 45s for Each Year, 1980-1989 20072QThe 1010 Songs You Must Own2004*QThe Ultimate Music Collection2005*UncutThe 100 Greatest Singles from the Post-Punk Era200180Gilles Verlant and Thomas CausséFrance3000 Rock Classics2013*Hervé BourhisThe Juke Box Singles 1950-2012*Les Inrockuptibles1000 Indispensable Songs2006*1000 Necessary Songs2015*Rolling Stone United StatesSingles of the Year19889Village Voice15Melody MakerUnited Kingdom1NME8Record Mirror4Rock de LuxSpain9PanoramaNorwayThe 30 Best Singles of the Year 1970-98199998Rock de LuxSpainThe Top 100 Songs from 1984-1993199318Bruce PollockUnited StatesThe 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-20002005*PitchforkThe Pitchfork 5002008*The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s2015172Shredding PaperThe 50 Greatest Singles Ever200240Woxy.comModern Rock 500 Songs of All Time2009135TrebleThe Top 200 Songs of the 80s2011185 (*) designates lists that are unordered.
Track listing UK 7" vinyl
Side A "Birthday" – 03:58 Side B "Birthday" (Icelandic) – 03:57 UK 12" vinyl
Side A "Birthday" – 03:58 "Birthday" (Icelandic) – 03:57 Side B "Cat" (Icelandic) – 02:56 UK CD "Birthday" – 3:58 "Motorcrash" – 02:23 "Cat" (Icelandic) – 02:56 "Birthday" (Icelandic) – 03:57
Remixes The song was remixed in 1988 by Jim and William Reid of the Jesus and Mary Chain and reissued as "Birthday (The Christmas Mixes)".
Remixes by Justin Robertson and Tommy D were produced in 1992 for the compilation It's-It, and were also released as a single.
Covers A cover of this song has been recorded by Chitose Hajime in 2001. It has also been covered by the Mars Volta in 2008. Jackie Oates also recorded this song on her 2009 album Hyperboreans (One Little Indian). M. Ward released a cover of this song in 2021.
Charts ChartPeakpositionNew Zealand (Official New Zealand Music Chart)41UK Singles (OCC)65UK Dance Singles (Music Week)34UK Independent Singles1
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