Birthday

Song written by Ricky Wilde, Scarlett Wilde and Shane Lee.
Originally recorded as a demo called ‘It’s Your Birthday’ by Scarlett in 2012, it was eventually recorded by Kim.
Eighth track on the album Here Come the Aliens. Released as the third single from the album.

Versions

There are three versions of ‘Birthday’: the album version, a radio edit and a live version recorded in Munich, released on the album Aliens Live.

Live performances

‘Birthday’ was performed live during the Here Come the Aliens Tour and during the Return of the Aliens Tour.

Kim about ‘Birthday’

‘Birthday’ was inspired by, amongst others, a band called the Sounds and of course a bit of Blondie, and ‘Birthday’ really talks about partying like it’s your birthday every day of your life. ‘cos, you never know when you’re not gonna be here so you may as well make today great. (1)

Ricky about ‘Birthday’

Back in the day Scarlett got her own band. We wrote about six, seven tracks, of which I think three may be on ‘Here Come the Aliens’. I just thought they were such good songs, we’d both been listening to them sporadically over the years. When we started recording ‘Aliens’ I just happened to play some of those tracks in the car and I just thought they could be revisited and brought up to date. A few changes were made, and a few lyric changes, and it took on a new life. (2)

Credits

Drums: Jonathan Atkinson
Bass: Paul Cooper
Guitar: Neil Jones
Keyboards, guitar: Ricky Wilde
Backing vocals: Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde, Scarlett Wilde

Interview sources

(1) Track by track video, YouTube, 12 March 2018
(2) Unsung Heroes podcast, 23 July 2021


Lyrics

Monday begins,
Before you know it Friday’s ending,
Your feeling that your life is passing you by, wo oh..

What is there for you,
aside from all the things that haunt you?
You’re feeling that you’re running out of time.. your time.

So dance like it’s your Birthday,
You gotta dance and we will follow,
It’s your night take the spotlight,
Scream like the world is yours.
You gotta jump like it’s your Birthday,
You gotta shout like there’s no tomorrow,
This is now,
Gotta show ‘em how to party the night is yours,
It’s your Birthday now wow wow wow..

So let the celebrations begin,
Feel the liberation within,
It’s your time to shine..

‘Cos if you let the rhythm take you,
To the place they’ll never break you,
You’ll learn to love the life living in the fast lane, once again.

Use this time to figure out,
What this life’s all about,
Make tonight a night to remember..

It’s your Birthday now…
Oooh yeah the night is yours..
It’s your Birthday!!