Musings | Leah Natale

0 Happy Birthday To You?

Have you ever wondered why you don’t hear the waiters sing Happy Birthday while celebrating a birthday at a chain restaurant, like Red Robin or Buca DiBeppo? Instead they gather round the table and clap while singing a peppy celebratory song, either of their own creation or possibly another traditional song like For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow. The reason for this is simply Happy Birthday is not in the public domain; it’s actually copyrighted and, in short, money is owed to those who hold the copyright when the song is sung in public.

According to the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records Happy Birthday is the most recognized song in the English language. The origins of Happy Birthday date back to 1880’s, when two sisters, Patty and Mildred J. Hill introduced this simple tune to their kindergarten class using the lyrics Good Morning to You. As time went on, informal lyrics such as Happy Vacation To You, Good Bye To You and eventually Happy Birthday were added.

In 1893, the sisters officially published the tune Good Morning To You in the songbook Song Stories for the Kindergarten by the Summy Company but they did not include the lyrics of Happy Birthday. The first publication to include the Happy Birthday lyrics in the second chorus wasn’t until 1912 in The Beginners’ Book of Songs, published by the Cable Company, a piano manufacturer. Even as the song gained popularity the sisters never published or copyrighted the lyrics of Happy Birthday.

In 1935, Happy Birthday was officially copyrighted and the Summy Company won the rights to the song. The Summy Company was soon taken over by Birch Tree Group Limited, who continued to enforce the song’s copyright. In 1988, Warner Communications acquired Birch Tree Group Limited along with 50,000 other titles for $25 million. Warner Communications continues to insist one cannot sing the Happy Birthday lyrics for profit without paying royalties.***

In 2008, Warner collected over $5,000 per day ($2 million per year) in song-related royalties. Warner claims copyright for every use in film, television, and radio, anywhere open to the public or “for any group where a substantial number of those in attendance are not family or friends of whoever is performing the song.” ***

So the next time you see a movie and there is a scene celebrating a birthday or you are at restaurant marking a milestone occasion, you may hear For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow or an original birthday song, but not the most recognized song in the English language.

sources: *** / general

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1 Another Way To Listen To Music

Have you listened to the latest American Idol contestants or watched a Katy Perry video? There seems to be one thing missing from these singers’ voices: tone.

So what is tone? And why does it matter?

Tone is color and texture of a sound. For example, an instrument produces a different range of “colors” than the human voice. The metallic brightness of a flute sounds very different than the warmth of a skilled soprano singer, though each may have similar pitch ranges.

Many of today’s singers unconsciously create a thinner metallic sound by singing though their nasal passages rather than singing from the diaphragm or core. While singing from the nasal passages can often create power in the voice, the warmth in the tone disappears.

An American Idol contestant singing from her nasal passages, demonstrating power but lacking a warm tone

Many vocalists also rely on “auto tune,” a computer program that automatically corrects a voice’s pitch after a recording session. When this program is used, it can be very difficult to recreate the human element of a rich warm tone and as a result an electronic thinner sound is created. To the average listener it can be very subtle and often go unnoticed, but when songs are slowed down and the instrumentation is taken away the technology used to “clean up” the song becomes obvious.

Listen for Katy Perry’s electronic sound and the use of “auto tune”

As technology continues to change the sound of today’s pop music, masking the true essence of the human voice it is important to be aware of vocal skills such as breath control, pitch and tone. One example of and artist who naturally exhibited all of these skills without the use of an auto pitch program was Karen Carpenter.

Karen Carpenter’s pure tone with no “auto tune”

Even though there are numerous performers today who use auto-tuning, there are those who refuse. Fiona Apple is a prime example of someone stays away from the “Botox of the music industry” and exhibits a natural warm tone similar to Karen Carpenter.

While I enjoy listening to the flawless pitch of Katy Perry songs, and the power behind the vocals of the American Idol contestants, I prefer the natural warm tones and subtle nuances that Karen Carpenter and Fiona Apple bring to their songs.

Just another way to listen to music.

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0 Not Afraid

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0 Upcoming Event: Sorrento Nights, 11/23

I’m performing this Saturday night, 7:30-10:30p, with Casey MacGill and Rick Leppenen, at the Sorrento Hotel.

Details:
• 900 Madison St, Seattle, WA 98104
• Open to the public
• For more information, please visit the Sorrento Hotel’s event page.

For upcoming performances, please visit my calendar.

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0 Looks Can be Deceiving

Today I’m sharing one of my favorite singers, Peggy Lee. I love her cool relaxed style – she makes it look soooo easy.

Hope you can join me this Saturday night, 11/23 at 7:30p, at Sorrento Hotel’s Sorrento Nights. I’ll be performing with Casey MacGill and Rick Leppanen.

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