Harmonising whilst singing happy birthday

[NCParanoia]

Caveat: I know there's bigger and worse things going on in the world that I should be annoyed at, but here we are.

Does this make anyone else totally cringe? I have a family member who always harmonises when we sing happy birthday, especially the last bit. I find it so cringey.. its a bit me me me when the point of singing happy birthday is for the birthday person to be in the limelight. Also isn't it something awful we all sing just because we have to, not because we want to?

Am I alone in this? Do you harmonise when singing happy birthday? If so - why?!

(I promise I'm also a happy, fun person who likes to have a good time. I appreciate i sound like a massive birthday grinch)

I’m totally with you - it’s so “look at meeeee!!!!”

Urgh CRINGE

I know someone who does this as well. In any scenario because she is SUCH A GIFTED SINGER who needs everyione to know it. Then she makes a point of singing whatever is being sung in a different lanaguage, the original if she can manage it. (so - German if it is silent night for example).

I stopped sitting next to her at weddings. She belted out such a corker at a wedding a few years back that the people infront of her actually shook with laughter and had to sit down because they were holding their sides so hard.

If I knew somebody like this I would have to position myself somewhere in the church/room for optimal gawking and PMSL with minimal chance of them noticing me I would find this so amusing!

On the note of the OP - is it even possible to harmonise if you're literally the only one doing it?!!

You're not very British if you don't awkwardly sing Happy Birthday out of tune each one of you trying to vocally hide behind somebody else

@EvaHoffman

Oh dear, I do this! DCs hate it and ask me not to and I have always wondered why.

In my head it makes a routine song sound more interesting, I think I'm putting in some extra effort for the benefit of the birthday person, a bit like making a home made cake instead of buying in the shop.

I'm prepared to stop if people on here can give me a really clear explanation why it's wrong!

The really clear explanation is that it makes you look like a self important wanker.

When singing Happy Birthday, the birthday person should be the centre of attention. Instead someone harmonising is basically taking the limelight and going "look at ME everyone. Look what a great singer I am. This song is all about ME. I'm so very special, give ME all your attention".

It's inappropriate and selfish to draw attention to yourself at a point where someone else should rightfully be the centre of attention.

A bit like announcing your pregnancy on some else's wedding day, or announcing your engagement at someone's birthday party...

This thread reminds of one I read years ago about a mum who used to harmonize at baby/toddler rhyme time. Harmonizing to row, row, row your boat etc

This thread has properly cheered me up, especially "grab an instrument" and "third world problem" 🤣🤣. I mime happy birthday cos it's just too high for me, maybe I should harmonise a bit lower?

I always just mouth along to the lyrics. I find the entire thing cripplingly embarrassing for some reason.If someone harmonized, I would be forced to immediately leave.

I hate happy birthday sing to me in fact we’ve stopped our in-laws from doing.

But who decides who will sing each key...what if everyone went high...

@NCParanoia
Harmonising is def NOT singing in a different key!
Exactly the same key but different notes.
Either way is cringeworthy in a home setting

In my head it makes a routine song sound more interesting

In everybody else's head, they're wondering why you need to be the centre of attention and somebody else's birthday party.

at*

@Hotandknackered imagine how the Everley Brothers sang, or the Mamas & Papas. So singing the same line & lyrics at the same time (and generally rhythm) but all singing different but complementary melodies.

Sorry musical people if I have used the wrong terminology.

Yanbu op. So cringey.

@ODFOkaren

I come from a family of wankers (read “singers” and “musicians”) and they ALL do this. It’s like a competitive sport.

And given the opportunity they grab an instrument to play while they are at it.

It makes me want to rip my ears off.

I fucking hate the lot of them and only go for the cake as I’m a fat bastard.

Fuck. This is classic. I'm dying here man!

@ODFOkaren that comment made me laugh so much

I live for the harmonies in any song going. It makes me happy and glad when I hear them. Cringey is good for my soul. I like it. It's fun.

I can't find the second and third verses anywhere. Can anyone link them?

@Cheetahfajita

What does harmonise mean?

I was going to ask that too!

The really clear explanation is that it makes you look like a self important wanker.

When singing Happy Birthday, the birthday person should be the centre of attention. Instead someone harmonising is basically taking the limelight and going "look at ME everyone. Look what a great singer I am. This song is all about ME. I'm so very special, give ME all your attention".

This really made me lol @mrsm43s

Yes sorry you're right Frazzled. My brain has melted slightly.

@EvaHoffman

Oh dear, I do this! DCs hate it and ask me not to and I have always wondered why.

In my head it makes a routine song sound more interesting, I think I'm putting in some extra effort for the benefit of the birthday person, a bit like making a home made cake instead of buying in the shop.

I'm prepared to stop if people on here can give me a really clear explanation why it's wrong!

I think the very fact that you consider your harmonising/singing to be a special gift or treat to the birthday person like making them a cake is exactly the problem!

So glad its not just me! Was waiting to be roasted and told I was a grumpy twat.

I get the (obvs harmonisers) point that music is lovely and enjoyable and thsy adding a harmony to something is nice, but during happy birthday it is just inappropriate because the only reason its being done is to seek attention because 'look how good at singing I am!'.

Also to add, in response to the PP who said that her DDs do this, that my happy birthday harmoniser is a professional singer and sounds fantastic when doing it. Its still cringey and attention seeking even though it sounds nice!

@Witchend

When students we went out for a friend's 21st at a pizza place. She was a member of a choral society, and about 3/4 of the people were from that. So we had happy birthday sung beautifully in 4 part harmony. It really sounded fantastic.

It contrasted with the drunk equivalent from a rowdy table of 6 a bit later.

When I was a student (at Oxbridge, I think I have to say that as the whole thing doesn't make sense otherwise) the choir would do a massive, self-indulgent harmonised performance of happy birthday at dinner every time one of them had a birthday.

It was a key example of why everyone hated them.

Here are tha 2nd and 3rd verses. You're welcome!