"Happy Birthday" by The Ting Tings

 

This may seem like sacrilege, but the 1981 hit single "Happy Birthday" from Glasgow, Scotland new wavers Altered Images.... is kind of stinky cheese.

The lyrics blow.  

It's.... catchy enough, I guess?

But, this.... THIS.... is awesome.

A veritable army of young kids wearing Brobee t-shirts and dancing semi-rhythmically?

A cotton candy drumstick?

Quirkus McGirkus DJ Lance Rock being himself?

Manchester, UK indie pop duo The TING TINGS?

In less than three minutes, this video takes a regular old birthday and cranks it up a full two notches on the happy-o-meter.

The only thing that could make a birthday happier than this here video would be the Philadelphia Flyers clinching it on home ice tonight.  C'mon, Flyers!

For a cover of The Ting Tings, the Sunscreen version of "That's Not My Name" can be found here.

"All Day Day Light" by Warm Electric

 

St Louis, Missouri electro rock artist Warm Electric covers "All Day Day Light," a 2010 baroque pop release from Brooklyn by way of Berkeley, California indie group The Morning Benders.

All day day light occurs in Alaska for multiple months at a time, due to Earth's axial tilt.

"These Dreams" by MYMP

 

Quezon City, Philippines acoustic artists MYMP cover "These Dreams," a 1985 single from Seattle, Washington hard rock band Heart.

According to the website My Sleep Advisor, these dreams about hearts could symbolize love and affection, or could be a warning sign of unresolved emotional issues and a need for self-care.

For more Heart covers, the Oceans of Slumber version of "Alone" can be found here, and the Blitzen Trapper version of "Crazy on You" can be found here.

"The Luckiest" by Dragonfly Sky

 

Hittin' different this year, as the youngsters would say, is the Surrey, UK duo Dragonfly Sky with their cover of the 2001 sobfest "The Luckiest" from Winston-Salem, North Carolina pianist and suburb rocker Ben Folds.

For past versions of "The Luckiest," check out:

• Sara Gazarek
• Fox Menagerie
• Stephanie Erin Brill
• Charlotte Littlehales

"Breaking Us in Two" by Mandy Moore

 

Nashua, New Hampshire singer/actress Mandy Moore covers "Breaking Us in Two," a 1982 sophisto-pop single from Staffordshire, UK artist Joe Jackson.

A short list of Mandy Moore's couplings that were broken in two:

• Wilmer Valderrama
• Zach Braff
• Andy Roddick
• Ryan Adams

For another Joe Jackson cover, the American Hi-Fi version of "Steppin' Out" can be found here.

"Birds of a Feather" by Lake Rana

 

Emo dudes Lake Rana cover "Birds of a Feather," a 2024 baroque pop release from fellow Los Angeles, California artist Billie Eilish.

If you're looking for an emo bird of a feather, here you go.

For more Eilish covers, the Carver Commodore version of "Bad Guy" can be found here, and the Rain Paris version of "Therefore I Am" can be found here.

"Safari Song" by Cluster Fuzz

 Burbank, Illinois band Cluster Fuzz cover "Safari Song," a 2017 single from Frankenmuth, Michigan predominantly sibling blues rock group Greta Van Fleet.