Released May 27, 2014 Length 4:14 | Recorded 2014 | |
Genre Electro-hoptamilworldbeat Writer(s) William AdamsA. R. RahmanKeith HarrisCody Wise | ||
"It's My Birthday" is a song by American hip hop recording artist and DJ will.i.am and American singer Cody Wise, who is signed to Interscope Records through will.i.am's imprint. The song was recorded in 2014 and released as a single on May 27, 2014. It samples the Tamil song "Urvasi Urvasi", from the 1995 Tamil film Kadhalan, composed by the Indian composer A. R. Rahman.
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"It's My Birthday" topped the charts in the United Kingdom, becoming will.i.am's tenth chart-topper there (including five as a member of The Black Eyed Peas). The song also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, as well as the top 30 in Belgium, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland.
Background
The song was co-written with A. R. Rahman, composer of "Urvasi Urvasi" from the 1994 Tamil Indian film Kadhalan. "It's My Birthday" also samples the popular Jamaican songs "Pull Up to Mi Bumper" by Konshens & J Capri, "Fi Di Jockey" by Aidonia and Bounty Killer chanting 'Big Ship Sailing'.
Critical reception
Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the song a moderate review stating, saying: "The final result doesn't wander too far away from his recent successful offerings, but with a hint of the new here and there, will.i.am proves once again he can have his cake and eat it whether it's his birthday or not."
Chart performance
"It's My Birthday" topped the charts in the United Kingdom―where will.i.am appears as a coach on The Voice UK―becoming will.i.am's tenth chart-topper there (including five as a member of The Black Eyed Peas), as well as Wise's first chart success in that country. "It's My Birthday" also became the second Rahman-related song to peak inside the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom, the first being "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" alongside The Pussycat Dolls which peaked at number three there in April 2009. "It's My Birthday" also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, as well as the top 30 of the charts in Belgium, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland.
Music video
The music video was uploaded to YouTube on May 28, 2014, using the Apple and Twitter software Vine. The video also features popular Viners such as Alphacat, Jerry Purpdrank, Liane V, King Bach and DeStorm Power. The video was credited to Interscope Productions and Maker Studios artists.
Live performances
will.i.am and Wise performed the song in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2014, appearing on the fourth semi-final of the eighth season of Britain's Got Talent. On July 21, 2014 the duo performed it with virtual body doubles on The Voice Australia, which was said to be "one of the biggest performances of the whole night". On July 29, 2014, they sang it on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. They appeared on Good Morning America the next day.