As of 2010, The Swingle Singers are comprised of:
- Joanna Goldsmith-Eteson (soprano, UK)
- Sara Brimer (soprano, US)
- Clare Wheeler (alto, UK)
- Lucy Bailey (alto, UK)
- Richard Eteson* (tenor, UK)
- Christopher Jay (tenor, UK)
- Kevin Fox (baritone, Canada)
- Tobias Hug (bass, Germany)
* Richard Eteson recently announced his departure from the group.
History of The Swingle Singers
The Swingle Singers were a vocal group originally founded in Paris, France in 1962 and comprised of Ward Swingle, Anne Germain, Jeanette Baucomont, and Jean Cussac.
The group, directed primarily by the eponymous Ward Swingle and accompanied by bass and drums, produced complicated, technically impressive covers of anything from modern classics (The Beatles) to classical music (Tchaikovsky, Beethoven) to opera (Rossini). Their arrangements are often informed by jazz harmonies and stylings. Other influences included Nat King Cole, various smooth singers and pianists.
The Swingle Singers were active in classical music. A 'hit' for them was Bach's 'Air On The G String', recorded with the Modern Jazz Quartet. Luciano Berio wrote his postmodern symphony Sinfonia for eight voices and orchestra with them in mind.
The original group disbanded in 1973 but has reformed several times since, using different names but continuing Ward Swingle's tradition of jazz-infused arrangements and extreme technical proficiency. The most current incarnation of the group is once again called The Swingle Singers.
The Swingel Singers official site: http://www.swinglesingers.com
Birthday
The Swingle Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm going to drink some beer
Fall off my chair, yeah
It's my birthday
I'm going to spill my drink
And slur my words
Embarrass my friends
I'm going to make a noise
Annoy the neighbors
They owe me a favor
On my birthday
They all say, I should be grown up by now
He's too old to behave like a clown
Even though he's always been a fool
He's uncool, he's uncool
I'm getting fatter and lazier
Losing my hair but I don't care, no
It's my birthday
I got a brand new suit
I got some balloons and a cake, yeah
It's my birthday
All my friends are running late
I need some help to celebrate
My birthday
They all say I should be grown up by now
Get a decent job, comb your hair and settle down
He's too old to behave like a clown
Even though he's always been a fool
He's uncool, he's uncool
I'm going to smoke some pot
I'm going to drink some beer
Fall off my chair, yeah
It's my birthday
I'm going to make a noise
Annoy the neighbors
They owe me a favor
On my birthday
They all say I should be grown up by now
Get a decent job, comb your hair and settle down
He's too old to behave like a clown
Even though he's always been a fool
He's uncool, he's uncool
Even though he's always been a fool
He's uncool, he's uncool
He's such a fool, he's so uncool
---
Lyrics powered by maxiocio.net
written by O'DOHERTY, CHRIS
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
The Swingle Singers' song "Birthday" is a humorous take on a person's birthday celebration. In the opening lines, the singer expresses his intention to smoke some pot and drink some beer, which suggests a desire to let loose and have a good time. The subsequent lines describe the singer's penchant for clumsiness and embarrassing behavior, which he seems to relish, stating "It's my birthday" repeatedly. While his friends urge him to grow up and behave more appropriately for his age, the singer insists on enjoying himself in his own way, singing "Even though he's always been a fool, he's uncool."
Through its light-hearted and somewhat satirical lyrics, "Birthday" captures the essence of the birthday celebration: a day to relax and enjoy oneself without worrying about societal expectations. The singer's insistence on acting out of character for the sake of his birthday emphasizes the importance of indulging in a bit of silliness and fun now and again.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going to smoke some pot
I plan to smoke marijuana as part of my birthday celebration
I'm going to drink some beer
I will consume beer on my birthday
Fall off my chair, yeah
I might get so drunk that I end up falling off my chair
It's my birthday
It is my special day to celebrate
I'm going to spill my drink
intends to spill their drink accidentally
And slur my words
I will have so much to drink that my words will slur
Embarrass my friends
I will make my friends feel uncomfortable with my behavior
Yeah, it's my birthday
This behavior is allowed because it's my birthday
I'm going to make a noise
I plan to be very loud at my birthday party
Annoy the neighbors
I will create a disturbance to irritate the neighbors
They owe me a favor
I believe the neighbors should tolerate my misbehavior since they might owe me a favor
On my birthday
Today is my special day, and so they should put up with my mischief
They all say, I should be grown up by now
Others expect me to behave like an adult
He's too old to behave like a clown
Because of my age, people think it's not appropriate to behave like a clown
Even though he's always been a fool
Even though I have a history of acting foolishly
He's uncool, he's uncool
People don't approve of my behavior, and they view me as uncool
I'm getting fatter and lazier
I am gaining weight and becoming lazy
Losing my hair but I don't care, no
I am losing my hair, but it doesn't bother me
It's my birthday
This is a day to celebrate, regardless of how I look
I got a brand new suit
I have a new suit to wear on my birthday
I got some balloons and a cake, yeah
I have purchased some decorations and a cake for my birthday party
All my friends are running late
My friends have not made it to the party on time
I need some help to celebrate
I require assistance in making this birthday celebration enjoyable
Even though he's always been a fool
Despite my past mistakes
He's uncool, he's uncool
I may not be viewed as a cool person
He's too old to behave like a clown
Others may see me as too old to act foolishly
They all say I should be grown up by now
I am expected to act mature by society
Get a decent job, comb your hair and settle down
People believe I should pursue a respectable career, tidy up, and start a family
He's such a fool, he's so uncool
Others will see me as a fool and an uncool person due to my behavior
Contributed by Maria J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.