Three Birthday Songs

I've written three birthday songs in my life.

The first was a gift to my friend Raul Smith. I worked with Raul at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, MI. When I heard there was going to be a surprise party for Raul's birthday, I decided to write and record a song that we could play on the cassette machine (it was 1992) as soon as he walked in. Unfortunately, Raul's girlfriend at the time had devised a cruel and unusual plan to ensure that he would be surprised, staying with him all day and pretending to break up with him. By the time they arrived back at his place, where we were all waiting to shout "Surprise!" Raul was thoroughly depressed. He was more confused that surprised when we all leapt out from our hiding places, "Raul's Birthday Day" blasting from the speakers.



The second was for Kaitlyn Hazel Mayotte's third birthday. Kaitlyn is the daughter of Matt Mayotte, my best friend and fellow drummer from back in the day. I went to the Mayotte's place in Glastonbury, CT, in September 1997 and played this song for Kaitlyn, who proceeded to run back and forth excitedly the whole time. I think she was astonoished to hear the phrase "Kaitlyn's Birthday" coming from the stereo, as if it were some kind of miracle.



I wrote and recorded the third a couple of weeks ago for my friend Patrick Penta. Andrew Bielski told me he was organizing a big bash in NYC for Patrick's 40th birthday, and I couldn't attend. I decided to send a song as a kind of stand-in, and Andrew agreed to surprise Patrick with it at the party. When Andrew played it for him, Patrick apparently became disoriented, thinking at first it was some wild coincidence that a song called "Patrick's Birthday" was blaring over the speakers.