JESUS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY

When the Christmas season arrives, our choir lofts fill with grand carols and solemn hymns, but there is always room for a piece that speaks with simple, unbridled joy. "Jesus, Happy Birthday" by Mike Oji is exactly that kind of song. Instead of focusing solely on the quiet mystery of the manger, it bursts forth with a direct, celebratory greeting to the newborn King. It feels less like a formal choral work and more like a festive, rhythmic chorus sung by the whole congregation to their Saviour.

The structure of the piece makes it incredibly engaging for a choir to sing. The refrain is a lively proclamation of Christ’s titles—King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, and wonderful Counsellor—building up to that warm, familiar birthday wish. The verses then walk us through the story of the Nativity, from the prophet's foretelling of Emmanuel to Mary's fiat, and finally to John's recognition of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

This is a perfect choice for Christmas Day Masses, children's liturgies, or end-of-year carol services. It brings a bright, rhythmic energy that naturally encourages the congregation to smile and join in the celebration. Singing it reminds us that beneath the deep theology of the Incarnation is a very human, joyous event: the birth of a child who came to save us.