“生日快乐”歌的起源
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2009-03-09 01:37 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
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"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."每个人在自己的生日都曾接受过这样的祝福。这实在是一首熟得不能再熟的歌了。然而,在这首充满欢乐的歌曲背后,却有一个不那么happy的故事。

Happy birthday to you is a happy song, while the story behind it began sweetly, but later soured. Two sisters, Mildred Hill,a teacher at the Louisville, Kentucky Experimental Kindergarten, and Dr. Patty Hill, the principal of the same school, wrote a song for children calledGood Morning to All. The song was sure to be a success due to Dr. Patty Hill's expertise1 with children and Mildred's musical talents, who, as the organist of her church, was an accomplished2 musician.

The sisters published the song in a collection calledSong Stories for Kindergartenin 1893. Thirty-one years later, after Dr. Hill became the head of the Department of Kindergarten Education at Columbia University's Teacher's College, a gentleman by the name of Robert H. Coleman published the song, without the sisters' permission. To add insult to injury, he added a second verse, which was the familiar Happy Birthday to You.

Mr. Coleman's addition of the second verse popularized the song and eventually, the sisters' original first verse disappeared.Happy Birthday to You, the one and only birthday song, had altogether replaced the sisters' original title,Good Morning to All.

After Mildred died in 1916, Patty, together with a third sister named Jessica, sprang into action and took Mr. Coleman to court. In court, they proved that they owned the melody. Because the family legally owns the song, they are entitled to royalties3 from it whenever it is sung for commercial purposes.

soured: 变味的,令人扫兴的



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 expertise fmTx0     
n.专门知识(或技能等),专长
参考例句:
  • We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
  • You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。
2 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
3 royalties 1837cbd573d353f75291a3827b55fe4e     
特许权使用费
参考例句:
  • I lived on about ?3,000 a year from the royalties on my book. 我靠着写书得来的每年约3,000英镑的版税生活。 来自辞典例句
  • Payments shall generally be made in the form of royalties. 一般应采取提成方式支付。 来自经济法规部分
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