Finn Wolfhard's album “Happy Birthday" is a birthday gift to the ears.
Wolfhard is primarily known for his role as Mike Wheeler in the world-rocking series “Stranger Things.” However, he has much more talent than meets the eye. Not only is he praise-worthy in the realm of film as an actor, director, producer, and script writer, but he is also a remarkably talented musician.
Throughout his childhood, Wolfhard has been in a plethora of bands. For example, he was the lead vocalist and guitarist in his rock band Calpurnia, as well as a member in the indie-rock band The Aubreys. Now, he has taken his leap into a solo career with his debut album “Happy Birthday.”
This album was teased with his singles “Objection!,” “Trailers after dark,” and “Choose the latter.” The entire album was finally released on June 6, 2025 with a total of nine tracks.
I randomly stumbled upon his song “Choose the latter,” and just a few seconds in, I instantly knew that I was in for an amazing journey!
I personally love this album! Its songs vary between melancholic tones and up-beat ones, and while the album follows a very nostalgic and slightly gloomy theme, it presents this in a very sunny way. Contradictory to his nostalgic-like-feel, a reoccurring theme in this album is his fears for the indistinguishable future. He writes about the tough experience of growing up and being suppressed by others' expectations and perceptions.
The first song on this album is the title track “Happy Birthday.” This song embodies the feeling of being completely clueless as time progresses. Wolfhard sings the lines “Happy birthday / What do you want? / It’s your birthday, stop wasting precious time.” This represents the ongoing treadmill that is time. As he gets older, the question “What do you want?” hints towards future plans and is asked this much more frequently. Time is ticking, and with every tick, he is pressured even more into figuring out what he wants to do.
He later sings, “Happy birthday, / What have you done? / It’s my birthday, and I waste precious time.” This represents him reflecting on his past year spent. Wolfhard uses words like “my” instead of “your” in order to emphasize his personal struggles with his cluelessness paired with the rapid movement of time.
To me, this song feels like sitting at the dinner table in front of your birthday cake with your family gathered around in excitement. Your surroundings are warm and energetic, but you feel cold and frozen in stone. This track encapsulates this feeling with the layering of Wolfhard’s eerie, melancholic vocals and instrumentals.
I really enjoyed this track. As a junior in high school, I constantly feel the pressure of figuring out my future; however, I also constantly feel like I'm wasting my precious time because, no matter how fast the treadmill is cycling, I can only run so fast.
“Choose the latter” is the second track of the album and reflects the feeling of being caught in between choices due to the fear that the consequences will “stick permanently.” In the second verse, Wolfhard explains that his inner voice is telling him to stay optimistic for change: “If there was a voice / I can hear it all night, ’ight / Get it out now / Just hope for the best, best / And hope for nuance.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this song. It has a very uplifting melody that makes you want to sing along. Besides it being amazing sonically, it is also very relatable. Being 17, every possible choice feels very crucial. The fear of choosing the wrong one consumes and paralyzes every single decision-making brain cell.
The third track of this album is titled “Eat.” Wolfhard is able to use the concept of consumption to depict self-destruction. The opening lines are “You got me hooked, I’m a fish on a line / Steady hands, I know I roll in with the tide.” This shows how he is easily controlled by the environment around him. His next line “You know, I know, I’ve waited all day” conveys his helplessness towards the situation and how he endlessly waits for this to change, but the tide mentioned early keeps him in this self-destructive loop.
This is reinforced as he later sings in the second verse “How many days to set my bed on fire? / Back and forth, switching hate to desire.” He waits for his ways of instability to be abolished; however, this anticipation for change continues to eat him alive, which he refers to countless times throughout the song, singing, “My body’s eating itself all day.”
Despite the heavy message, this track has a summery and surfer-like feel to it. It is an up-beat sounding track that makes you feel carefree, which is ironic as the song demonstrates a thought-provoking theme of caring deeply about the negative cycles you put yourself through.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this track, and I can always count on its bright tone to put me in good spirits.
The fourth track, “Objection!” is a depiction of fame from Wolfhard’s eyes. Although he is grateful for his recognition, the lyrics explain that all the faces constantly staring at him and making assumptions suck the joy out of things. In verse two, Wolfhard sings, “It’s so consuming and the booming / Of your voice is just for me / I don’t have a type / I don’t have a style / I know I do, it's just a test / So I object and all the rest.” This refers to the media and fan bases assuming they know Wolfhard; however, he counteracts this by declaring he objects to all the accusations.
He later then explains how these overbearing eyes and voice soak up his joy like a sponge, even in humble, little situations like grabbing a drink with an old friend in your hometown: “The snow is starting to fall, circling Waterloo / The coat that’s soaked from the bar / The cursed witches’ brew / The happiness of it all, set back by you.”
This song is amazing! I really like the guitar in this track and how he pairs his vocals with it. Even though this song is about having the happiness drained out of you, it has a very happy tune that makes it so enjoyable. Despite Wolfhard writing this about being in the limelight, I think many could relate to this portrayed feeling of someone stealing your happiness away.
In the fifth track, "Everytown there's a darling,” Wolfhard romanticizes the concept of connection. He uses peaceful, dream-like imagery to induce hope of love. He also does this with repetition of the line “In every town, there’s a darlin’,” implying that there is someone out there for everyone.
I find this track to be very pretty. It is different from his other tracks but is still just as good. I enjoy the hopeful feeling it gives and how he portrays the idea of love with soft guitar strumming and softer vocals.
“Trailers after dark” is the sixth track on the album. Wolfhard has stated that this song was inspired by a T.V. channel that only consisted of movie trailers. This song is a figment of Wolfhard dwelling on his childhood, missing when he was so full of love and trust, and when the simplest of things were so enchanting that it is all you can see “even with the lights out.”
I really like this track. This song reminds me of a rainy day: very nostalgic and calming. Every kid had one thing they loved, whether it was a movie or a specific type of toy. When you look back and reminisce on your past obsessions, it brings a wave of nostalgia like no other, which is why I liked how Wolfhard developed the relatable theme of nostalgia through something he loved as a kid.
“Crown” is track seven of this album. This song spotlights the feelings of transition from childhood to adulthood. As you get older, things are bound to change; however, that child you once were never truly disappears. Honestly, that little kid can feel like the true, authentic you. In this track, Wolfhard acknowledges that he still has the qualities of his younger self—like a lisp— even if he is older now. Despite these lingering qualities, Wolfhard also mentions that you do leave many childish habits behind as you grow up. Wolfhard repeatedly sings the line “Can I still have a crown?” Because Wolfhard was so praised by the public as a child, he asks if he can continue to be praised even if he is growing up and evolving.
I absolutely love this song! Out of all the songs on this album, this has the heaviest rock influence. It has a strong, grungy guitar and heavy drums. I thoroughly enjoy the angst and pettiness of this song, and as a teenager, I think this song is very relevant. Your parents often still picture you as a little kid even though you're well into the double digits. They forget that you're 15 and not 5. The praise you once received as a kid is quickly turned into criticism when you begin to act your age. Deep down, you are still the same kid, just in different circumstances, and as you adapt to them, you can only question if people's perceptions of you will grow alongside you or minimize you to what you once were.
The next song, “You,” is the eighth track on this album. This song falls back into the calmer essence Wolfhard had before in previous tracks. I have a difficult time deciphering if this song is more a track about being in love or about only liking someone that loves you.
Wolfhard sings lyrics like “I can't believe anyone but you” and “Can’t breathe when you talk to me,” which could imply that he is in a super secure relationship with a person and is so infatuated with them that it takes his breath away. However, the term “Can’t breathe when you talk to me” can also imply that being with this person inflicts worry and causes him to overthink, leading him not to be able to breathe.
He also sings "I'm not lost on you, but you’re staring at me” later on, implying that this person is much more devoted to their relationship than he is. In the outro, he sings, “I don’t have everything but you.” Usually, when in love with someone, you will call them your everything, but by Wolfhard saying he doesn’t have everything, and that he only has this person, he is saying that he does enjoy their presence, but he doesn’t love them enough to consider them to be his everything. Nevertheless, I really enjoy this track!
The track that concludes this album is track nine, “Wait.” This song follows the theme of being consumed and confined by work. Wolfhard sings, “I can't sing anymore / How many more? / How many days? / Sinkin’, speakin’ / How many more I have to wait?” Wolfhard is expressing he is exhausted from all the effort is putting into his work but also that he must continue. This leads him to question when he will get the opportunity to stop.
He later sings, “I can't sleep in. I wanna know your brand new taste” which signifies how he craves something other than work; he wants something different. In the chorus, he refers to a void that consumes and traps him in the cycle he so badly wants to break. The void trapping him is the expectations of the public and the obligation he feels to meet them. So, in order to do so, he lets himself “fall into the deep,” and the “great beyond” wraps tightly around his feet.
I find this track to be easily relatable. Expectations are constantly stacked upon each other, suppressing one into situations that have no beneficial value towards them. These expectations cause a feeling of containment and being trapped in an endless cycle that constantly exhausts you.
All the songs have made it onto many of my playlists, but my absolute favorite has to be “Crown.” I truly love everything about it from his grungy instrumental and angsty, almost bratty tone of his voice to the overall message.
All in all, this album is absolutely amazing! It perfectly expresses the imperfections and the difficult feelings that are experienced as you transition out of childhood. Wolfhard has truly showcased his extraordinary talent on his album!
