We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGeek

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

What are Singing Telegrams?

By R. Kayne
Updated Feb 04, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGeek is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGeek, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Singing telegrams are a hilarious way to send a message that is a lot more fun than sending a fax, email, instant message or greeting card. Services that provide these telegrams will be happy to send someone over to sing, dance, or act out your message to the recipient. They'll even dress up to do it, in anything from a tuxedo and top hat to a gorilla suit!

Singing telegrams spread cheer by bringing laughs into the workplace, home, public engagement or party. You can hire 'Marilyn Monroe' to sing Happy Birthday to your boss, or 'Elvis' to sing All Shook Up to your wife on your 10th anniversary! Let her know you still find her sexy in a creative and funny way! Is a friend feeling a little down after a break up? Invite her to coffee at your favorite java hut at a prearranged time. Imagine her reaction when a man walks in, stops, take a second look at her, and breaks into chorus!

Singing telegrams can be a hoot, especially when personalized. You can write the words yourself, usually by changing the lyrics to a well-known song. Want to congratulate someone who already thinks he's one bad dude for a promotion? Have 'Eminem' rap lyrics you've penned about just how cool this guy is. Singing telegrams make everyone laugh at themselves and with each other. After all, no one seems as ridiculous as the person doing the singing!

Depending on the service, singing telegrams might be delivered a cappella or with a portable CD player for accompaniment. Every service has its own staff and options, so pick a service that can deliver the telegram you have in mind, or ask the service about their most successful or funniest singing telegrams. Many services also offer balloons, flowers, or other gifts to be included with the telegram.

Western Union public relations director George P. Oslin is credited with thinking of, and sending, the first singing telegram. Ironically, it was during the Great Depression in July 1933 that Oslin talked operator Lucille Lipps into singing Happy Birthday to Rudy Vallee. Many current celebrities have also been recipients of singing telegrams, including Diane Sawyer, Drew Barrymore, Penny Marshall and Colin Farrell.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By anon925970 — On Jan 15, 2014

I think the point of a telegram is to do something different. I think it comes across cheesy if it's meant to be serious. You need a little ridiculousness to make a telegram great! It can be funny while still being one of the most thoughtful things someone has ever done for you. 'Gifts' have been given year after year, but a telegram, now that will be something that is remembered forever. I think most of you would change your mind if you saw a good one in person. Do your research though. There are great telegram companies and then there are amateurs trying to make a buck.

By minstrel — On Feb 08, 2013

In the 21st century, it is not as simple as putting someone in a silly costume and getting them to sing your favorite song. Today, you get a song written all about your loved one, from the information you tell us, a surprise performance of the song by one of our real singing telegram performers, and a full band production audio CD of the fully personalised song.

@jcraig: Yes we only do singing telegrams at this company and I once performed 40 singing telegrams in one day.

By anon267231 — On May 09, 2012

@izzy78: There is a singing telegram company in the UK that will write a special song all about your loved one from information that you give them. They produce a karaoke version of the song with a full band production backing track, with no vocals and the lyrics on screen, plus the vocal too. You then ask any local singer or do it yourself.

Also it is the 21st century so if you get a singing telegram you should at least get a CD of the personalised song, like you get here in the UK from at least one company. The way this company does it is much more creative and does not embarrass anyone.

By jmc88 — On Sep 27, 2011

I have to say, I think I would really hate getting a singing telegram just from the awkwardness standpoint. I guess I'm pretty easily embarrassed when it comes to things like this, so I would definitely be uneasy if a random person came up to my door and started singing.

Besides, what is the protocol for when they finish? Do they just turn around and leave, or are you supposed to tip them or something? Like I said, it just seems like it would be a very odd situation for me, because it wouldn't be something I've dealt with before.

By stl156 — On Sep 27, 2011

I'd have to go with everyone else on choosing the real gift just based on price of the telegram, but I think if you were talking about getting a singing telegram for someone in an office that would be great.

As long as the person getting the telegram wasn't easily embarrassed and it all fell within the norms of the office, a singing telegram would be something fun and offbeat that everyone could pitch in for. It would definitely be something everyone could talk about later, too. I think I might just have to look into it for my office.

By Izzy78 — On Sep 26, 2011

I did what the article said and searched for singing telegrams in my area. Unfortunately, the town where I live is pretty rural, so there aren't any companies I could find that are close to me. The businesses doing it, though, were mostly like party talent companies where you can hire clowns and other performers.

I didn't see any prices, but I think I agree with cafe41. If they are that expensive, I'd much rather get a real gift the person could use.

By jcraig — On Sep 25, 2011

What kind of company actually provides this service? Obviously there aren't companies that only send singing telegrams.

I've never gotten one myself, but when I worked in an office a while back, someone thought it would be funny to get an Elvis singing telegram for one of our coworkers. I don't remember what the words to the song were, but it was some play on Jailhouse Rock.

Have singing telegrams ever been really popular? I know you see them a lot in older movies, but I didn't know if that was normal or just part of what they put in movies back then.

By truman12 — On Sep 25, 2011

My husband once got me a singing telegram for our anniversary. It was a lot of fun and really a sweet thing to do.

The singer was dressed like a cowboy and he sang a kind of country themed song. I was not expecting it at all when the door bell rang.

By hamje32 — On Sep 25, 2011

@cafe41 - Maybe I’m strung a little too tight, but I think that singing telegrams can be a little corny. I’ve never received one myself, but I see them on TV shows sometimes.

Perhaps if I had one in real life my heart would warm over and I would feel differently about the whole thing. The whole concept seems a little passé to me, however, like a throwback to the era of Jackie Gleason.

The only exception would be artistic singing telegrams for kid’s parties or something like that. I’m sure the children would get a big hoot out of the whole thing.

By cafe41 — On Sep 25, 2011

Birthday singing telegrams are a really memorable way to make someone’s birthday standout, but it is a little expensive to send someone of these singing birthday telegrams.

I was going to send one to my husband, but the company was going to charge me $159 dollars for delivering the message. I figured I could get him a nice present with that $159 and decided against the idea. It is a cute idea, but it was a little too expensive for my budget.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.