Tired of ‘Happy Birthday’? More songs to sing while you wash your hands for 20 seconds

We’ve all heard it, all year — wash your hands for 20 seconds. And if you don’t know how long 20 seconds is, just sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

That’s all well and good, and no one is disputing the importance of hand-washing to keep ourselves and the people we live and work with healthy.

But let’s face it — “Happy Birthday” kind of sucks. It’s also very easy to change up the speed in your mind and sing it too fast. So let’s find some alternatives.

Here are some verses and/or choruses that Neal Augenstein and I came up with that are 20 seconds long that you haven’t been singing to yourself for months.

We recognize, however, that we’re a couple of old white guys, and our picks reflect that. So we’re looking for more — and more diverse — selections.

You can email me or hit WTOP up on Twitter or Facebook.

1/6

“I Want to Hold Your Hand,” The Beatles

Oh yeah, I’ll tell you something/I think you’ll understand — one verse of this classic amounts to 20 seconds.

2/6

“Johnny B. Goode,” Chuck Berry

One verse — or just sing along to one go-round of the guitar solo — and you’re ready.

3/6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGuW7pD_fhg

“Respect,” Aretha Franklin

One verse and chorus, including “just a little bit,” which is almost the coolest part.

4/6

“I Want It That Way,” Backstreet Boys

One verse. Don’t tell me why.

Reference in this site to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any song or band name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by WTOP.

5/6

“Shining Star,” Earth, Wind and Fire

Two choruses, like the double chorus at the end. From personal experience, I can say it’s hard to stop at two, although public-health are unlikely to recommend you stop there if you don’t want to.

6/6

“Get Ready,” The Temptations

One chorus, including the “Get ready ’cause here I come” part in between the chorus and verse. (And I picked this version, even though it’s a little faster, because of the steps, as well as the Paul Revere and the Raiders intro.)

Rick Massimo

Rick Massimo came to WTOP, and to Washington, in 2013 after having lived in Providence, R.I., since he was a child. He's the author of "A Walking Tour of the Georgetown Set" and "I Got a Song: A History of the Newport Folk Festival."