Rather than a single song, my personnal approach would be to use just a verse or two from several songs that are representative of the era of the photographs.

If you know or can find out the favourite song or style of the birthday person then you have a good key to the right choice and song . From there internet is a magical box where you can find the right song. The birthday person will be pleased to hear that song !

rudi

Don't restrict yourself to just one song.
I did a 50th birthday slide show for my brother a few years ago and used pieces of several different songs depending on what was happening on screen.
A piece of one song was for the intro (about 30 sec.), second was growing up (gr. school, high school, university) and the last segment was getting married, kids, etc.
It was about 7 min. in total and was very well received.
I took the same appraoach when doing a 50th anniversary show for my inlaws.
#1 was Grandpa growing up, #2 was Grandma, #3 was the marriage and kids and #4 was the grandkids.
Once again, different songs for each segment and well received.

edit: listen to the words from a number of songs and choose accordingly.
A song that's popular today may be the best choice for the teenage years if the words are appropriate.

Mike

You may not want to use music from the "year" they were born. I was born in '55, but my first recollection of music is around '61.

I would talk to the subjects and find out what's meaningful to them.

butchmoore,

yeah that is true. I was thinking along the line of an anniversary rather than a birthday I guess.

Dave T

A friend of mine once used the song "Older" from the artist They Might Be Giants. It was hilarious with very distinct beats that you can "pop" the pictures to with quick cuts and zooms or something.