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in: Songs, R&B songs, Singles,
and 8 more
This article is part of the My Worlds era
Baby is certified diamond 12x in the US
Baby is certified platinum in the UK
English

Baby

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“Baby” is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber featuring US rapper Ludacris. It was released as the lead single from the latter half of Justin's debut studio album, My World 2.0. The track was written by Bieber and Ludacris with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, both of whom worked with Justin on "One Time", and also by R&B singer Christina Milian and labelmate. It was available for digital download on January 18, 2010.

The song has received positive reviews from critics who complimented the song's effective lyrics and chorus, and commended Ludacris' part and the song's ability to have an urban twist. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number one in France, and charting in the top ten of the United Kingdom, Canada, U.S., Australia, Norway, Japan, Ireland, Hungary, Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, Slovakia, and New Zealand.

Trivia[]

  • Justin received a Diamond award during the Believe Tour for this song.
  • This used to be the most disliked song Justin Bieber ever made, with 15 million dislikes. Throughout the year, dislikes dropped to 12 million.
  • November 15, 2012: Justin Bieber's 'Baby' featuring Ludacris surpassed 800 million views today, making it the most popular music video of all time.[2]

Background and writing[]

Chris Hicks was A&Ring the project and wanted The-Dream to write a record for Justin Bieber. He went to the studio that night, did the beat and wrote the record. He let Christina try the first verse melody which he would eventually go over and rewrite. After he finished, he sent the track to Tricky. Stewart finished the record. The-Dream gave his then wife Christina Milian writing credits because he was feeling generous.[3]

When asked how the collaboration initially came about, Bieber said, "[Ludacris and I] both live in Atlanta. I met him a year prior to this and we figured it was a perfect collaboration for him, so we invited him out to do it." Bieber first premiered the song performing on MuchMusic on December 28, 2009. A few days before the release of the single, Bieber posted an acoustic version of the song to his YouTube with his guitarist Dan Kanter, similar to the way he did with "Favorite Girl". Billboard said that: "Bieber delivers his characteristically clean vocals with conviction: "My first love broke my heart for the first time / and I'm like, 'baby, baby, baby, no!' I thought you'd always be mine." Also in a review of the acoustic version Bill Lamb of About.com said that "I think the vocals here will convince some that Justin Bieber really does have the vocal chops."

In an interview with MTV News, Ludacris explained that he had to "dig deep" for lyrics for the song. He said, "He's talking about [how] he's mad that his girl left him and he still cares for her. As soon as I heard it I knew it was a hit, I just had to figure out how I could get on a record with a 15-year-old. So I sat there and said, 'Let me reminisce on the past,' and that's basically how I stepped on the record. And I guarantee you, mark my word, that's going to be one of the biggest songs of the year 2010."

Scooter Braun wanted Ludacris to change "When I was 13" to 15 as that was Justin's age at that point. Ludacris just replied with "Scooter I wrote it, not you."[4]

Audio[]

Promotion[]

Music video[]

Filming for the music video began during the week of January 25, 2010, in Los Angeles. It was filmed at Universal CityWalk by director Ray Kay, who had previously directed videos for Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Alexandra Burke, and Cheryl Cole, among others. Ludacris said that the video "is like a 2010 version of Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel"." Bieber said that the video "will capture the song's message of trying to woo back a girl." In stating the concept of the video, Bieber said, "It starts off, I really like this girl, but we didn't [get] along; we couldn't be together. Basically I want her back and [I'm] kind of going through the whole thing. I'm chasing her around, trying to get her, and she's kind of playing hard to get, but I'm persistent. I keep going." The video premiered exclusively on Vevo on Friday, February 19, 2010. Singer and actress Jasmine Villegas portrays Bieber's love interest in the video. Bieber's friends, Young Money artists Drake and Lil Twist also appeared in the video, along with Tinashe Kachingwe and jerkin' crew The Rangers.

Justin Bieber described the music video a modern version of Michael Jackson's “The Way You Make Me Feel”.[5] Most of the video takes place in the bowling alley, there are also scenes of Bieber in other settings, hanging out with Luda, doing the moonwalk, messing with his hair and mugging for the camera. Regardless of his lady's apparent frustration with him, Bieber eventually wins her over. The video concludes with the pair walking off into the night holding hands.

Billboard reviewed the video, saying, "Those new dance moves he's showing off can only mean one thing: all over the world, tweens' hearts are melting right now." In July 2010, the video became the most viewed video in YouTube history. As of February 2012, it has more than 700 million views.

In February 24, 2014, the video hits one billion views on VEVO/Youtube. It's the first VEVO video that hits the record. Gangnam Style has more views than this video but isn't VEVO.

In August 2020, VEVO became remastered in 4K with five Bieber's music videos, including "Baby".

Dislikes record[]

For irrational reasons, a part of the internet hates Justin Bieber for no reason. This started in 2010 with the release of the video. Where internet haters quickly decided to dislike the music video just for fun. On August 2010, "Baby" becoming the most dislike video and entered the Guinness World Records book as "the most disliked video on YouTube and on the Internet" in 2013.

In March 2011, "Baby", which then had 1.17 million dislikes, was surpassed by the video for Rebecca Black's "Friday", yielding more than 1.2 million dislikes. But that video was deleted in three months. On December 13, 2018, "YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind" became the most disliked video on the video sharing platform, with 15 million dislikes rapidly surpassed "Baby". While on August 18, 2020, Indian film "Sadak 2" surpassed "Baby" and becomes the second most dislikes video on YouTube.

On November 10, 2021, YouTube announced that it would make dislike counts on videos private, purportedly to reduce harassment associated with targeted dislike attack. Over the years, "Baby" gained more likes and lost dislikes. Making a positive ratio, even with the 38.65% of dislikes. The number of dislikes before YouTube's rule change was 12.46 million with 19.70 million of likes.

Performances[]

Date Event City Notes
February 5, 2010 SOS: Saving Ourselves – Help for Haiti Telethon Los Angeles (featuring Ludacris)
February 13, 2010 102.7 KIIS FM Free Concert Acoustic
February 16, 2010 MOViN 99.7's Justin Bieber Experience San Francisco Acoustic
February 20, 2010 Pop-Con Uniondale
February 23, 2010 Universal Building Private Concert Paris Acoustic
NRJ Acoustic
February 24, 2010 Eiffel Tower Acoustic
March 9, 2010 QVC West Chester Acoustic
March 11, 2010 Nickelodeon Upfront Presentation New York City
March 12, 2010 QVC West Chester
March 15, 2010 iHeartRadio Live! New York City Acoustic
March 16, 2010 MTV's Live Leak Acoustic
March 19, 2010 Biz Session London Acoustic
March 21, 2010 Rodeo Houston Houston
March 22, 2010 BET's 106 & Park New York City
March 23, 2010 The View
Late Show with David Letterman
March 24, 2010 Special Concert at Rosemont Theatre Rosemont
March 25, 2010 Special Concert at Rosemont Theatre
March 26, 2010 Private event at Disneyland Anaheim Acoustic
March 27, 2010 Kids' Choice Awards Los Angeles
March 30, 2010 The E.N.D. World Tour (featuring Ludacris)
March 31, 2010 American Idol
April 1, 2010 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Burbank
April 2, 2010 Big Boy's Backstage Breakfast Los Angeles Acoustic
April 5, 2010 Easter Egg Roll Washington, D.C.
April 10, 2010 Saturday Night Live New York City
April 11, 2010 Walmart Soundcheck
April 15, 2010 Private concert at Riviera Theatre North Tonawanda Acoustic
April 21, 2010 Duo Music Exchange Tokyo
April 26, 2010 Sunrise Sydney
April 28, 2010 Strathallan College Sessions Auckland Acoustic
May 4, 2010 The Oprah Winfrey Show Los Angeles
May 15, 2010 2010 Wango Tango
May 18, 2010 The Music Hour Tokyo
Sukkiri
June 5, 2010 Fearless Tour opening Foxborough
June 6, 2010 Summertime Ball 2010 London
September 12, 2010 MTV Video Music Awards 2010 Los Angeles
November 2, 2010 Golden Ticket Concert Phoenix Acoustic
November 28, 2010 The X Factor London Playback
November 30, 2010 Showcase NRJ & Universal Mobile Paris
December 8, 2010 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden
December 10, 2010 Madison Square Garden New York City
February 13, 2011 Grammy Awards Los Angeles Acoustic
May 18, 2011 SMAPxSMAP Tokyo
June 18, 2011 Scooter Braun's 30th Birthday Party Hollywood (featuring Jaden Smith)
September 17, 2011 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Atlanta Acoustic

Date Event City Notes
November 7, 2011 Westfield London London
Westfield Stratford City Stratford Acoustic
December 16, 2011 Whitney Elementary School Las Vegas Acoustic
December 17, 2011 16th Annual House Full of Toys Los Angeles Acoustic
December 21, 2011 Home for the Holidays Toronto Acoustic

Date Event City Notes
May 30, 2012 Justin Bieber live i Oslo Oslo
May 31, 2012 Live@Home Paris
June 1, 2012 NRJ Music Tour
June 2, 2012 Believe Party Milan Acoustic
June 9, 2012 Summertime Ball 2012 London
June 10, 2012 London Live
June 11, 2012 México Suena Justin Bieber Mexico City
June 15, 2012 The Today Show New York City
June 16, 2012 Avon Theatre Stratford Acoustic
June 18, 2012 Justin Bieber: All Around the World - Presented by Macy's New York City
July 10, 2012 LIQUIDROOM Tokyo Acoustic
July 11, 2012 Mezamashi Live Odaiba
July 14, 2012 MTV World Stage: Live in Malaysia 2012 Kuala Lumpur
July 17, 2012 Justin Bieber: ‘Believe’ – Live + Intimate Sydney Acoustic
July 18, 2012 Sunrise Acoustic
July 19, 2012 Acoustic Live! Auckland Acoustic
September 11, 2012 The Squaire Frankfurt Acoustic
April 23, 2014 V2 TOKYO Tokyo Acoustic

Tour Date Performances
My World Tour August 4, 2010 / August 5, 2010 / August 11, 2010 / August 15, 2010 / August 22, 2010 / August 31, 2010 / September 3, 2010 / September 4, 2010 / September 5, 2010 / September 16, 2010 / September 19, 2010 / September 20, 2010 / October 8, 2010 / October 9, 2010 / October 24, 2010 / October 25, 2010 / October 27, 2010 / October 28, 2010 / October 30, 2010 / November 3, 2010 / November 5, 2010 / November 10, 2010 / November 14, 2010 / November 16, 2010 / November 19, 2010 / December 22, 2010 / December 9, 2010 / December 12, 2010 / December 15, 2010 / December 16, 2010 / December 21, 2010 / December 23, 2010 + UK, Europe, Asia, Oceania & South America leg (except: see “Baby (Acoustic Version)”) 72

Remix[]

In 2010, a remix of Lil Twist, who is a friend of Bieber, partially leaked.[6]

Track listing[]

  • US Digital Download – Single

"Baby" (feat. Ludacris) – 3:34

  • Australia Digital Download – Single

"Baby" (feat. Ludacris) – 3:36
"Baby (Music Video)" – 3:39

Lyrics[]

[Intro: Justin Bieber]
Oh, whoa
Oh, whoa
Oh, whoa

[Verse 1: Justin Bieber]
You know you love me, I know you care
Just shout whenever and I’ll be there
You want my love, you want my heart
And we will never, ever, ever be apart
Are we an item? Girl, quit playing
We’re just friends, what are you saying
Say “There’s another” and look right in my eyes
My first love broke my heart for the first time
And I was like

[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
Baby, baby, baby oh
Like baby, baby, baby no
Like baby, baby, baby oh
I thought you’d always be mine, mine
Baby, baby, baby oh
Like baby, baby, baby no
Like baby, baby, baby oh
I thought you’d always be mine, mine

[Verse 2: Justin Bieber]
Oh, oh, for you, I would have done whatever
And I just can’t believe we ain’t together
And I wanna play it cool but I’m losing you
I’ll buy you anything, I’ll buy you any ring
And I’m in pieces, baby fix me
And just shake me ‘til you wake me from this bad dream
I’m going down, down, down, down
And I just can’t believe my first love won’t be around
And I’m like

[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
Baby, baby, baby oh
Like baby, baby, baby no
Like baby, baby, baby oh
I thought you’d always be mine, mine
Baby, baby, baby oh
Like baby, baby, baby no
Like baby, baby, baby oh
I thought you’d always be mine, mine

[Verse 3: Ludacris]
Luda
When I was 13, I had my first love
There was nobody that compared to my baby
And nobody came between us, or could ever come above
She had me going crazy
Oh, I was starstruck
She woke me up daily, don’t need no Starbucks
She made my heart pound, I skip a beat when I see her in the street and
At school on the playground but I really wanna see her on the weekend
She knows she got me dazing ‘cause she was so amazing
And now my heart is breaking but I just keep on saying

[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
Baby, baby, baby oh
Like baby, baby, baby no
Like baby, baby, baby oh
I thought you’d always be mine, mine
Baby, baby, baby oh
Like baby, baby, baby no
Like baby, baby, baby oh
I thought you’d always be mine, mine

[Outro: Justin Bieber]
I’m gone (Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah)
Now I’m all gone (Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah)
Now I’m all gone (Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah)
Now I’m all gone (Gone, gone, gone)
I’m gone

Performed at the Juno Awards.

[Verse 3: Drake]
Alright, alright
Let me get ‘em
I say, ah, please put away the cameras
We just in the club getting MC Hammered
God forbid I ever trade the Wisdom for the glamour
I know I’m just a boy that a woman could make a man of
So make me one, I know that she could make me one
I just want a woman that looks 30 when she’s 81
Please don't give it all away, I hope that she could save me some
Justin why’d you tell ‘em where your baby from, ah

Performed during the My World Tour on September 3, 2010 and September 4, 2010.

[Verse 3: Diggy Simmons & Justin Bieber]
So yeah I’m 15 and I've got my first love
[?]
[?] in the mix yeah
She do it, [?]
Hello Kitty down [?]
[?] now who is this (Everybody go young [?] Simmons)
[?] like I'm tripping
But she got my heart blazing, [?]
And no matter what the difference, she's always gonna be my angel
My baby, she's so amazing
[?] my heart is breaking
But my girl has got me saying

Charts[]

Billboard Hot 100[]

"Baby" debuted at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent 20 weeks on chart. 

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Certifications[]

Region Certification Units/sales
Australia (ARIA) 4x Platinum 280,000*
Belgium (BEA) Gold 15,000**
Canada (Music Canada) 2X Platinum 160,000**
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Platinum 90,000***
Japan (RIAJ) (download) Gold 100,000**
Japan (RIAJ) (full-length rigtone) Gold 100,000**
New Zealand (RMNZ) Platinum 15,000**
Norway (IFPI Norway) 3x Platinum 30,000**
United Kingdom (BPI) Platinum 600,000***
United States (RIAA) 12x Platinum 3,900,000***
*Shipments figures based on certifications alone.

** Sales figures based on certification alone.

*** Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Nomination Result
2010 Billboard Music Awards Top Streaming Song (Video) Nominated
Capricho Awards Musica International Won
Melhor Clip Nominated
Billboard Japan Music Awards Hot 100 Airplay Song of the Year Won
Guinness World Records Most viewed music video on YouTube Record
Most viewed video on YouTube Record
Most "disliked" video on YouTube Record
Most Popular Video of Any Kind Online Record
Hollywood Teen TV Awards Song of the Year Won
J-14 Teen Icon Awards Iconic Song Won
Kids' Choice Awards México Favorite Song Won
MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist Won
MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best New Artist Won
Best Karaokee! Song Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards International Video of the Year by a Canadian Won
UR FAVE: Video Won
Popstar! Poptastic Awards Favorite Music Video Won
Rockbjörnen Foreign Song of the Year Nominated
StarShine Music Awards Best Dance Song Nominated
Best Pop Song Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
#VEVOcertifiedAwards Certified
2011 Canadian Radio Music Awards CHR Nominated
Guinness World Records Most "disliked" video on YouTube Record
Channel [V] Thailand Music Video Awards Popular International Music Video Won
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Song Won
Kids' Choice Awards Argentina Favorite Song Nominated
MTV Video Play Awards Winning Videos Platinum
Myx Awards Favorite International Video Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite Music Video Nominated
RTHK International Pop Poll Awards Top Ten International Gold Songs Silver

Credits[]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[7]

References[]

  1. ↑ "JUSTIN BIEBER HITS GRAMMY STYLE STUDIO, CREATES BABY WITH LUDACRIS". YouTube. February 5, 2010. 
  2. ↑ Alexander, Iain (November 15, 2012). "Exclusive : Justin Bieber 'Baby' music video passes 800 million views". Film Industry Network. 
  3. ↑ "The-Dream reveals Justin Bieber story - Westwood". YouTube. January 3, 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Part 6 of E! Special". YouTube. July 8, 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Justin Bieber on Michael Jackson: BAD 25". YouTube. December 1, 2012. 
  6. ↑ "LIL TWIST - BABY REMIX LYRICS". YouTube. March 29, 20103. 
  7. ↑ Bieber, Justin. "Credits / My World 2.0 / Justin Bieber – TIDAL". Tidal. 
v - e
My World 2.0 type
1.0 Baby

2.0 Somebody to Love
3.0 Stuck in the Moment
4.0 U Smile
5.0 Runaway Love
6.0 Never Let You Go
7.0 Overboard (featuring Jessica Jarrell)
8.0 Eenie Meenie (with Sean Kingston)
9.0 Up
10.0 That Should Be Me
11.0 Kiss and Tell
12.0 Where Are You Now?

Discography
EPs Our World (with Sean Kingston)
Singles Wavin' Flag (Live At Juno Awards 2010) • Somebody to Love (Remix) (with Usher) • Never Say Never (featuring Jaden Smith) • Pray • Next to You (with Chris Brown)
Freebies Rich Girl (with Soulja Boy) • Won't Stop (with Sean Kingston) • Omaha Mall • Speaking in Tongues
Unreleased songs Believe • Latin Girl • Pick Me • Ride • Swag So Mean
Events
Tours My World Tour
Broadcasted SOS Saving OurSelves: Help for Haiti • Let's Dance for Sport Relief • Easter Egg Roll
Filmography
Shows The Diary Of Justin Bieber
Talk shows Alan Carr: Chatty Man • The View • Late Show with David Letterman • Chelsea Lately • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno • Le Grand Journal • The Oprah Winfrey Show • Ellen • Wetten, dass..?
Competition shows American Idol • The X Factor
Music shows The Dome 53 • 106 & Park • Saturday Night Live • Justin Bieber's Top 20 Teen Stars • The Today Show
Español
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