Template:Infobox single“Baby” is a song by Canadian recording artist Justin Bieber. It was released as the lead single from the latter half of Bieber's debut album, My World 2.0. The track was written by Bieber with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, both of whom worked with Bieber on "One Time", and also by R&B singer Christina Milian and labelmate, rapper Ludacris. 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, the United States, Australia, Norway, Japan, Ireland, Hungary, Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, Slovakia, and New Zealand. The accompanying music video takes place in a mall/bowling-alley setting. The video features several cameos such as Drake, Lil Twist and Tinashe in which Bieber chases after a girl. In July 2010, the video became the most viewed video in YouTube history. Bieber performed the song several times, including Saturday Night Live, and the ninth season of American Idol. Bieber also performed an acoustic rendition of the remix version with Drake at the 2010 Juno Awards. The official remix in the United Kingdom features British hip-hop artist Chipmunk.
Trivia
- Justin received a Diamond award during the Believe Tour for this song.
Background and writing
"Baby" was written by Bieber with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash, both of whom worked with Bieber on "One Time", R&B singer and The-Dream's then wife Christina Milian and labelmate, Ludacris. 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 said 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."
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 Knowles, 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 explaining 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”.[1] 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.
February 24, 2014 the video hits 1 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.
Performances
Bieber premiered an acoustic version of the song on December 28, 2009, on MuchMusic. He sang the song on VH1's Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam, along with other performers Rihanna, JoJo and Timbaland, and on CBS' The Early Show as a part of their Super Bowl programming. He performed the song the first time with Ludacris on BET's SOS: Saving Ourselves – Help for Haiti Telethon, on February 6, 2010, which also aired on VH1, and MTV. During the chorus, he changed the lyrics to "Baby, baby, Haiti", to show support for the cause, and the reason everyone came together for the show. In the week of his album release, he performed the song on The View and 106 & Park. In April 2010, Bieber noted that due to his voice changing, he could no longer hit all the notes in "Baby", and for live performances, the key is lowered. Bieber performed the song live in Sydney, Australia on April 26, 2010, in the Sunrise studios after his public performance was cancelled.
- The View (March 22, 2010, aired March 23)
- Late Show with David Letterman (March 23, 2010)
- Private event at Disneyland (March 26, 2010)
- Kids' Choice Awards (March 27, 2010)
- Late Show with David Letterman (March 31, 2010)
- Saturday Night Live (April 10, 2010)
- Riviera Theatre (April 15, 2010)
- Juno Awards (April 18, 2010) - Bieber performed an acoustic rendition of the song along with a freestyle by Drake.
- The Today Show (June 4, 2010)
- MuchMusic Video Awards
- My World Tour (2010 - 2011)
- 2012 Z100 Jingle Ball (December 7, 2012)
- Believe Tour (2012 - 2013)
- Purpose World Tour (2016 - 2017)
Remix
In 2010, a remix of Lil Twist, who is a friend of Bieber, partially leaked.[2]
Track listing
- US Digital Download – Single
"Baby" (feat. Ludacris) – 3:34
- UK (Chipmunk Remix) (feat. Chipmunk) – Single
"Baby (Chipmunk Remix) (feat. Chipmunk)" – 3:41
- 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]
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
Solo version
This was sent out in email on November 11, 2009 before My World was released.[3]
Performances
- Live @ Much (December 22, 2009)
- Key 103 secret gig (January 14, 2010)
- The Park Inn (January 16, 2010)
- Science Museum (January 17, 2010)
- VH1's Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam (February 4, 2010)
- The Early Show (February 5, 2010)
- Valentine's Day Special Concert (February 14, 2010)
- The Dome 53 (March 5, 2010)
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
[Bridge]
You can give all of your love
But sometimes it won’t be enough
Nobody told me this day would come
Now I’m all gone
You can give all of your love
But sometimes it just ain’t enough
You never told me this day would come
Now I’m all gone
[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]
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