Babe (Styx song)

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"Babe" is a song by the American rock band Styx. It was the lead single from the band's 1979 double-platinum album Cornerstone. The song was Styx's first, and only, US number-one single, spending two weeks at No. 1 in December 1979, serving as the penultimate number-one single of the 1970s (the ultimate number-one single of the '70s was Escape (The Piña Colada Song), by Rupert Holmes).[1] "Babe" also went to No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[2] It additionally held the number-one spot for six weeks on the Canadian RPM national singles chart, charting in December 1979 and becoming the opening chart-topper of the 1980s. It was also the band's only UK Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 6. It also reached No. 1 in South Africa.[3]

Background and content

The song was written by member Dennis DeYoung as a birthday present for his wife Suzanne. The theme of the song is "the separation of two people."[4] DeYoung stated of it that "If they've figured out what's more important than a relationship between two people, I don't know what it is.[4] The finished track was recorded as a demo with just DeYoung and Styx members John Panozzo and Chuck Panozzo playing on the track, with DeYoung singing all of the harmonies himself.

The song was not originally intended to be a Styx track, but Styx members James "J.Y." Young and Tommy Shaw convinced DeYoung to put the song on Cornerstone. As a result, DeYoung's demo was placed on Cornerstone with Shaw overdubbing a guitar solo in the song's middle section.

Reception

Cash Box said it has "crystalline singing and airy electric piano leads" but that the "high harmonies are the highlight."[5] Billboard called it a "melodic pop number" that should break the band into adult contemporary playlists.[6] Record World highlighted the "playful keyboards", "youthful lead vocal", "full harmony chorus and ascending lead guitar runs."[7]

Eric Hegedus of The Morning Call considered it one of the best examples of Styx's "newfound mastery of the techniques needed to perform slow love songs" and highlighted the "deceptively simple lyrics."[8] Rolling Stone critic David Fricke described it as a lush ballad.[9]

The track became a major hit, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was their only major UK hit single, reaching No. 6. The song also won a People's Choice Award as the best song in 1980.[10][11][12]

In popular culture

In 1999, "Babe" was included in the soundtrack to the film Big Daddy, starring Adam Sandler, whose character is a huge fan of Styx.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Personnel

Charts

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Certifications

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Caught in the Act version

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In 1997 Dutch boy band Caught in the Act covered "Babe" on their album Vibe. The song's success was modest.

Music video

In the music video, the band members play soldiers and perform the song both in a barracks and on patrol. They take a look at a waitress.[21]

Track listing

CD maxi

  1. "Babe" (Radio Mix) – 4:28
  2. "Babe" (Cloud 9 Mix) – 4:25
  3. "Babe" (Gee Extended Mix) – 6:42
  4. "Don't Just Leave Me Now" (Radio Version) – 4:46

Charts

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Chart (1997) Peak
position

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1". No. 1 hits during the 1970s
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  14. ↑ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1979YESP.html Template:Webarchive Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1980
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