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Baby Boy (Beyoncé song)

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This article is about the Beyoncé song. For the Big Brovaz song, see Baby Boy (Big Brovaz song).
"Baby Boy"
Song

"Baby Boy" is a Middle Eastern and Arabic-influenced R&B-dancehall song recorded by American artist Beyoncé Knowles featuring vocals from Jamaican rapper Sean Paul Henriques. It was written by Beyoncé, Scott Storch, Sean Paul, Robert Waller and Jay-Z for Beyoncé's debut solo album, Dangerously in Love (2003). The track was produced by Beyoncé and Storch, and was released as the album's second single in the third quarter of 2003. The lyrics speak of fantasies and its accompanying music video features sensual footages.

"Baby Boy" was commercially successful, charting the top spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. The song surpassed the feat of its predecessor, "Crazy in Love", becoming Beyoncé's longest running solo number-one single, until the record was beaten by her B'Day single "Irreplaceable" in 2006. Internationally, it charted equally well, entering the top ten in most markets. The single was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association and the Recording Industry Association of America.

The song received positive reception from pop critics and the music industry. The British record company EMI was recognized at the 2005 ASCAP awards as Publisher of the Year for publishing "Baby Boy", along with other tracks by contemporary artist. The song always appeared in public performances by Beyoncé and was later honored as the Most Performed Songs in 2005.

Context

Early in 2003, Beyoncé collaborated with Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer Sean Paul. Beyoncé told him that she had been listening to a lot of his music.[1] She also said, "I knew Sean had to be on my album because I love his approach."[2] Sean Paul revealed: "I've been a fan of her work for a long time." The two, along with Scott Storch, Robert Waller and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, who appeared on Beyoncé's 2003 single "Crazy in Love", worked in a Miami studio, a few weeks left on the recording sessions of her debut solo album Dangerously in Love.[1]

Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end

"Baby Boy" is a sequel to "'03 Bonnie & Clyde", a duet with rapper Jay-Z.[1] Sean Paul stated: "She's telling me about her fantasies and picturing me and her going here and there, all over the world... I'm answering back, like, 'I'm wit it.'"[1] The track was produced by Storch, the man behind several of Christina Aguilera's singles.[1]

In 2005, Minneapolis singer-songwriter Jennifer Armour filed a copyright-infringement suit against Beyoncé after recognizing parts of the song when she performed it publicly.[3] Beyoncé allegedly used the lyrics and musical hook of Armour's "Got a Little Bit of Love for You".[4] The song came to Beyoncé's camp when Armour's former label manager, Marc McKinney, submitted demo recordings to record labels including Beyoncé's Columbia Records and Sean's Atlantic Records,[5] in late February to early March.[6] An expert found Armour's slow and melodic song to Beyoncé's hip hop-oriented version having "substantial similarity".[3] However, the judge who ruled in the case heard it "dissimilar".[3] The long-running lawsuit was dismissed in 2006 in a federal court in Houston after Beyoncé's lawyers divulged the writing and recording of the song was "substantially completed" early in February.[6]

Composition and theme

File:Beyonce Baby Boy.png
"Baby Boy" is composed in the key of E♭ major.

"Baby Boy" is a moderate groove,[7] that runs for four minutes and four seconds. It is composed in the key of E♭ major and is set in 92 beats per minute, in common time.[8] The chord progression follows the main chord C5-A♭/C.[8] "Baby Boy" is a hybrid of Middle Eastern music, reggae and R&B,[6] and also takes influences from dancehall and Arabic music. The song is about "fantasy", for what she called her album as "personal".[2]

"Baby Boy" is constructed in a rap-chorus-verse form. The song starts in a rap by Sean. In bar 9, Beyoncé sings the chorus before the verse. The pattern repeats until she mouths the bridge. It is followed by another rap and chorus and finalizes in a coda by Beyoncé.

Reception

"Baby Boy" was well received by contemporary critics. On the July 24, 2003 issue of Rolling Stone magazine, Anthony DeCurtis was impressed with the track who found that "Beyoncé‎ sounds like she's having fun on them."[9] John Reed of Music Critic noted that "Baby Boy" "come off as very beguiling with its Caribbean drenched vibes."[10] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide stated that Beyoncé "sound assured and sexy" on the song.[11]

Mark Anthony Neal of Popmatters complimented the song as one of the "high-profile collaborations" in Dangerously in Love.[12] Yancey Strickler of Flak Magazine wrote that "'Baby Boy's diwali stutter is enhanced by Sean Paul's dancehall monotone".[13] Entertainment Weekly's Neil Drumming quoted that "'Baby Boy' goes full-tilt Bollywood 'n da hood, with Sean Paul ripping a pulsing tabla raga. Here... you kinda wish she'd launch into her old acrobatic scat tactics to challenge Sean Paul's rude-boy chat."[14] Lisa Verrico of Times Online called the song a "Latino-tinged collaboration...set to clicky beats that sound like castanets." She further concluded: "Paul does a reggae rap in the middle, but it’s when he chats while Beyoncé half raps that the pair have real chemistry."[15]

About.com placed "Baby Boy" at number 42 on their Top 100 Pop Songs in 2003.[16] The British record company EMI was honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers during the 2005 Pop Music Awards as the Publisher of the Year for publishing "Baby Boy".[17] Scott Storch earned Song Writer of the Year.[17]

Live performances

Beyoncé performing "Baby Boy" during the 2005 concert tour Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It

Beyoncé performed "Baby Boy" on August 28 during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, backgrounded with her Rocket-esque back-up female dancers.[18] She sung the track in a medley: "Baby Boy" with pre-recorded vocals from Sean Paul and "Crazy in Love" together with Jay-Z.[19] She later performed "Baby Boy" in the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards held on November 6 together with Sean, where she won two awards for "Crazy in Love".[20] Her appearance was panned by Popmatters' Jessica Hodges as a "letdown" compared to her applauded MTV VMA performance.[21]

"Baby Boy" has been included in the set list in most concert tours Beyoncé performed. The song was set as the opening of her Dangerously in Love World Tour that ran late in 2003 to early 2004. She appeared suspended in the ceiling of the arena being lowered to the red lounger[22]—a production she employed in the 2003 MTV VMA. She sung the song while dancing, backed with back-up dancers. The footage taken in the Wembley Arena was later included in the Live at Wembley concert DVD, released in April 27, 2004. In the Destiny's Child farewell tour Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It, she performed the song midway through the setlist and later appeared on Destiny's Child: Live in Atlanta. During the 2007 Beyoncé Experience world concert tour, Beyoncé again performed "Baby Boy" that was incorporated by the reggae classic "Murder She Wrote". She descended in the stairs wearing a belly-dancer-type and holding an umbrella, and sung, changing the original lyrics to "Murder He Wrote".[23] The footage appeared in the 2007 The Beyoncé Experience Live! DVD.

In the 2005 ASCAP Pop Music Awards, "Baby Boy", along with "Me, Myself and I" and "Naughty Girl", garnered the title as the "Most Performed Songs" of the year.[24]

Chart performance

Fresh off the heels of "Crazy in Love", the first single from Dangerously in Love, "Baby Boy" entered Billboard Hot 100, the official U.S. singles chart. "Baby Boy", along with "Me, Myself and I" and "Naughty Girl", attained more and immediate commercial success compared to "Crazy in Love", propelling the album on the charts and be certified multi-platinum.[25] The single debuted on Hot 100 on August 21, 2003 at number fifty-seven, while "Crazy in Love" was still at its sixth week run on the top spot.[26] It climbed to number twelve on September 4, the week before "Crazy in Love" was replaced on the top spot, and was certified as the week's Greatest Gainer.[27] "Baby Boy" reached number one on October 9, ten places from "Crazy in Love".[28] The song topped both the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks—one week longer than "Crazy in Love" had spent at the summit—and the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for five weeks. "Baby Boy" eventually became Beyoncé's highest-charting single to date. However, "Baby Boy"'s feat was surpassed after Beyoncé's 2006 single "Irreplaceable" spent ten weeks at number one.[29] The single stayed on the Hot 100 for a total of twenty-nine weeks,[30] two more weeks than "Crazy in Love" spent.[31] "Baby Boy" was certified platinum on June 6, 2006 by the Recording Industry Association of America.[32]

"Baby Boy" appeared on most component charts of Billboard. It charted on radio airplay formats, hitting number one on the Dance Radio Airplay,[33] Top 40 Tracks, Rhythmic Top 40, Top 40 Mainstream and number forty-one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play.[34] The J. Vasquez & M. Joshua Mixes version of the track reached number two in the Hot Dance Music/Club Play. The other two remixes charted at number twenty and thirty-two on the same component chart, respectively.[33] The single appeared on the Canadian Singles Chart at number two and on the Hot Dance Singles Sales at number fourteen.[34]

Internationally, "Baby Boy" performed just as well peaking inside the top ten on most charts. It peaked at number two in Canada.[35] In the United Kingdom, the single debuted at number two on October 18, 2003, and was the chart's highest debut and "Baby Boy"'s highest entry.[36] It failed to summit the chart and spent a total of eleven weeks.[29] It entered the top ten in Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.[29][35] It peaked under the top ten in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Greece and Italy.[29][35] Across Australia and New Zealand, "Baby Boy" peaked at number three and two, respectively. It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association.[37]

In the United World Chart, an aggregate chart provider, "Baby Boy" debuted at number thirty-five on September 27, 2003, the eight charting week of "Crazy in Love" on the top spot.[38] It peaked at number three on November 15,[39] and charted for a total of twenty-three weeks from late 2003 to early 2004.[40] "Baby Boy" has amassed 2 million+ points in the United World Chart.[40]

Music video

File:Beyoncebaby.jpg
The different footages of the "Baby Boy" music video.

The music video for "Baby Boy" was directed by Jake Nava, who was behind Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love" video, and was shot in Miami, Florida, on August 7-8, 2003. It was filmed in a house with different rooms: one with a Japanese style and one with an old English style.[41] The video features footage designed to have sex appeal. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it a "baby-oil-logged follow-up" to "Crazy in Love"'s "bootylicous video".[42]

The video starts with Sean Paul sitting on a royal chair performing his rap and Beyoncé standing up against the wall dancing, both in a gloomy house. Beyoncé lies in a bed, tossing and turning sensually. Sean is with several women lying on the floor caressing each other. Beyoncé walks towards the beach. She then spots a man, and the two touch and flirt with each other. Beyoncé then enters into a party wearing a yellow dress, dancing with a guy; and water comes on the floor as she sings "The dance floor becomes the sea." Beyoncé and her back-up dancers dance on the beach side. While a girl sits on Sean's lap, Beyoncé is wearing a white swimsuit under a tree. The original record was interpolated with an Arabic instrumental featuring Beyoncé vigorously dancing in the sand.

"Baby Boy" premiered on MTV's Total Request Live on August 25, 2003 at number ten, and subsequently spent on the video program for forty-one weeks, the same chart run "Me, Myself & I" earned.[43] The video reached the top spot.[44] "Baby Boy" debuted on August 30 on MuchMusic Top 30 countdown. It peaked at number one on November 8, and stayed there for two weeks.[35] "Baby Boy" stayed the video program for a total of sixteen days.[35] The video was posted on MTV Overdrive on September 22, 2003.

Formats and track listings


Charts

Template:Succession box two to one
Preceded by Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay number one single
November 2, 2003 		Succeeded by
"Something Happened On the Way To Heaven" by Deborah Cox

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Kaufman, Gil ((March 17, 2003)). "Jigga Who? Beyonce Shares Fantasies With Sean Paul On 'Bonnie & Clyde' Sequel". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b Thread editors. "Beyoncé's debut Album, Dangerously In Love,". Thread magazine. Thread Ltd. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ a b c Associated Press ((October 04, 2007)). "Suit Over Beyonce's 'Baby Boy' Lyrics Goes to Appeals Court". FOX News. FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ MTV News staff ((July 13, 2005)). "For The Record: Quick News On Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, Snoop, White Stripes, Simon Cowell & More". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ MTV News staff ((October 03, 2006)). "For The Record: Quick News On Britney Spears, Beyonce, Kristin Cavallari, Beck, T.I., Lil' Kim & More". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b c "Beyonce cleared of copying song". Independent.ie. January 03, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Beyoncé Digital Sheet Music: Baby Boy". Musicnotes. Musicnotes, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  8. ^ a b "Baby Boy". Sheet Music Plus. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  9. ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (July 10, 2003). "Album Reviews: Dangerously In Love". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Reed, John (June 28, 2003). "Beyonce: Dangerously In Love". Music-critic.com. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Dangerously in Love". All Music Guide. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  12. ^ Neal, Mark Anthony (July 11, 2003). "Getting Grown". Popmatters. PopMatters Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Strickler, Yancey. "Beyonce: Dangerously In Love". Flak Magazine. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  14. ^ Drumming, Neil (June 27, 2003). "Music Review: Dangerously in Love (2003)". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Verrico, Lisa (June 20, 2003). "Beyonce: Dangerously in Love - Beyonce Knowles is growing up, but not too much". Times Online. Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Top 100 Pop Songs 2003". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  17. ^ a b "ASCAP Pop Music Awards 2005". ASCAP. 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  18. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (2003). "The Kiss(es) Heard 'Round the World: 2003 MTV Music Video Awards". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  19. ^ "Jay-Z Prevented Sean Paul From Performing With Beyonce At VMAs". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. (September 05, 2003). Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon ((November 06, 2007)). "It's Justin's Night As Christina, Kelly Osbourne Fight At MTV Europe Awards". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Hodges, Jessica (November 17, 2003). "MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS 2003". Popmatters. PopMatters Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Tang, Melisa (November 10, 2003). "Beyonce concert review". TheSituation.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Shaheem, Reid ((August 06, 2007)). "Beyonce Puts On Flawless — And Fall-Less — NYC Show With Robin Thicke". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Most Performed Songs". ASCAP. 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  25. ^ Stacy-Deanne (2005). Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Jennifer Lopez & Mya: Divas of the New Millennium. Amber Books Publishing. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0974977969. Retrieved 2008-02-01. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". aCharts. chart dated August 21, 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". aCharts. chart dated September 04, 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". aCharts. chart dated October 09, 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ a b c d e f ""Baby Boy" Global Chart Positions and Trajectories". aCharts. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  30. ^ ""Irreplaceable" Global Chart Positions and Trajectories". aCharts. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  31. ^ ""Crazy in Love" Global Chart Positions and Trajectories". aCharts. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  32. ^ "Gold and Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  33. ^ a b "Beyoncé: Artist Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  34. ^ a b c d "Beyoncé Billboard Singles". All Music Guide. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g "Baby Boy Chart History". Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  36. ^ "UK Singles Top 75". aCharts. chart dated October 18, 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2003 Singles". ARIA. Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  38. ^ "United World Chart: Singles and Airplay". United World Chart. Media Traffic. chart dated September 27, 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ "United World Chart: Singles and Airplay". United World Chart. Media Traffic. chart dated November 15, 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ a b "United World Chart: Singles and Airplay". United World Chart. Media Traffic. chart dated February 28, 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Reid, Shaheem ((August 20, 2003)). "Sean Paul Appears In The Flesh In Beyonce's 'Baby Boy' Clip". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (2003). "03 Year in Rewind". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  43. ^ "TRL debuts". Popfusion. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  44. ^ "TRL Number Ones". Popfusion. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  45. ^ "Top 40 Argentina Peak Positions". Top 40 Argentina. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
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