Babe (Styx song)
| "Babe" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Styx | ||||
| from the album Cornerstone | ||||
| B-side | "I'm O.K." | |||
| Released | September 1979 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock[1] | |||
| Length |
4:01 (single version) 4:25 (album version) | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Dennis DeYoung | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Styx singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Babe" is a song by the American rock band Styx. It was the lead single from the band's 1979 triple-platinum album Cornerstone. The song was Styx's first, and only, U.S. number-one single. "Babe" also went to #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 #6. It also reached #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 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. The track became a major hit, reaching #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was their only major UK hit single, reaching #6. In 1999, "Babe" was included in the soundtrack to the movie Big Daddy, starring Adam Sandler, whose character is a huge fan of Styx.
Personnel
- Dennis DeYoung - lead vocals, keyboards
- Tommy Shaw - guitar
- Chuck Panozzo - bass
- John Panozzo - drums
Weekly charts
| Chart (1979-80) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 3 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[4] | 1 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[5] | 4 |
| Netherlands | 9 |
| New Zealand | 3 |
| South Africa [6] | 1 |
| UK | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 1 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 9 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 1 |
Cover versions
Dutch boy band Caught in the Act covered this track to relative success. Alexander O'Neal covered the song on his 2008 album, Alex Loves. Filipino singer April Boy Regino also covered the song in his 2000 album Super Idol. This song is also covered by Filipino singer and actor Piolo Pascual for the movie Babe, I Love You from Star Cinema in the Philippines.
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[8] | Gold | 75,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[9] | Silver | 250,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[10] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
References
- ↑ "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 236.
- ↑ "Springbok SA Top 20". Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1979-12-29. Missing or empty
|url=(help);|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Babe". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- ↑ "Springbok SA Top 20". Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Styx – Babe". Music Canada.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Styx – Babe". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Enter Babe in the search field and then press Enter.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Styx – Babe". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
