Be My Baby

Infobox Single
Name = Be My Baby
Artist = the Ronettes
from Album = Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
Released = 1963
Format = 7" single
Recorded = ?
Genre = Pop
Length = 2:41
Label =Philles Records
Writer = Phil Spector
Jeff Barry
Ellie Greenwich
Producer = Phil Spector
Reviews =
Last single = n/a
This single = "Be My Baby"
(1963)
Next single = "Baby, I Love You"
(1964)"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by the Ronettes and produced by Spector. The drums were played by Hal Blaine. When released as a single, the song became a hit, reaching #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 in the UK "Record Retailer" chart.

The song as sung by The Ronettes is #22 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11028260/the_rs_500_greatest_songs_of_all_time/1|title=The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|publisher=RollingStone.com|accessdate=2007-06-02] In 1999 was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2006, the Library of Congress honored their version by adding it to the United States National Recording Registry.

Often cited as the ultimate embodiment of Spector's concept of the Wall of Sound, "Be My Baby" is one of the best-known and most enduring songs of its era, and arguably one of the most influential pop songs of all time. Critic Jason Ankeny writes, "No less an authority than Brian Wilson has declared 'Be My Baby' the greatest pop record ever made — no arguments here." [cite web | url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:yk98s30ya3vg | title= "Be My Baby" Song Review | last= Ankeny | first= Jason | publisher= allmusic.com]

In her autobiography, lead vocalist Ronnie Spector relates that she was on tour with Joey Dee and the Starlighters when "Be My Baby" was introduced by Dick Clark on American Bandstand as the "Record of the Century."

Legacy and influence

The song has been covered many times by artists including Andy Kim (a 1970 chart hit produced by Jeff Barry), John Lennon, The Lightning Seeds, the Bay City Rollers, the Glitzzi Girls, The Baby Skins, Blue Öyster Cult, We Are Scientists, Psyched Up Janis, Maroon 5. Glasvegas, Ivy and Travis.

Brian Wilson considers his song "Don't Worry Baby" (performed by The Beach Boys) to be the 'male answer' to this song. In 1986, Eddie Money's "Take Me Home Tonight" included the lyrics "Just like Ronnie sang" and Ronnie Spector herself singing part of the chorus to "Be My Baby". Mutya Buena and Amy Winehouse recently recorded a derivative song "B Boy Baby" based around the chorus for Mutya's debut album "Real Girl".

The song features a famous drum intro which has been replicated on many subsequent songs:

*"What You're Doing" by The Beatles (1964)
*"Only Yesterday" by The Carpenters (1975)
*"Say Goodbye to Hollywood" by Billy Joel (1976)
*"Little Does She Know" by The Kursaal Flyers (1976)
*"You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" by Meatloaf (1977)
*"This Angry Silence" by Television Personalities (1981)
*"The Way Life's Meant To Be" by Electric Light Orchestra (1981)
*"Just Like Honey" by The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985)
*"Sowing Seeds" by The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985)
*"Cry Tough" by Poison (1986)
*"Joey" by Concrete Blonde (1990)
*"Radio Song" by R.E.M. (1991) — the drum riff enters the song around the 3-minute mark
*"Candy" by The Magnetic Fields (1992)
*"Millionaire Sweeper" by Kenickie (1996)
*"Everything Must Go" by Manic Street Preachers (1996)
*"I.P.C. Subeditors Dictate Our Youth" by Clinic (1997)
*"Resurrection" by The Misfits (1997)
*"Eighties Fan" by Camera Obscura (2001)
*"You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve" by Johnny Boy (2004)
*"New Idols" by The Long Blondes (2004)
*"Homecoming" by Green Day (2004)
*"Destiny or Circumstance" by Ian Brown (2004)
*"Give Me Love" by Lucky Soul (2006)
*"What's a Girl To Do?" by Bat for Lashes (2006)
*"Sex" by The Pipettes (2006)
*"The Weight of the World" by Editors (2007)
*"Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray (2007 film)
*"Good Day to Die" by Hot Hot Heat (2007)
*"Butterfly" by Supergrass (2008)
*"Kenya Dig It?" by The Ruby Suns (2008)

Pop culture references

* The song is featured in a memorable scene from the television series "Moonlighting".
* In Bret Easton Ellis' novel, "American Psycho", Timothy Price offers to pay the cab driver five dollars if he will turn up the volume of the radio playing "Be My Baby".
* The Naoki Urasawa manga "Monster" features the song, a prominent antagonist chooses the song as his "theme music."
* The Martin Scorsese film "Mean Streets" also features a montage of street scenes and group photographs set against the Ronettes' soundtrack.
* "Be My Baby" featured on the multi-million selling soundtrack album to the 1987 film "Dirty Dancing".
* The first few measures after the famous drums at the beginning of the song are looped as the theme song for the CBS sitcom "The Class" (2006).
*The song was also used in the 1989 Levi's ad "Pick Up" directed by Paul Weiland.
* In a radio interview Bob Seger said the "song from 1962" mentioned in his 1976 song "Night Moves" was "Be My Baby." Fact|date=April 2008
* "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes is featured on the soundtrack album to "Quadrophenia" (1979)
* The song is played during the credits of the 2008 movie "Baby Mama".
* Probably name of BMIBaby airlines company was inspired by this song.

Notes