“13 Intriguing Songs All About the Baby” features music courtesy of Blood Orange, Kane Brown, Sam Smith, Sofi Tukker, and Why Don’t We among others.

“Dammn baby, baby watch ‘em all go…” “Ooo, baby, baby…” “Like baby, baby, baby, no…” What do Janet Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and Justin Bieber all have in common? ‘Baby’ songs of course.  No, “Dammn Baby”, “Ooo Baby Baby”, and “Baby” didn’t receive their own full-length blurb on 13 Intriguing Songs All About the Baby, but they’re merely three out of a crap-load of songs centering on/featuring the word ‘baby’ in their respective song title.  Artists who have songs that do appear on this 13-song list include Blood Orange (“Charcoal Baby”), Kane Brown (“Baby Come Back to Me”), Sam Smith (“Baby, You Make Me Crazy”), Sofi Tukker (“Baby I’m a Queen”), and Why Don’t We (“Trust Fund Baby”) among others.

1.Kane Brown, “Baby Come Back to Me”

Experiment » Sony Music Entertainment » 2018

“Just think about the good times / And everything we had / Don’t go throwin’ that away / I need you so damn bad.” Kane Brown commences his sophomore album Experiment in mean, yet awesome fashion on “Baby Come Back to Me.” A country record to the nth degree, Brown begins on autopilot, delivering a strong, invested vocal.  He’s backed by a high-energy backdrop including rhythm acoustic guitar, sick, souped-up electric guitars, and pummeling drums.

The best part of the album opener is the chorus, which arrives at the top of the record in all its glory.

“Baby come back to me

Give me one more chance

One more chance to be, to be a better man

This don’t have to be goodbye

Don’t do this to me tonight

Just come back to me

Yeah, baby come back to me.”

2. Sofi Tukker, “Baby I’m a Queen”

Treehouse » Ultra » 2018

“Maybe I’m a queen, and maybe I’m a baby / It’s been over a week / It’s been about a week, it’s too soon for nicknames.” Sofi Tukker (Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern) came out swinging with numerous singles in 2017, the boldest of which was “Fuck They”. After dropping five incredibly, enjoyable, and groovy singles, their first full-length album, Treehouse, arrived in 2018.  Among the standouts from Treehouse is “Baby I’m a Queen,” a song that the duo states is “about embracing tumultuousness and vulnerability.  Just because you are vulnerable doesn’t mean you have to let yourself be belittled or infantilized.”

That’s a meaningful, powerful message, particularly considering how fun the guitar-driven, minor-key, penultimate joint is.  Hawley-Weld sounds terrific on the chorus.  Interestingly, the band expands on “Queen” even more, regarding the awesome accompanying music video. 

“…We are inspired by the kids who haven’t been taught to color in the lines yet… In this video, we are flipping that narrative and letting the kids define their own beauty standards … By the end of the video, we stop being judges and instead, we let the kids take charge…What if instead of adults being infantilized (‘why do you call me baby?’) we exalt the wisdom of the kids?”

3. Lil Yachty, “Baby Daddy”

Ft. Lil Pump & Offset

Lil Boat 2 » Quality Control Music / Capitol / Motown » 2018

Starting things off negatively, Lil Yachty had the absolute worst album of 2017 with Teenage Emotions. At times, he was totally off-beat, while at others, his eccentricity felt totally misguided and poorly executed.  Despite the faux pas that was Teenage Emotions, his 2018 mixtape, Lil Boat 2 felt stronger, even if marginally so. Among the best moments from Lil Boat 2 is “Baby Daddy,” featuring Lil Pump and Offset, which arrives near the end of the album. Yachty drops a low-energy, deadpan verse and hook (partially mumbled you might say), yet both are incredibly appealing and effective. 

“Your baby daddy a sucka, ayy, your baby daddy a busta, ayy
Your baby daddy so broke, he hit the plug for a free line of coke
I’m thirty deep with the whole gang, pull up, we bringin’ the pain
Fuckin’ a bitch, grabbin’ her throat, poppin’ out all of her veins
Ride a Maybach, not a Mustang, nut on her face, fuck up her bangs
Choke-slam a ni**a, like I was Kane, choppa, it sing like Zayn
Shoot out the roof, no aim, shoot out the roof, no aim
I want the guap, you can have fame, I make them blue hunnids sing.”

Of course, the aforementioned hook is filthy – sexually-charged and misogynistic.  Nonetheless, the delivery, as opposed to the lyrics, shows the potential he has. Lil Pump, dropping the millionth oral sex reference of Lil Boat 2 (“Your girl gave me top, and then you gon’ kiss her”), shines on his verse.  The flow is quite similar to “Gucci Gang”, completely contrasting the flatter Yachty.  Offset, referencing the Patek Phillipe for the umpteenth time, is a great fit, bringing energy to this banger.

4. Why Don’t We, “Trust Fund Baby”

Trust Fund Baby [Single] » Atlantic » 2018

Boy band Why Don’t We (Corbyn Besson, Daniel Seavey, Zach Herron, Jonah Marais, and Jack Avery) deliver a strong collective vocal performance throughout single “Trust Fund Baby”. The vocals take on a hip-hop-oriented sound – a ‘pop-rap’ approach.  Lyrically, “Trust Fund Baby” is a bit ‘tongue-in-cheek’ and corny, yet incredibly fun.

The chorus is catchy, benefiting from NOT being cliché.

“I don’t really want no trust fund baby

I like my women independent

And I say to people, ‘That’s my lady’

And we don’t need nothing else.”

It’s not every day you hear a pop song referencing trust fund babies.  Some additional selling points include the bridge, and the soulful vocal ad-libs. Furthermore, “Trust Fund Baby” is comprised of superb production cues, including piano and synths, particularly the biting, brassy synths.  Following the spirited, edgy production on the verses, there’s a smoother backdrop, with snaps on the pre-chorus.  The articulated, bigger sound returns on the chorus, which is the crème de la crème.  Unfortunately, Why Don’t We didn’t include “Trust Fund Baby” on their proper debut album, 8 Letters.

5. Pusha T, “Come Back Baby”

DAYTONA » GOOD / Def Jam » 2018

Virginia rapper Pusha T returned in a ‘big way’ in 2018 with his third studio album, Daytona. Big certainly doesn’t accurately describe the length of Daytona, which is comprised of a skinny seven tracks running a total of 21 minutes long.  One of the standouts from the brief effort is “Come Back Baby,” which commences epically with an intro about drug addicts (heroin specifically), sampling The Mighty Hannibal.  As expected, producer Kanye West shows his knack for brilliantly tying in samples.

The chorus later samples George Jackson:

“Never have I been locked up in a world of misery

I need you darling to set me free

Come back baby, try me one more time

Ooh, baby, I’m ‘bout to go out of my mind…”

Beginning with the first verse, the main, minimalist production kicks in, signaled by Pusha T asserting, “Dope just touched down, I’m so grateful / Numbers so low, bitch, be thankful.”  The modus operandi is the same – drugs, drugs, drugs. “Cocaine concierge, longest running trapper of the year.”

6. Clean Bandit, “Baby”

Ft. Marina & the Diamonds & Luis Fonsi

Baby » Atlantic Records UK » 2018

“Guess I had my last chance / And now this is our last dance / You fell through the cracks in my hands / Hard to say it’s over / But I’m already someone else’s baby.” Pretty catchy chorus Marina Diamandis. That said, usually the Welsh singer, better known as Marina & The Diamonds, isn’t typically associated with Latin pop.  That’s not the case on the bright, groovy, minor-key single by Grammy-nominated English electronic band Clean Bandit, “Baby.” “Baby” thrives off its Latin pop cues – Spanish guitar, groove, and of course, the Latin Grammy-winning, ultra-talented Luis Fonsi.  Fonsi lends his smooth vocals and his Spanish prowess to this surefire bop.

7. Blood Orange, “Charcoal Baby”

Negro Swan » Domino » 2018

Blood Orange (Dev Hynes), made a compelling return in 2018 with “Charcoal Baby”, a standout, advance single from his fourth studio album, Negro Swan. “Charcoal Baby” features unique production work throughout, including awesome, soulful, uniquely-tuned guitar (sounds slightly out of tune, purposefully), as well as a solid throwback soul groove.  The vocals are incredibly smooth – calm, cool, and collected.

Interestingly, there’s only one verse that’s repeated several times:

“When you wake up

It’s not the first thing that you wanna know

Can you still count

All of the reasons that you’re not alone?”

Instrumentally, the memorable chorus welcomes a synth, which replaces the guitar.  Piano arrives on the second half of the chorus.  During this terrific section, Blood Orange sings:

“No one wants to be the odd one out at times

No one wants to be the negro swan

Can you break sometimes? (sometimes)

Can you break sometimes (sometimes, oh)

Charcoal make it start and make me liked at times

Look me down at queens all of the world

Can you break sometimes?

Can you break sometimes?”

Later on, post-bridge, there’s an excellent break (guitar and flute) – a brief change of pace.  The groove returns strong on the outro, along with a ripe, old-school saxophone solo.

8. Gerard Way, “Baby You’re a Haunted House”

Baby You’re a Haunted House [Single] » Reprise » 2018

“Oh, baby, you’re a haunted house / Better find another superstition / We’re gonna stay in love somehow / ‘Cause, baby, you’re a haunted house now.” Sure, My Chemical Romance disbanded in 2013, but that hasn’t stopped frontman Gerard Way from remaining musically active. 2018 saw the 41-year old frontman release the brief, left-of-center single, “Baby You’re a Haunted House,” his first since releasing the single “Into the Cave We Wander” in 2016.

According to Way, via an Instagram post:

“…I wrote a song called Baby You’re A Haunted House about all our inner ghosts and demons and what it feels like being in love and having to deal with your own internal horror show.”

“Baby You’re a Haunted House” keeps things simple, with a Lo-Fi, garage-rock oriented sound.  Typical of Way’s songwriting style, the lyrics possess a darker quality.  Still, there’s an optimistic vibe at the same time…

9. Bishop Briggs, “Baby”

Baby » Teleport / Island » 2018

“My baby’s got a fucked up head / Doesn’t matter ‘cause he’s so damn good in bed / Yeah he’s still my baby / Yeah, he’s fuckin’ crazy but he’s still my baby.”  Clearly, according to “Baby,” alternative singer/songwriter Bishop Briggs loves her man.  Surprisingly, “Baby” didn’t end up on Briggs’ debut album, Church of Scars, also released in 2018.

Prior to the aforementioned potty-mouthed chorus, Briggs characterizes her crazy ‘ride or die’:

“He likes zombies

And the apocalypse

He’s got some black magic up in those fingertips

Got a gold tooth

And a shit car

Always running his mouth, yeah, he’s got a few scars.”

10. Sam Smith, “Baby, You Make Me Crazy”

The Thrill of It All » Capitol » 2017

“Boy, get yourself together, move on with your life!” SAY THAT Sam Smith, say it! “Baby, You Make Me Crazy” is a fine mid-tempo soul cut from the soulful pop singer’s 2017 sophomore album,  The Thrill of it All.  Clearly, Smith’s ex has given him the blues, and he can’t get him off of his mind.

“So I’m gonna play my favorite rhythm
Got to get you out my system
I would do anything to keep you off my mind
I’m gonna have to call my sisters
Be around the ones who listen
Anything to drown you out tonight.”

Among the highlights of this joint where his bae makes Smith cray-cray are his signature falsetto, as well as the appearance of the famed The Dap-King Horns.  Smith’s vocal tone is simply gorgeous here, particularly the aforementioned pre-chorus and chorus, featured below.

“Baby, you make me crazy

Why’d you have to fill my heart with sorrow?

Save me, make it all hazy

So I don’t have to think about you ‘til tomorrow.”

11. Demi Lovato, “Cry Baby”

Tell Me You Love Me » Hollywood / Island » 2017

“Congratulations, celebration / ‘Cause my heart is the hardest to break / Break up to make up / Just to wake up with mascara all over my face / And I’m no cry baby, but you make me cry lately.” “Cry Baby” embraces retro-soul, sounding as if it would’ve been at home in the 60s.  Incredibly talented pop powerhouse Demi Lovato delivers a robust, powerful vocal on the chorus.  Clearly, this chorus is the crowning achievement of “Cry Baby.” Ultimately, the underrated record ends up being one of many well-rounded moments from her 2017, Tell Me You Love Me.  Arguably, it doesn’t secure a spot in the top tier songs from the album – “Sorry Not Sorry”, “Tell Me You Love Me” and “You Don’t Do It For Me Anymore” – but again, it is another strong, worthwhile performance.

12. Childish Gambino, “Baby Boy”

“Awaken, My Love!” » Glassnote » 2016

“Baby Boy” ranks among the crème de la crème of “Awaken, My Love!”, the 2016 R&B album by Childish Gambino, aka multi-talented musician, actor, and multi-award winner, Donald Glover. Glover sounds incredibly raw and gritty here, arguably delivering his best vocal of the album. Thematically, he tackles parenthood, potential custody issues, and the broken family in which the child is often the victim.

“I don’t wanna leave you, I don’t want him to see you

But oh, when mama cries from daddy’s lies

Oh my, please don’t take him away, no, no, no.”

13. Melanie Martinez, “Cry Baby”

Cry Baby » Atlantic » 2015 

It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Melanie Martinez one of the most colorful contestants to appear on NBC’s The Voice.  The artist has an incredibly distinct voice and style.  There were definitely more traditional artists competing for the “W” on the third season of show, but Martinez came out on top, landing a recording contract with Atlantic. The babyish song at hand, “Cry Baby” serves as the title track from her 2015 debut studio album.  Interestingly, Martinez does a fine job throughout “Cry Baby” and Cry Baby (the LP) at conveying this idiosyncratic, left-field, alternative pop sensibility.

She’s particularly assertive, contextually, on the memorable chorus, singing:

“They call you cry baby, cry baby

But you don’t fucking care

Cry baby, cry baby

So you laugh through your tears

Cry baby, cry baby

‘Cause you don’t fucking care

Tears fall to the ground

You’ll just let them drown.”

Photo Credits: Atlantic, Capitol, Def Jam, Domino, Glassnote, GOOD, Hollywood, Island, Motown, Quality Control Music, Reprise, Sony, Teleport, Ultra