"Babe" | ||||
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Single by Styx | ||||
from the album Cornerstone | ||||
B-side | "I'm O.K." | |||
Released | September 14, 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Genre | Soft rock [1] | |||
Length | 4:01 (single version) 4:25 (album version) | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dennis DeYoung | |||
Producer(s) |
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Styx singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Babe" by Styx on YouTube |
"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, 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 70's was Another Brick in the Wall, by Pink Floyd). "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]
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.
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 1999, "Babe" was included in the soundtrack to the film Big Daddy , starring Adam Sandler, whose character is a huge fan of Styx.[ citation needed ]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
All-time charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada) [33] | Gold | 75,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [34] | Silver | 250,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [35] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
"Babe" | ||||
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Single by Caught in the Act | ||||
from the album Vibe | ||||
Released | July 28, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:28 (single version) 4:27 (album version) | |||
Label | ZYX | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dennis DeYoung | |||
Producer(s) | Phil Harding, Ian Curnow | |||
Caught in the Act singles chronology | ||||
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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.
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. [36]
CD maxi
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [37] | 26 |
Germany (Official German Charts) [38] | 35 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [39] | 95 |
Styx is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1972. They are known for blending melodic hard rock guitar with acoustic guitar, synthesizers mixed with acoustic piano, upbeat tracks with power ballads, and incorporating elements of international musical theatre. The band established themselves with a progressive rock sound during the 1970s, and began to incorporate pop rock and soft rock elements in the 1980s.
Pieces of Eight is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Styx, released in September 1978.
"Mr. Roboto" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the lead single from their eleventh studio album, Kilroy Was Here (1983). It was written by band member Dennis DeYoung. In Canada, it went to #1 on the RPM national singles chart. It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 on 12 February 1983, reaching No. 3 in April.
Dennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist. He was a founding member of the rock band Styx and served as its primary lead vocalist and keyboardist from 1972 until 1999. DeYoung was the band's most prolific and successful writer, having been credited as the writer of more Styx songs than any other band member. DeYoung penned seven of the band's eight Billboard top 10 singles as well as a solo top 10 single.
Cornerstone is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Styx, released in 1979. Styx's third straight multi-platinum selling album, Cornerstone was Styx's first album to earn a Grammy nomination, which was for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. Like the four previous Styx albums, the band produced the album themselves. Styx recorded the album at Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Paradise Theatre is the tenth studio album by American rock band Styx, released on January 16, 1981, by A&M Records. It was the band's most commercially successful album, peaking at #1 for 3 weeks on the Billboard 200 in April and May 1981 (non-consecutively). It was also the band's fourth consecutive album to be certified triple-platinum by the RIAA.
Tommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter best known for his tenure in the rock band Styx as co-lead vocalist. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with other groups including Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades as well as releasing several solo albums.
"Renegade" is a 1979 hit song recorded by the American rock band Styx on their Pieces of Eight album. Although songwriter Tommy Shaw and fellow Styx guitarist James Young usually played lead guitar on their own compositions, Shaw asked Young if he could take the solo on "Renegade". Young agreed, and Young later returned the favor by allowing Shaw to play lead on his "Half-Penny, Two-Penny" on the Paradise Theatre album. When performed live from 1978 to 1983, drummer John Panozzo increased the tempo of the drum pattern during the guitar solo sections. Also, the track would serve as the drum solo spot for Panozzo during that time frame.
"Don't Let It End" is the third track and the second top 10 single on the 1983 album Kilroy Was Here, by Styx.
"Best Thing" is the first single released by the band Styx from their self-titled debut album, Styx (1972). It charted at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Lorelei" is a song from rock band Styx. It is on their 1975 album Equinox, and was released as a single in 1976.
"Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the first single from their eighth studio album, Pieces of Eight (1978). Released in 1978, the single came in two 7" vinyl formats: one with the b-side "Superstars" (a track from The Grand Illusion) and a second single with the instrumental album track "Aku-Aku" as the b-side. Some printings of the single were also issued in a translucent blue vinyl, which are now highly sought after collectors items.
"Sing for the Day'" is the second single that Styx released from their album Pieces of Eight. It reached #41 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in February 1979. It was later the B-side of their next single “Renegade”. Tommy Shaw used the name ‘Hannah’ in the song, to represent his fans. Several years later, he named his newborn daughter Hannah. The album version that lasts 4:57, was edited down to 3:40 for the single version.
"Why Me" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung that was first released on Styx's 1979 double-platinum album Cornerstone. It was also released as the second single from the album, and reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart.
"Borrowed Time" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw that was first released on Styx's 1979 album Cornerstone and was also released as the third single from Cornerstone. It peaked at No. 64 on the U.S. chart in April 1980.
"The Best of Times" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the first single from their tenth album Paradise Theatre. It reached No. 1 in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, their second chart-topper in that country, and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in March and April 1981. In the UK, the song peaked at No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Too Much Time on My Hands" is a song by American rock band Styx, released as the second single from their tenth album Paradise Theatre. It was written and sung by Tommy Shaw, who also plays the lead guitar solo during the break in the song. It was Shaw's only top 10 single as a writer and vocalist with Styx.
"Love Is the Ritual" is the first single released from Edge of the Century by Styx.
"Show Me the Way" is a song by American rock band Styx, written by Dennis DeYoung and released as the second single from Edge of the Century. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1991. The song's music video was directed by Michael Bay.
"Boat on the River" is a 1979 song by Styx, from their album Cornerstone. It was released as a single in 1980 in various countries, but not in the band's native United States, where "Borrowed Time" was released instead.