I Wanna Have Your Babies

Last updated

"I Wanna Have Your Babies"
Natasha Babies.jpg
Single by Natasha Bedingfield
from the album N.B.
B-side "What If's"
Released12 March 2007 (2007-03-12)
Recorded2006
Genre
Length3:37
Label Phonogenic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Natasha Bedingfield
  • Steve Kipner
  • Andrew Frampton
  • Wayne Wilkins
Natasha Bedingfield singles chronology
"I Bruise Easily"
(2005)
"I Wanna Have Your Babies"
(2007)
"Soulmate"
(2007)

"I Wanna Have Your Babies" is a song by British recording artist Natasha Bedingfield. It was written by Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton, Wayne Wilkins and Bedingfield for her second album, N.B. (2007). The song's musical-style and production was inspired by hip hop music, and its lyrics discuss a woman's battle to stop herself from rushing into relationships in an effort to find the right man to be the father of her children. [1]

Contents

The song was released as the album's first single in the second quarter of 2007. The track received mixed reviews from pop music critics, who generally found it to be less impressive than past singles. It entered the top forty in Germany, Ireland and The Netherlands, and became Bedingfield's fourth United Kingdom top ten single release.

Background and writing

In 2006, Bedingfield began writing and recording material with previous collaborators Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins in Los Angeles, California. [2] During one of their sessions, they penned "I Wanna Have Your Babies", which was inspired by a year-and-a-half of touring across the United States. Bedingfield had never been away from her family and friends for an extended period of time and "realised how important relationships are". [3] She wanted to write songs that matched who she was, commenting that her "first album was about independence and opportunism. I’m in a different place now. I've been dating, searching for a partner, looking for Mr Right." [4]

In the song, Bedingfield discusses a woman's fight to stop herself from rushing into relationships in an effort to find the right man to father her children. Bedingfield stated that she does not want to have children at this point in time, but that she is thinking about it. According to her, "the song is about pacing yourself and taking everything slowly." [5]

Critical reception

"I Wanna Have Your Babies" had a polarizing effect on music critics. Channel 4 described it as a "well thought out pop record", [6] and Paul Taylor of the Manchester Evening News said it had a "sing-song melody" and "ragged hip-hop beats". [7] Tony Cummings called the song's "R&B pop confection hugely catchy". [8] Online magazine Drowned in Sound ridiculed the track, writing that it is "polluting the airwaves with its beyond-banal lyrics." The song's music video was also described in the review as "unforgivable". [9] The BBC was equally unimpressed with the song, claiming it stole the melody of The Jackson 5 song "I Want You Back". [10]

Chart performance

"I Wanna Have Your Babies" was officially solicited to radio in the United Kingdom on 12 March 2007. The song was released as a download on 2 April 2007, two weeks before its physical release. It debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 25 on 8 April 2007, on download sales only. [11] A week after its physical release the song reached the top 10, rising from number 15 to number seven. [12] In Ireland the song debuted at number 36 on the singles chart and peaked at number eight. [13] "I Wanna Have Your Babies" proved popular on Irish radio, charting at number 14. [14] The single had moderate success in Europe. After three weeks on the European Hot 100 Singles chart, the track peaked at number 23. [15] The single reached the top 50 in Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. In Australia, the song debuted on the singles chart at number 50 on 21 May 2007. [16] The track was more successful on the Physical Singles chart, debuting at number 37. [17]

Music video

Bedingfield working out in a gym during the first scene of the music video. Iwannahaveyourbabies.jpg
Bedingfield working out in a gym during the first scene of the music video.

The music video was directed by Dave Meyers and filmed in Los Angeles, California in January 2007. [18] The video opens with a scene of Bedingfield working out in a gym with a male instructor. Bedingfield and the instructor are then shown running through a park, when a baby stroller suddenly appears. Frightened, the instructor runs away from Bedingfield and the baby. She is next shown playing tennis and flirting with another man. The two are then shown riding on a boat with a toddler, in a race with another couple. The third scene features Bedingfield at a nightclub flirting with yet another man, before they are shown together at his home. In the final scene, she meets a man working at a coffee shop. They are shown in a play room with multiple babies. The video ends with Bedingfield hugging the coffee shop worker, who appears to be undeterred by her thoughts about having babies.

Nadine Coyle, member of the pop group Girls Aloud, makes a cameo appearance in the nightclub scene. The complete version of "I Wanna Have Your Babies" featured in the music video has been released commercially through CD singles and digital downloads, and some include remixes by Snowflakers. The video debuted on Bedingfield's official Bebo website on 6 March 2007. On 21 May 2007, the video debuted in North America on Bedingfield's official U.S. website under the title "Babies". The music video for "I Wanna Have Your Babies" was mocked in an article written by Anna Pickard and published in The Guardian . Pickard made fun of Bedingfield's "clean-cut, straight-toothed, good Christian girl" image, writing that the video was an effort by Bedingfield and her management to be provocative to sell more records. [19]

Formats and track listings

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "I Wanna Have Your Babies"
Chart (2007)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [25] 50
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [26] 50
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [27] 4
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [28] 12
Germany (Official German Charts) [29] 39
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) [30] 29
Ireland (IRMA) [31] 8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [32] 23
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [33] 29
Scotland (OCC) [34] 9
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100) [35] 26
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [36] 48
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [37] 100
UK Singles (OCC) [38] 7

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha Bedingfield</span> English–New Zealand singer

Natasha Anne Bedingfield is an English–New Zealand singer and songwriter. She released her debut album, Unwritten, in 2004, which contained primarily up-tempo pop songs and was influenced by R&B music. It enjoyed international success with more than 2.3 million copies sold worldwide. Bedingfield received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the title track "Unwritten", and at the 2005 and 2006 Brit Awards, she was nominated for Best British Female Artist. Unwritten also produced her only UK number one, "These Words".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)</span> 1987 single by Whitney Houston

"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album, Whitney (1987). It was released as the lead single from the album on May 2, 1987, by Arista Records. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden, and written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, of the band Boy Meets Girl, who had previously collaborated with Houston on "How Will I Know".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where Do Broken Hearts Go</span> 1988 single by Whitney Houston

"Where Do Broken Hearts Go" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album, Whitney (1987). It was released as the fourth single from the album on February 25, 1988. The song was written by Frank Wildhorn and Chuck Jackson and produced by Narada Michael Walden. A pop ballad set in the key of D major, the record is about someone seeking for a former lover to return after a breakup. Upon its release, the song received mixed reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Words</span> 2004 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"These Words" is a song by British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. It was written by Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton, Wayne Wilkins and Bedingfield for her 2004 debut album, Unwritten. The song is the album's opening track, and was released as its second single. "These Words" details Bedingfield's lack of inspiration and her reaction to pressure from her record label to produce a hit song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unwritten (song)</span> 2004 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"Unwritten" is a song by English singer Natasha Bedingfield for her debut studio album of the same name. It was released on 29 November 2004 as the third single from the album. The song was written by Bedingfield, Danielle Brisebois, and Wayne Rodrigues and produced by Rodrigues and Brisebois. The single was released as the album's third UK single and second US single. In 2006, "Unwritten" became the theme song for the MTV reality television series The Hills. It reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first top-10 hit in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You're Not the One</span> 2002 single by Daniel Bedingfield

"If You're Not the One" is a song by New Zealand-British singer Daniel Bedingfield. It was released on 25 November 2002 as the third single from his debut studio album, Gotta Get Thru This (2002). The single entered the top 20 on the majority of charts that it appeared on, including becoming a number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart and reaching number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single (Natasha Bedingfield song)</span> 2004 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"Single" is the debut single by British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. Written by Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton, Wayne Wilkins, and Bedingfield and produced by the former three, the song is lyrically about being single and not needing a partner. The song was released through Phonogenic on 3 May 2004 as the lead single from her debut studio album Unwritten (2004) and later on 24 April 2006 as the third single from the album in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Bruise Easily</span> 2005 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"I Bruise Easily" is a song by British recording artist Natasha Bedingfield. The pop ballad was written by Andrew Frampton, Wayne Wilkins, and Paul Herman along with Bedingfield for her debut album, Unwritten (2004). Production on the track was handled by Frampton and Wilkins. In the song, Bedingfield describes how relationships affect people, even when they have come to an end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha Bedingfield discography</span>

The English singer Natasha Bedingfield has released 4 studio albums, 21 singles, 25 music videos, and 1 video album.

<i>N.B.</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Natasha Bedingfield

N.B. is the second studio album released by British singer Natasha Bedingfield. It was released in the United Kingdom on 30 April 2007 through Phonogenic Records. In the United Kingdom it produced two top ten hits, "I Wanna Have Your Babies" and "Soulmate". In January 2008, the album was released in the United States and Canada under the name Pocketful of Sunshine with new packaging and an alternative track listing featuring only six of the original songs. The US version's title song became a top-five hit whilst the lead single, "Love Like This" with Sean Kingston, became a top-fifteen hit. US critics said that the album felt inorganic and awkwardly assembled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Dean (I Wanna Know)</span> 2002 single by Daniel Bedingfield

"James Dean (I Wanna Know)" is a song by British singer Daniel Bedingfield. It was released in August 2002 as the second single from his debut studio album, Gotta Get Thru This. Like his debut single "Gotta Get Thru This", "James Dean" was also a hit, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart, making it his second top-10 hit. It entered the top 20 in Australia, peaking at number 19. The song name checks Freddie Mercury, Brad Pitt, Sly Stone and Daddy Warbucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gotta Get Thru This (song)</span> 2001 single by Daniel Bedingfield

"Gotta Get Thru This" is the debut single of New Zealand-British singer Daniel Bedingfield. The song was released in November 2001 as the lead single from his debut studio album of the same name (2002). The track, along with some others, was recorded in Bedingfield's bedroom with his PC and a microphone, using the music software Reason.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Read You</span> 2003 single by Daniel Bedingfield

"I Can't Read You" is the fourth single from New Zealand-British singer Daniel Bedingfield's debut studio album, Gotta Get thru This. It was released on 7 April 2003 and peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, number 34 in Ireland, and number 93 in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friday (Daniel Bedingfield song)</span> 2003 single

"Friday" is the sixth and final single from British singer Daniel Bedingfield's debut album, Gotta Get Thru This (2002). It peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart and number 49 on the Irish Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soulmate (Natasha Bedingfield song)</span> 2007 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"Soulmate" is a song written and produced by Natasha Bedingfield, Mads Hauge and David Tench for Bedingfield's second album, N.B. (2007). The song is written in the key of E-flat minor and set in 4
4
time. Bedingfield's vocals range from F3 to D5. The lyrics discuss if there is a soulmate for everyone and if Bedingfield will ever find the right partner. The song was released as the album's second single in July 2007. It was a commercial success, and the most successful single from N.B., reaching number seven in the United Kingdom and the top forty in the majority of the charts it entered. "Soulmate" is also the fourth single released in 2008 for the North American version of N.B., titled Pocketful of Sunshine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Like This (Natasha Bedingfield song)</span> 2007 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"Love Like This" is a song performed by British singer Natasha Bedingfield. It was included as the lead single of Bedingfield's second North American album, Pocketful of Sunshine, and features vocals from Jamaican-American reggae singer Sean Kingston. The song was written by Bedingfield, Kingston, Louis Biancaniello, Rico Love, Ryan Tedder, Sam Watters, and Wayne Wilkins, while production was handled by Biancaniello, Love, Tedder, and Watters under their production group, the Runawayz. Its lyrics discuss finding love with a person who has "been there all your life and has always loved you, but you've never noticed it until now". The official remix features vocals from rapper Lil Wayne and a slightly different beat, produced by Jim Jonsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pocketful of Sunshine</span> 2008 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"Pocketful of Sunshine" is a song by English singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. It was recorded on 3 May 2006 and released on 15 January 2008 as the second single from her second North American studio album of the same title (2008). Bedingfield co-wrote the song together with American songwriter Danielle Brisebois and American musician and songwriter John Shanks; Shanks also produced the track as well as performing on most of the instruments present. Epic Records serviced the song to contemporary hit radios in the United States on 11 February 2008. It was not released in Europe until April 2011, when it was released as the lead single from her third European studio album Strip Me Away (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel (Natasha Bedingfield song)</span> 2008 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"Angel" is a song by English singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield for her second North American album Pocketful of Sunshine (2007). It was released as the album's third single in North America on 11 August 2008. The song was produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, hence the "Darkchild forever" line at the beginning of the song, he also sings the chorus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strip Me (song)</span> 2010 single by Natasha Bedingfield

"Strip Me" is a song performed by British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. The song is the title track and second single from her third studio album, Strip Me, and was co-written and co-produced by Ryan Tedder. The song was sent to US radio on 31 August 2010 and later to online music stores on 21 September. The single debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of 6 November 2010 and peaked at number 91.

<i>Strip Me</i> 2010 studio album by Natasha Bedingfield

Strip Me is the third studio album by the English singer and songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. It was released on 7 December 2010 by Phonogenic Records. "Touch" was released as the first single from the album on 18 May 2010 and "Strip Me" was released as the second single on 31 August 2010. Neither of the singles was successful on the US Billboard charts. The album's title song peaked at number twenty-three on the adult contemporary chart. The album debuted at number 103 on US Billboard 200 with 10,000 copies sold, a significant drop from her previous album, N.B., which debuted at number three selling 50,000 units.

References

  1. Natasha Bedingfield: Hottest Baby-Craving Stalker Ever. Blender . Retrieved 5 April 2007.
  2. Hattie Collins. Natasha Bedingfield: The Secret of Her Success. Archived 2 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine RWD Magazine. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2007.
  3. Mark Savage. "Talking Shop: Natasha Bedingfield". BBC. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  4. Artist Profile [ permanent dead link ]. EMI Music Publishing. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  5. "These Words" Archived 4 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine . My Kinda Place. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  6. Single Reviews Channel 4. 16 April 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  7. Paul Taylor. Album Reviews. Manchester Evening News . 20 April 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  8. Tony Cummings. Single Reviews. Cross Rhythms . Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  9. "An Open Letter to Natasha Bedingfield" Archived 23 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine . Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  10. Lizzie Ennever. "Review of N.B. by Natasha Bedingfield". BBC. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  11. Paul Sexton. "Proclaimers, Kings Of Leon Rule U.K. Charts". Billboard . 9 April 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  12. Paul Sexton. "Beyonce, Shakira And Avril Overtake U.K. Charts". Billboard . 23 April 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  13. "I Wanna Have Your Babies" Charts Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine . Music Square. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  14. Ireland Top 20 Airplay Chart (week of 15 – 21 April 2007) Archived 14 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine . Radio & Records, Inc. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
  15. European Hot 100 Singles Chart. Billboard . Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  16. Top 50 Singles Chart (Week of 21 May 2007) Archived 2 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine . ARIA. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  17. Top 50 Physical Singles Chart (Week of 21 May 2007) Archived 20 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine . ARIA. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  18. News: Nadine in Tash Bedingfield Vid. MTV UK. 30 January 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  19. Anna Pickard. "This week Anna Pickard watches and picks apart... "I Want to Have Your Babies" by Natasha Bedingfield". The Guardian . Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  20. I Wanna Have Your Babies (UK CD single liner notes). Natasha Bedingfield. Phonogenic Records, Sony BMG. 2007. 82876886422.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. I Wanna Have Your Babies (Australian CD single liner notes). Natasha Bedingfield. Phonogenic Records, Sony BMG. 2007. 82876886432.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. I Wanna Have Your Babies (German CD single liner notes). Natasha Bedingfield. Phonogenic Records. 2007. 82876886422/GER.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. "I Wanna Have Your Babies – Single". Apple Music . Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  24. "I Wanna Have Your Babies" Official 2007 Japanese BMG 4-track CD-R acetate. eil.com. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  25. "Natasha Bedingfield – I Wanna Have Your Babies". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  26. "Natasha Bedingfield – I Wanna Have Your Babies" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  27. "Natasha Bedingfield – I Wanna Have Your Babies" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  28. "Natasha Bedingfield – I Wanna Have Your Babies" (in French). Ultratip.
  29. "Natasha Bedingfield – I Wanna Have Your Babi/premium" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  30. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  31. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Wanna Have Your Babies". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  32. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 20, 2007" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  33. "Natasha Bedingfield – I Wanna Have Your Babies" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  34. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  35. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200718 into search. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  36. "Natasha Bedingfield – I Wanna Have Your Babies". Singles Top 100.
  37. "Natasha Bedingfield – I Wanna Have Your Babies". Swiss Singles Chart.
  38. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 December 2020.